The future of the state’s film tax incentives was the main topic of discussion Thursday during a talk about the industry.

“State of the Slate: The Future of Film in North Carolina,” part of the Cucalorus Film Festival, took place at Thalian Hall.

The panel, made up of a handful of Wilmington’s film industry leaders, represented a variety of opinions about the sun setting incentives though they were uniform in their support for renewing the measure come next May.

The incentives are set to expire on Jan. 1, 2015.

As it stands currently, the state gives film production companies that spend $250,000 or more a 25 percent tax break. The incentive is only applicable on taxable materials and for employee compensation up to $1 million. As a whole, the tax cap per movie sits at $20 million.

The incentives, which have helped bring large feature films such as “Iron Man 3” as well as TV shows such as “Sleepy Hollow” and “Under the Dome” are essential to keeping Wilmington’s film business thriving, the panelists said.

“These incentives are some of the easiest in the country to access,” said Aaron Syrett, director of the N.C. Film Office. “North Carolina has smartly built these incentives around its infrastructure.”

Wilmington mayor Bill Saffo opened the discussion with a speech about the importance of the film industry on Wilmington’s economy, reassuring the crowd that he was “fighting very hard for this industry” and encouraging the audience to call their local legislators in support of extending the incentives.

Jason Rosin, a panelist who serves on the N.C. Film Council, discussed the negative impact of losing the incentives.

“No incentives will destroy the industry here,” Rosin said, “There will be a select few who can find jobs in other states, but losing these breaks will affect the vast majority of those who work in the industry here.”

Because of its uncertain future, Wilmington’s film industry is already struggling, said panelist Dale Williams, a producer who is currently the unit production manager for the CBS show “Under the Dome.”

“It’s already affecting how producers view Wilmington,” Williams said. “Pilots that are in early production right now aren’t looking at North Carolina because of the sun setting legislation.”