Are you an up-and-coming filmmaker looking for your next creative home? San Antonio just might be for you, according a trade magazine’s ranking.

The city was named one of MovieMaker magazine’s “Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker” for the eighth consecutive year, according to a Thursday news release from the city’s Department of Arts & Culture and Film Commission.

San Antonio jumped six spots from No. 20 to No. 14 in the magazine’s 2026 ranking of the top 25 “Big Cities” in the U.S. and Canada.

The Alamo City appears alongside other Texas cities on the list, including El Paso, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and Austin, while also ranking with established film hubs such as Toronto, Savannah, and Santa Fe.

City officials cited a “revamped film incentive program, overall affordability, diverse and photogenic locations, and the growing availability of experienced local crew and vendor resources” as contributing factors to the city’s rise in attracting filmmakers.

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MovieMaker magazine compiles its annual list using industry surveys, production spending, tax incentives, additional research, and personal visits when possible, with supporting data provided by local film offices, according to the news release.

“San Antonio thrives in filmmaking and livability, with the best incentives in Texas and simply some of the best incentives anywhere,” said Tim Molloy, MovieMaker’s editor. “We’re thrilled that the city is moving up the list.”

Founded in 1985, the San Antonio Film Commission supports media production throughout the city by issuing permits to more than 250 city-owned locations, connecting productions with local crews and vendors, and administering the San Antonio Film Incentive Program.

Since the 2020 pandemic, the city has seen a 165% increase in film permits, rising from 221 in 2022 to 586 in 2025. Total film days also doubled to 710.

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Christine Hill, San Antonio Film Commissioner, said the city’s film industry is gaining more notoriety because productions are realizing the value of local crews, locations and resources.

“With strong incentive support in place and growing industry confidence, the city is well-positioned for continued growth in media production,” Hill said.

San Antonio officials recently approved significant updates to its film incentive program, which, when combined with new statewide incentives, now offers rebates of up to 45%, capped at $250,000 per project, for qualifying film and commercial productions shot within the metro area. City officials say those enhancements make San Antonio the most financially competitive destination in Texas for film projects.

For a complete list of its ranking, visit MovieMaker.com. More information is also available at FilmSanAntonio.com, and updates can be found at @FilmSanAntonio.

This article originally published at San Antonio moves up in MovieMaker’s ranking of best cities for filmmakers.