As venues continue to sign on to host Ohio Goes to the Movies events in 2026, we continue our Made in Ohio series showcasing Ohio’s film commissions and the movies made here in the Buckeye state. We hope their stories inspire selection for the 2026 Ohio-centric film selections! This month, we talked to Columbus Film Commissioner John Daughtery to name his top picks for films made in Columbus.
John Daugherty has been film commissioner and director for Film Columbus since 2015. He has long worked to foster growth in the film industry, including advocating to expand the Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit, providing resources for local filmmakers and being a champion for the local film industry.
The vision of the commission is that Columbus is recognized as a top city for film production, education and exhibition, and film is recognized as an art form that has a measurable impact on the economy, individuals and community.
Columbus to Host Premier for Animated “Sneaks”
Film Columbus will host a VIP premier in April for the animated movie, “Sneaks.” “The film is a major animated feature with an all-black cast, voiced by Anthony Mackie, Martin Lawrence, Oscar nominee Laurence Fishburne, Chloe Bailey and Grammy-winning producer Mustard. It shares the unique story of a sneaker lost in New York and trying to find its way,” said John. “Film Columbus worked with the producers on tax incentives.”
“Sneaks” was developed by Ohio Film Group’s Lengi Studios in Columbus and produced by Gil Cloyd and filmmaker Len Hartman. Gil is co-founder and CEO of Ohio Film Group/Lengi Studios, and Len is co-founder and principal at Lengi. The film’s global crew was also based in Columbus.
Arnold Loves Columbus
If you want to see Columbus on screen as a movie setting, the Arnold Schwarzenegger film “Aftermath” won’t disappoint. The film was released in 2017, and Film Columbus had a big role with tax incentives and locations. The movie was filmed around Columbus and in New Albany and was produced by Darren Aronofsky and Scott Franklin, who attended The Ohio State University.
“I know one of the main reasons they shot here (besides the tax incentive) is because Arnold requested to film it here. He has such a strong connection to Columbus,” said John.
In “Aftermath” Arnold takes on the role loosely based on Vitaly Kaloyev, a Russian man convicted of murdering the man whom he believed was responsible for the sudden death of his wife and two kids in a tragic plane crash. “Scenes were shot in German Village, extensively at John Glenn Airport, and an apartment tower on Olentangy Road near Route 315 and Riverside Methodist. Plus, they used a number of additional sites around Columbus, including a plane crash scene in New Albany. Another fun fact, then-Mayor Michael Coleman made a cameo in one of the airport scenes,” John added.
A few years ago, Film Columbus began redefining what the film industry could be in Columbus. John said, “We generally talk about film as a singular entity. As game development and animation continue to explode, we must recognize ‘film’ as a more economically diverse industry. The game industry is larger than film AND music combined. The lines between film, animation and gaming continue to blur and will continue to blur. So we must include game development, animation and even distribution when we use the word ‘film.’”
Columbus on Screen
Another film that was filmed in Ohio and partially in Columbus was “Bones and All” with actors Taylor Russell and Timothée Chalamet. “They shot over multiple nights in the summer of 2021 at the now closed Greyhound bus station downtown,” said John. The 2022 film tells the story of a young woman who embarks on a 1,000-mile odyssey through America where she meets a disenfranchised drifter. But all roads lead back to their terrifying pasts and to a final stand that will determine whether love can survive their otherness.
To watch the “Sneaks” trailer, visit here.
Courtesy of Briarcliff Entertainment