Chippewa Valley Feature Films Are In Motion, 'RAO' To Accept New Film Tax Incentives
five-plus local movies will begin production this fall, South Asian American film is first to receive Wisconsin's revived credits
Surrounded by dozens of creatives at the Aug. 20 Eau Claire Filmmakers meetup, one couldn’t help but feel the electric energy as numerous feature-length projects are set to begin production as the autumn months unfold.
Among the group was Sagar Brahmbhatt, who has journeyed back to his Wisconsin hometown to produce and direct his first feature-length cinematic endeavor, “Rao,” aided by the newly revived Wisconsin film office and its new tax incentive programs.
“Rao” was announced by the office of Governor Tony Evers as one of six feature films across the state to receive a Film Production Services Tax Credit, valued at $557,991. This credit – with a maximum of $1 million allotted per production – is available to offset expenditures made in Wisconsin during filming.
A Brief Overview Of Wisconsin Film Incentives
In effect as of January 2026, the Badger State introduced a new wave of film incentives and resurrected its statewide film office. This direction marked a significant shift for the state, which has historically been one of only a handful without a film office – and production incentives – compared to neighboring states like Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota and others.
Brought to life by the Wisconsin Department of Tourism and Governor Tony Evers in a biennial budget bill in July of 2025, Wisconsin’s latest incentives offer a 30% tax credit with transferable, refundable and non-refundable components.
Learn more about Wisconsin’s burgeoning opportunities in film, through Volume One’s 2026 feature story on the topic: “Reel Us Back In.”
At the recent Eau Claire meetup, Brahmbhatt described “Rao” as a non-linear story which spans three different timelines – each set in the Chippewa Valley – over the course of four seasons.
The film’s story opens in the winter of 1997 with the Rao family – father Niran, mother Avni and their son Sameer – driving through a blizzard from San Diego to Eau Claire to manage a small-town motel.
This move ultimately sparks passions within each family member beyond the motel, Brahmbhatt said. The family’s differing paths – from theater arts to romance and music – present a central dilemma throughout the film, which ultimately begs the question: What does it take to break cycles of sacrifice?
“What we found is telling stories (that are intimate) feel expansive because we break through time,” Brahmbhatt said of the generational threads in “Rao.” “We (will) cover topics and themes that are universal ... and at the same time, visually (capture) things from a larger scale to create this larger epic feeling in the story.”
The film, which is slated to begin production in late September and continue through the winter months, will be anchored through the perspective of Sameer, who serves as Brahmbhatt’s leading character.
Brahmbhatt himself spent his formative years in the Chippewa Valley. He attended Eau Claire Memorial High School before moving for college in Los Angeles, Calif., where he also worked in the city’s film industry and directed his first short film, “Sunlight.”
Following a series of cross-country moves – even a career shift into the field of dentistry – it was the revival of Wisconsin’s film tax incentives which drew Brahmbhatt back to his hometown to begin this feature film.
As he splits his time between here and Chicago, Brahmbhatt’s crew will benefit from film incentives in both Wisconsin and Illinois to bring “Rao” to life.
Ongoing Feature Films Around The Chippewa Valley
Brahmbhatt’s “Rao” will be just one of many films preparing to roll cameras in Wisconsin as the seasons change.
From late September through November, production will also be underway for a holiday-themed Chippewa Falls-focused feature film as well as the forthcoming “Missing Cody” – each made, respectively, by the mother-daughter duo Andrea and Izzy Polnaszek.
“Live Here Now,” a local feature-length variety show created by Andy Spencer and co-produced by Brad Carr, will return to its regularly scheduled programming with three new installments this fall – hosted in the Schofield auditorium at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
Co O’Neill, a professor of video production and design at the University of Wisconsin-Stout Polytechnic, will also keep busy with a creative endeavor of his own: a fresh feature-length project titled “Gudrun Locke.”
The plot details a group of college students who accidentally unearth a witch, O’Neill said. After doing so, they must deal with the ramifications of their actions and hire a paranormal investigator to assist them. Nearly all of the cast and crew will be composed of local talent, including UW-Stout Polytechnic students.
Rounding out the slate of local cinema benefiting from the Wisconsin film incentives, Fireside Productions LLC – the film production company, created by locals Steve Dayton and BJ Hollars, behind regional films “When Rubber Hit The Road” and “Kings Of Kubb” – has already set its wheels in motion for a brand-new narrative documentary.
Titled “One Foot In Front of the Other,” the film will explore resilience, grief and the therapeutic power of healing – all through the lens of long-distance running.
Whew – well, that’s what you missed at the latest Eau Claire Filmmakers meetup! Swing by next time for the inside scoop on these developing projects and even more behind-the-scenes looks at how film incentives will change the game right here in the Chippewa Valley.
For updates and new announcements on feature film projects in Eau Claire and the Chippewa Valley, visit the Eau Claire Filmmakers group on Facebook. The group meets monthly in person at the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library (400 Eau Claire St., Eau Claire).
