With experienced production crews, world-class talent and the central support of UMFO, you can breathe easy knowing that our well-oiled network of production professionals will help keep your project on-time and on budget.
Minnesota is also home to a burgeoning theatre and film scene — and we have the citizen support to prove it. In fact, 90% of Minnesotans agree that the arts are contributing to the incredible quality of life they enjoy.
From the rugged ocean-like coastlines of the North Shore to the industrial shipyards of the Twin Ports, northern Minnesota offers a dramatic four-season backdrop for your next TV or film project. Here, you’ll find both charming, small-town main streets and bustling cities. From pretty to gritty, we’ve got you covered.
From sheer granite cliffs to lush green valleys; from strong summer sun to sub-zero storms, Upper Minnesota is the rare place that can truly be all things to all people. Just so long as those people are hearty. The seasonal swing of temperatures often covers more than 100 degrees, and the elevation rises from its lowest point at Lake Superior to towering Eagle Mountain near Grand Marais, along the way passing over rivers, past mining pits, and up and over peaks born over 2 billion years ago.
The name Minnesota is derived from the Dakota word “Mnisota,” meaning “cloudy water” or “sky-tinted water,” and was first home to many generations of the Dakota and Ojibwe people. The Indigenous Peoples of upper Minnesota continue to have a strong presence and influence on the culture of our region. Upper Minnesota also takes pride in its Nordic lifestyle, thanks to the Scandinavian communities who make up the majority of our region’s population. However, Minnesota is also home to a growing immigrant population that is continually shaping a changing economic and cultural landscape. In fact, more than half a million immigrants currently call Minnesota home. The largest groups of foreign-born residents in Minnesota are from Mexico, Somalia, India, Laos, Ethiopia, Vietnam, Thailand (including Hmong), China, Korea, Liberia and Canada. Minneapolis/St. Paul — which is just a quick 2 ½ hour drive from Duluth’s center — is a growing melting pot of immigrants with communities of color representing more than 30% of the urban population. You can find more information on demographics and trends by Minnesota county/region at mncompass.org. References: Minnesota Citizens for The Arts & Compass Minnesota.
Over the past 50 years, Minnesota has hosted many television shows, large studio pictures and independent films. North Country — the 2005 drama film starring Charlize Theron — was filmed in Eveleth, Virginia, Chisholm, Hibbing and Minneapolis, and continues to leave its mark on Minnesota’s northern communities.
Other big studio favorites include Grumpy Old Men, Iron Will, A Prairie Home Companion, The Mighty Ducks and Fargo. Award-winning indie films have included Dear White People, A Serious Man, Factotum and Sweet Land. On the television side, Minnesota is the backdrop for top-rated shows on ABC, Amazon, HGTV, The Travel Channel, National Geographic, The Food Network, Lifetime and Netflix, including Bizarre Foods and 20/20: In An Instant.
A frontier drama. A small-town comedy. A man vs. nature epic. All of these possibilities and more exist on Lake Superior’s northern coastline. Whether your script calls for coastlines or cliffs, period architecture or modern design, the regions of Upper Midwest are ready to roll.
©2025 Upper Midwest Film Office. UMFO is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
