A group of filmmakers has sued the Iowa Department of Economic Development alleging the state breached its contract regarding issuing tax credits to finance their work.

The suit, filed Oct. 28 and scheduled to go before Polk County District Court Monday, was filed by a group of filmmaking companies that had received initial approval from the state to receive tax credits from the state.  After several instances of misconduct were discovered regarding the film tax credit program, Gov. Chet Culver suspended it until an investigation can be completed.

The filmmakers — Daedalus Film AG, C-Films France Sas, Clean Out Productions, Clean Out Film Services Inc. and Iowa Eye Entertainment — demand in their lawsuit that the tax credits be provided as promised so the projects can proceed. The state contends that the projects are among 109 that received initial approval but were not under contract to receive funding. Therefore, because there was no contract, the state is not required to provide funding. Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller said that may not be true.

The companies provide letters from IDED that confirm credit award amounts, which they used in their decision to film in Iowa.

“The public interest in the state honoring its legal obligations and allowing production to move forward in Iowa, so as to provide jobs, support the local economy and restore confidence in Iowa’s tax credit programs, supports granting the injunction,” the lawsuit says.

The attorney general’s office, which is representing the state in the civil legal action, had no comment on the lawsuit.