{"id":29926,"date":"2025-10-31T21:01:08","date_gmt":"2025-10-31T21:01:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/29926\/"},"modified":"2025-10-31T21:01:08","modified_gmt":"2025-10-31T21:01:08","slug":"reel-money-fort-worth-filmmakers-have-new-grants-resources-through-texas-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/29926\/","title":{"rendered":"Reel money: Fort Worth filmmakers have new grants, resources through Texas program"},"content":{"rendered":"

With Texas officials releasing the first installment of their $1.5 billion film incentive package<\/a>, Fort Worth filmmakers have new grants and resources available to make their in-state projects a reality.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want things made here in Texas, aren\u2019t y\u2019all tired of seeing things made somewhere that\u2019s not here?\u201d Willita Mahone, intake coordinator with the Texas Film Commission, told guests during a presentation at Fort Works Art Oct. 30.<\/p>\n

Over 30 film enthusiasts and industry professionals gathered inside the Fort Worth art gallery for the Film Talk: Making Movies in Texas panel as part of the Lone Star Film Festival running through Nov. 5<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Members of the state\u2019s commission discussed changes to the Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program, which is seeing $300 million allocated biannually through 2035 after Senate Bill 22<\/a> went into effect Sept. 1. The funds are the largest in the program\u2019s 18-year history.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Filmmakers in need of financial support can apply for seven new grants through the program, each offering 1% to 2.5% rewards on top of a base incentive<\/a>. The program offers assistance to Texas-made films, television shows, commercials and animation projects with a minimum budget ranging from $100,000 to $250,000.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Some grant requirements are still being finalized by the commission, but are described as:<\/p>\n

Texas Heritage: Projects that promote family values or portray Texas positively.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Rural Filming: Movies shot in a county with a population of 300,000 or fewer.<\/p>\n

Postproduction: Filmmakers spend at least 25% of their total in-state budget on postproduction work.<\/p>\n

Faith-Based: Films designated as faith-based projects. Officials are still finalizing what type of movies will fall under this category.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Historic Site: Projects filmed at a historic site, such as the Alamo.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Workforce Development: Partnerships with higher education institutions to provide development opportunities during production.\u00a0<\/p>\n

These awards join the existing veteran grant, which offers a bonus to projects that hire Texas veterans as 5% of their cast and crews.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Filmmakers can stack awards with a base incentive up to 31% in financial assistance, said Cassandra Ariztegui, specialist with the state\u2019s film commission. Funds won\u2019t be allocated until after production ends and documents and expenses have been audited and approved, she added.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can treat the grants like a buffet,\u201d Ariztegui said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Interested in applying for a grant through the Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program?<\/p>\n

Applications open 180 days prior to the start of production. Contact the Texas Film Commission at 512-463-9200 or film@gov.texas.gov<\/a> for more information.<\/p>\n

Created by Gov. Preston Smith in 1971, the Texas Film Commission fosters job creation and encourages economic development<\/a> and tourism through media production. The commission also offers location assistance, permitting and legal guidance, connections to industry professionals, job hotlines, free license plates for productions and project promotion.<\/p>\n

Before the new law, the incentive program\u2019s budget varied with the every two-year legislative cycle. Lawmakers previously allocated $200 million during the 2023 session.\u00a0<\/p>\n

With the law, productions are required to complete 60% of the project in Texas and at least 35% of their cast and crew members must be in-state residents.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re hoping that television projects, specifically, feel comfortable coming to film in Texas and feel comfortable to continue in the same place for longer than two years,\u201d Ariztegui said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The massive jump in investment by Texas lawmakers came in answer to a coordinated push from state filmmakers and actors<\/a> like Matthew McConaughey and Fort Worth\u2019s Taylor Sheridan to grow the industry.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Sheridan is currently building a Fort Worth campus that will be home to the largest production studio in Texas<\/a>. He also filmed scenes for the upcoming season of \u201cLioness,\u201d his spy series, in several of the city\u2019s neighborhoods<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Mahone has heard some concerns about whether the majority of incentives will be awarded to major film studios and production companies, but she assures supporting independent filmmakers remains a priority.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know that Taylor Sheridan is here and he\u2019s doing a lot, but there\u2019s room at the table for everybody,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

David Moreno is the arts and culture reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at david.moreno@fortworthreport.org or @davidmreports<\/a>.<\/p>\n

At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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