San Antonio is raising the stakes in the film production game as the City Council approves major updates to its film incentive program. Now, qualifying film and commercial productions filmed in the city could see up to a 45% rebate package on costs, with a maximum cap per project set at $250,000. This generous offering outpaces other Texas cities and propels San Antonio into competition with neighboring states like New Mexico.
The revisions to the incentive program follow the recent passage of Texas Senate Bill 22, which has paved the way for a notable statewide investment of $1.5 billion over the next decade into the Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program (TMIIP). These changes are to strategically lure high-profile productions to San Antonio and to simultaneously encourage local hiring and amplify professional development opportunities for new talent.
In a statement obtained by San Antonio's official news portal, Krystal Jones, the Director of the City’s Department of Arts & Culture, explained the broader impact of the updated program: "With expanded eligibility and new workforce development opportunities, we’re empowering local artists, crew members, and emerging talent—including students—to take part in and benefit from the remarkable growth of our film industry right here in San Antonio."
The city's film industry has witnessed a surge since the post-pandemic reboot of the film program in 2022, showing a 165% rise in film permits and a near doubling of total film days to 710. The incentive program has not only been renamed from Supplemental San Antonio Incentive (SSAI) to San Antonio Film Incentive (SAFI), but it also includes sweetened rebate levels, beginning at 10%, with possible uplifts for additional local and veteran hires. Additionally, commercials have been added to the list of eligible projects, and productions are now required to fulfill workforce development requirements that could entail practical on-set experiences for students in partnerships with local educational institutions.
For more in-depth information on this aggressive push by San Antonio to become the go-to location for film production in Texas, interested parties can visit FilmSanAntonio.com or directly contact the San Antonio Film Commission.
