San Antonio, Texas, has once again secured its position as one of MovieMaker's Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker for the sixth consecutive year. The City's Department of Arts & Culture and Film Commission proudly made the announcement, revealing that San Antonio is among the 25 top cities recognized by MovieMaker.
Joining three other Texas cities, namely El Paso, Dallas, and Austin, San Antonio is featured alongside prominent film industry hubs such as Albuquerque, Atlanta, and Toronto. MovieMaker's annual list is compiled through surveys, production spending analysis, consideration of tax incentives, additional research, and personal visits whenever feasible.
Key factors contributing to San Antonio's recognition include the availability of turnkey film options and free permitting on 250 city-owned locations. The San Antonio Supplement Film Incentive, a growing film culture, and a dedicated Film Commission staff were also highlighted as reasons for the city's selection.
Tim Molloy, Editor of MovieMaker Magazine, commended San Antonio as one of the best film towns in the country, citing attractive incentives, a thriving film culture with numerous theaters and festivals, and cinematic locations. Molloy emphasized the city's accommodating cost of living, providing filmmakers with an opportunity to enjoy a high quality of life while pursuing their projects.
Recent notable productions filmed in San Antonio include feature films and documentaries such as "The Answer to My Prayer" and "The Beat of a Nation - Kerouac's Road," TV/streaming shows like "American Historia with John Leguizamo" and "Planet Barbecue – Season 1," and commercials for brands like Bank of America, State Farm Insurance, and Whataburger.
Krystal Jones, Executive Director of the Department of Arts & Culture, expressed optimism about the continued growth of San Antonio's media production industries. With the end of industry strikes and fully funded film incentive programs, the city anticipates positive economic benefits for its cast, crew, vendors, and support services.
San Antonio's commitment to the arts and filmmaking is evident in its ongoing investment in the Supplemental San Antonio Film Incentive Program. This program offers qualified productions up to a 7.5-percent rebate on approved San Antonio spending and eligible expenditures. When combined with the State of Texas' Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program, projects filming in San Antonio can potentially benefit from a total incentive of up to 30 percent, making it the most competitive city-based film incentive program in the state of Texas.
For MovieMaker’s 2024 list of Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker and complete details, visit MovieMaker.com. For more about filming in San Antonio, including the San Antonio Supplemental Film Incentive, visit FilmSanAntonio.com.
