SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS & NETWORKING
Austin is home to many great film organizations: from community groups who screen adventurous new works by directors from around the world and host filmmaker development roundtables, to monthly local filmmaker meet-ups, to trade organizations helping artists keep their productions on track.
LOCAL FILM DEVELOPMENT & SCREENING ORGANIZATIONS
ALLIANCE FRANCAISE D'AUSTIN CINE-CLUB
Through the Alliance Française d'Austin, Ciné-Club gives the Austin community access to classic and modern French cinema in a curated, laid back atmosphere that also includes a networking mixer. Working with the French Ministry of Culture, Ciné-Club is able to bring in visiting French filmmakers to present and discuss their work.
AUSTIN FILM PROJECT
The Austin Film Project is a non-profit content creator, producing (and distributing) local projects to showcase to the community though regular screening and networking events. Meeting are held bi-weekly and open to everyone - where people can network, come up with new ideas and start new projects the Austin Film Project can help produce.
AUSTIN FILM SOCIETY
The Austin film Society (AFS) is a non-profit film society based in Austin, Texas. Founded by Richard Linklater in 1985 to exhibit independent, experimental, foreign and art films. The Austin Film Society also owns and maintains Austin Studios, hosts the annual Texas Film Hall of Fame gala, oversees the Texas Filmmakers' Production Fund grant program, the AFS Cinema and Austin Public.
BLACK FILM COLLECTIVE
The Black Film Collective is committed to supporting, educating and training Black filmmakers of all ages. The Black Film Collective is dedicated to increasing awareness of professional opportunities in the film industry and providing supportive services including local exhibition opportunities for films by Black filmmakers or about the Black experience.
FILM CONSORTIUM AUSTIN
Film Consortium Austin derives it name and programming from the San Diego based organization Film Consortium. The local chapter aims to facilitate a thriving artist-driven culture as well as helping to cultivate film content, short and long form, through an Austin filmmakers cooperative supported by local industry establishments.
HYPER REAL FILM CLUB
Hyper Real Film Club presents an eclectic mix of the world’s greatest movies and also seeks to build a special community around the moving image. Specializing in creating unique movie-watching experiences in unusual, thoughtful, and immersive pop-up environments, Hyper Real Film Club also amplifies local artists by creating opportunities for them to create and exhibit new work.
WOMEN IN FILM & TELEVISION AUSTIN
Women in Film and Television Austin works to connect, support and empower women in film and television industry in Austin. Women In Film advocates for and advances the careers of women working in the screen industries—to achieve parity and transform culture. Membership with WIFT Austin also includes access to any of our affiliated 60+ WIFTI chapters.
LOCAL NETWORKING MIXERS
AUSTIN ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS
Austin Entertainment Business meetup helps members network with success. Members can ask questions, get advice and be connected to the right people. Group members can introduce themselves to the group, exchange skills and get recommendations and referrals. The goal of "Austin Entertainment Business" is to help creatives with the business side of their careers.
AUSTIN FILM MEET
The Austin Film Meet is a support, networking, and collaboration group for indie film and media makers of all types and skill levels with the goal of encouraging a sense of community and pay-it-forward attitude within the group. Austin Film Meet hosts many live events including the Industry Open-Mic Mixer, which is typically held on the first Monday of the month at various venues in Austin.
NETWORK AUSTIN MIXER
The Network Austin Mixer is a networking get-together where people in the entertainment, film, music, and game industries can meet, forward their careers, and share ideas and information. Attendees are actors, filmmakers, screenwriters, producers, directors, agents, and crew members. Mixers are free and open to people who work in or are interested in film and media.
LOCAL FILM & TELEVISION FESTIVALS
AUSTIN FESTIVALS
There are over 25 diverse Austin-based festivals focusing on a marvelous array of unique cinema and television culture. In addition, many of the festivals host periodic year-round screenings outside their annual festival event that are open to the community and fantastic to way meet fellow film enthusiasts. The film festival section of our website provides greater details on each of the individual Austin-based film and television festivals, including event dates and links to each event's official website which will have screening and panel lineup information as well as call for entry and volunteer opportunities.
STATE-WIDE INDUSTRY ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION
TEXAS MOTION PICTURE ALLIANCE (TXMPA)
The TXMPA is a statewide non-profit industry advocacy organization for film, TV, commercial and video game makers. The goal of the TXMPA is to increase and improve production incentives legislation to grow the creative industries in Texas as well as keeping Texas competitive with other states.
STATE FILM OFFICE
TEXAS FILM COMMISSION
512-463-9200
The Texas Film Commission provides resources that serve the film, television, commercial, animation, visual effects and video game industries of Texas. Serving the public since 1971, the Texas Film Commission supports our state’s global position as a premier production destination across all media industries. If you want to produce your next project in Texas, staff is ready to connect you to Texas’ diverse locations, experienced workforce, and competitive production incentive program.
NATIONAL TRADE UNIONS
Although Texas is a right-to-work state, trade unions maintain a strong and talented presence. All recent Texas made films with a production budget of $1 million or greater were made with union crews.
DIRECTORS GUILD OF AMERICA (DGA)
The Directors Guild of America is a labor organization that represents the creative and economic rights of directors and members of the directorial team working in film, television, commercials, documentaries, news, sports and new media.
INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE OF THEATRICAL STAGE EMPLOYEES (IATSE) - LOCAL 484
IATSE - LOCAL 484, Studio Mechanics of Texas is the labor union that represents 130,000 film and television technicians from Accounting to Costume to Props to Scenic artists and every artisan in-between.
Laura King - Business Agent, Local 484
512-385-3466
TXBA484@gmail.com
4818 East Ben White, Ste 204
Austin, TX 78741
INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE OF THEATRICAL STAGE EMPLOYEES (IATSE) - LOCAL 600
IATSE - Local 600, International Cinematographers Guild is the labor union that represents: Directors of Photography, Camera Operators and Assistants, Visual Effects Supervisors, and Still Photographers.
LOCATION MANAGERS GUILD INTERNATIONAL (LMGI)
LMGI's primary goal is to raise awareness of the contributions location professionals make to the creative process.
PRODUCERS GUILD OF AMERICA (PGA)
The PGA is trade group that represents, protects and promotes the interests of all members of the producing team in film and television.
SCREEN ACTORS GUILD-AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TELEVISION & RADIO ARTISTS (SAG-AFTRA)
With a regional office in Dallas, SAG-AFTRA represents approximately 160,000 actors, announcers, program hosts, puppeteers, recording artists, stunt performers and voiceover artists.
Thomas Schwarz - Executive Director, DFW Local - SAG-AFTRA
SAG-AFTRA, Dallas–Fort Worth
214-363-8300
15110 Dallas Parkway #440
Dallas, Texas 75248
TEAMSTERS - LOCAL 657
The Teamsters - Motion Picture and Theatrical Trade Division represents workers in the motion picture industry largely responsible for trucking and for hauling freight for film productions but Teamsters can have other rolls too such the Locations department.
Frank Perkins - President & Business Manager, Local 657
210-590-2013
fperkins@teamsters657.com
8214 Roughrider Dr
San Antonio, Texas, 78239, USA
WRITERS GUILD OF AMERICA (WGA)
The WGA is a labor union composed of the thousands of writers who write the content for television shows, movies, news programs, documentaries, animation, and Internet and mobile phones (new media) that keep audiences constantly entertained and informed.