Filming Resources

Film Festivals
Austin hosts several annual film festivals.
SXSW Film Conference and Festival
Austin Film Festival-Heart of Film Screenwriter's Conference.
Austin Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival
Cine Las Americas
Fantastic Fest

Continuing Education
The Austin Film Society, created in 1985, started with a group of film enthusiasts gathering to watch movies that would not have general distribution. The Austin Film Society has now grown into a support organization for filmmakers. The Directors Guild of America recognized the Society's advocacy of regional film production and culture with a DGA Honors Award. The Austin Film Society awards grants to filmmakers and internships for students in the film industry.

Reel Women offers a resource for women in the film profession. The group hosts a monthly happy hour that allows professionals to network with their counterparts in a creative environment. Motion Media Arts Center, formerly Cinemaker Co-op, educates the public through film, video and digital arts. It offers workshops for local crew.

Austin is home to the country's largest university, the University of Texas, which has a well-respected film department. Austin Community College's Radio, Television and Film department also provides courses on the subject. Many local businesses offer internships for students to learn more about the film business.

The Austin School of Film is a non-profit independent film, art, and technology center that supports every aspect of production from idea to distribution.

The Digital Media Academy is accredited by Stanford University in California and has a program at the University of Texas in Austin each summer with weeklong courses for teenagers and adults. They are the only Apple Authorized Training Center in Austin and offer a series of Final Cut Pro and Studio Integration courses.

The State Theatre School of Acting offers a wide range of classes for actors, including courses such as Acting for Film, Improvisation and Acting & Auditioning for the Commercial.

Film Crews
Although Texas is a right to work state, trade unions maintain a strong and talented presence. The statewide union organization, Local 484 Studio Mechanics, is headquartered in Austin. To learn more about Local 484 or for rates, please visit www.iatse484.com. The Teamsters Local 657 provides drivers and rates. All recent films with a production budget of $1 million or greater were made with union crews. If looking for a local crew, refer to either the Austin Film Directory or the Texas Production Manual.

Incentives
Filming in Austin is easy. The State of Texas offers tax exemptions for equipment and services necessary for the production of commercial projects. Just complete a State of Texas tax-exempt certificate. No hotel tax is charged for any stay at a hotel of 30 consecutive days or more. This includes state and local tax exemptions.

Permits
While there are requirements for closing a street, sidewalk or alleyway or using a city park, no "permits" are required to expose film in the City of Austin. For information on City of Austin permits or use of city property contact Jim Butler, Creative Industries Development Manager with the City of Austin at jim.butler@ci.austin.tx.us or 512-974-6318. The City of Austin is working to make Austin as film-friendly as possible. For details about those specific efforts, visit www.cityofaustin.org/film

For quick access to the City's permit process visit Film Austin's website.

Weather

For up to the minute weather information, please visit www.weather.com

Hotline
If you are looking to work as a crew member or be cast in a local production, please browse the Texas Production Manual.The information is updated regularly, so be sure to check often for the latest news from across the state.