Houston First pushing new film incentive program to attract major productions, boost local economy
Houston is taking another step toward becoming a filmmaking powerhouse.
Houston is taking another step toward becoming a filmmaking powerhouse.
Houston First Corporation, the organization that oversees the city’s convention, tourism, and arts operations, announced a new film incentive program aimed at drawing more movie and TV productions to the Space City.
The announcement follows the Texas Legislature’s passage of Senate Bill 22, which set aside $300 million in state funding for film incentives every two years through 2035. That statewide effort has already sparked renewed interest in Texas as a filming destination.
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This new initiative, managed by the Houston Film Commission, will offer productions 10% back on local spending (up to $100,000 per project) with $400,000 in total funding available each year. Officials say the incentive is designed to make Houston more competitive within Texas and across the country.
“Houston is one of the most diverse and visually dynamic cities in the country,” Michael Heckman, President and CEO of Houston First, said in a statement. “This new incentive program sends a strong message that we’re open for business when it comes to film and television production.”
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To qualify, productions must complete at least 60% of filming within a 60-mile radius of downtown Houston and show $500,000 or more in local spending. More than half of the cast and crew must also be Texas residents, and the main production office must be based in Houston.
Houston’s film industry has already seen a boost in recent years. In 2024, projects such as Netflix’s “Mo” and the Paramount series “1923” filmed in the region, generating more than $27 million in direct spending and $81 million in economic impact.
“Incentive programs have long played a pivotal role in the film industry,” Alfred Cervantes, Executive Director of the Houston Film Commission, added. “Now Texas — and Houston specifically — can better compete for projects. This new, more level playing field will be a game-changer for us.”
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Groups like Media for Texas (MFT) have rallied around projects like these by working to increase state incentives as well as in-state productions to ensure more projects remain in the state, while also supporting local talent.
“It really is pushing to get people to tell their stories all across the state and not just focusing on our cities,” Chase Musselwhite, MFT Co-founder told KPRC 2 in a previous article. “We love our cities, they’ll always have production there, but I think also filmmakers gravitate towards Texas because we have such a vast diversity of landscapes and people and communities, and so this bill will give you an extra uplift if you’re shooting outside of a city."
For more information about eligibility and application details, visit the Houston Film Commission website by clicking here.
