Texas Media Production Alliance

07/10/2025

🎬 Texas Storytellers: Apply now for Square Peg Social in Austin!

Ari Aster & Lars Knudsen’s Square Peg (the minds behind Hereditary, Midsommar, and Beau Is Afraid) are launching an in-person filmmaker lab in Austin, and they’re accepting applications now.

This isn’t just a workshop — it’s a chance to develop your original project alongside the Square Peg team, with creative support, mentorship, and the backing of A24’s bold, genre-forward vision.

Open to writers, directors, and creatives with projects in development — especially those who are pushing boundaries and ready to make something unforgettable.

🚨 Deadline: July 29th, 2025
📲 Apply here:

Square Peg Social is a four-day, intimate gathering designed to break down the walls and barriers that too often exist within the film industry. Real connect...

07/10/2025

Long-lost Shelley Duvall film “Dreams in the Attic” premiered in Houston!

🎬 Filmed in Houston and Galveston back in 1999 and directed by Texas Southern University professor Bob Willems, this magical family fantasy was shelved for 25 years—until now. The film stars the late, great Texas icon Shelley Duvall as Aunt Nellie, who runs a whimsical costume-shop attic where dreams come to life. The cast also includes Haylie Duff, Mary McDonough, and Vanessa Lee Chester.

📅 The world premiere was July 7th — on what would have been Shelley’s 76th birthday — at the historic River Oaks Theatre, with a sold-out screening and Q&A featuring cast, crew, and archival experts. Additional screenings run July 10–12, with a special encore on July 12 including an extended introduction.

🎟️ Plus: A full Shelley Duvall retrospective is playing throughout July, with screenings of Time Bandits, Popeye, Nashville, Thieves Like Us and more.

📍 A true Texas treasure — locally funded, homegrown talent, and long whispered about among lost-film lovers. Now, it finally gets the premiere it deserves.

The mysterious film, which features several other familiar faces, finally premiered 25 years after it was shot and rejected by Disney.

07/10/2025

✨ Cultural shifts rarely happen in an instant, but there are times when you can mark a period as having had an outsized influence on everything that came after.

👽 "Future Was Now," a series of screenings presented by creative agency Talented Friends, is based on one such influential period: the summer of 1982, when some of the most beloved science fiction films of all time hit theaters within weeks of one another.

🎞️ Every Wednesday from now through the first week of August, Dallas moviegoers can visit the Texas Theatre (or the Majestic Theatre on July 30) to enjoy a seminal science fiction classic on the big screen!

The series, inspired by a book of the same name, is bringing some of the biggest sci-fi and fantasy films ever to Dallas.

06/30/2025

📣 Big News for Texas & the Film Industry!

📍 just leveled up—Taylor Sheridan’s Bosque Ranch Productions has leased a whopping 450,000 sq ft across eight sound stages at AllianceTexas 🌟 A bold move for Texas’ growing film hub!

🎬 These stages will support Sheridan’s hits like Landman and Special Ops: Lioness, with Fort Worth buildings now in the running for the state’s Qualified Media Production incentive. Sheridan championed the revamped incentive program and is turning vision into reality — boosting Texas as a filmmaking powerhouse.

🤝 Hillwood (Ross Perot Jr.) sealed the deal—thanks to a successful partnership during the first season of Landman & filming at The Barn, an elegant Circle T Ranch venue.

💰 With Texas’ incentive program strengthened (including Sheridan’s input), Fort Worth is setting itself up to retain blockbuster productions and drive economic growth across our region.

🎤 In Sheridan’s words: “None of those shows could have been produced in Texas without financial backing” — a testament to the impact of policy + partnership.

He's planning to take full advantage of Texas' new film incentive funds.

06/30/2025

🎙️ Big shoutout to Dallas filmmaker Shaun Michael Colón on the world premiere of Age of Audio at this year’s Oak Cliff Film Festival!

His new documentary—seven years in the making—dives deep into podcasting’s rise as a creative craft, tech revolution, and billion-dollar industry, featuring voices like Ira Glass, Marc Maron, Kevin Smith, Kara Swisher, and Roman Mars.

From indie beginnings to global recognition, Age of Audio captures the art, hustle, and heart of audio storytelling. Houston grant backing gave this project renewed momentum, and Shaun’s dedication—described as balancing “insanity and dedication”—reflects the very spirit of our independent creators in Texas .

Shaun Michael Colón's 'Age of Audio' film features interviews with such podcasting giants as Ira Glass, Marc Maron and Kevin Smith -- just to name a few.

06/26/2025

This is the moment Texas filmmakers, crew, and production companies have been waiting for!

TONIGHT All Entertainment Business and TXMPA will try to answer the $1.5 Billion Question: How Will SB22 Impact Your Career?

Texas Senate Bill 22 (SB22) is now law, securing a $1.5 billion investment in film, TV, and digital media production for Texas over the next 10 years.

But what does that actually mean for you?

Join us Pershing Hall in Austin at 6p or watch Live on Zoom at 6:30p and find out!

AEB VIP Members can RSVP to this event for free!
https://www.allentertainmentbusiness.com/products/communities/v2/allaustinentertainmentbusiness/meetups

RSVP in person as a non-member:
https://www.allentertainmentbusiness.com/offers/ihj5Bbnd/checkout

RSVP to join us on Zoom:
https://www.allentertainmentbusiness.com/offers/6EPdKF3q/checkout

06/25/2025

🎉 Congratulations to the City of Floresville, now officially a Film Friendly Texas Certified Community! 🌟

Just southeast of San Antonio, this charming town brings more than small‑town warmth—it’s got real character:

🎬 Cinematic roots: Floresville’s historic downtown and Wilson County courthouse have graced the silver screen—featured in Spielberg’s Sugarland Express (1974), Jackie Chan’s The Big Brawl (1980), The Great Waldo Pepper starring Robert Redford, and even the Netflix Selena series.

🥜 Peanut Capital of Texas: A proud agricultural hub since the early 1900s, Floresville hosts the iconic annual Peanut Festival every October, celebrating its status as the Peanut Capital of Texas.

🍀 Lucky charm: Home to the renowned Squeaks Convenience Store—one of Texas’s luckiest lottery ticket retailers, drawing hopefuls from across the state.

With this new certification, Floresville is ready to welcome even more filmmakers—backed by a proven history of cinematic appeal, engaging local flavor, and community pride.

🎬 Here’s to more story-driven next chapters in Floresville!

06/25/2025

Big congratulations to the Waco Independent Film Festival for earning a spot on MovieMaker Magazine’s 2025 list of “50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee”—their first time on the list!

This rising-star festival stood out for its filmmaker-first focus, meaningful networking, and real impact—like helping bring the Oscar-qualifying short The Heart of Texas to life through their production grant. 🌟

We’re so proud to see Texas festivals continuing to grow, connect, and elevate the stories that matter.

TXMPA members will receive 15% off badges -- DM us for the code!!!

06/23/2025

🎮 25 years ago today, 'Deus Ex' hit the scene — and changed the game.

Developed by Ion Storm Austin and released June 23, 2000, this Texas-made masterpiece pushed the boundaries of storytelling, gameplay, and player choice. A true legend in gaming history, born right here in the Lone Star State.

Happy anniversary to a title that continues to inspire! Here’s to the bold visionaries behind the pixels — and to 25 more years of Texas-made innovation.

Warren Spector, Director of the original Deus Ex, reflects on the game's momentous 25-year anniversary. Happy 25th birthday, Deus Ex! 😎

06/23/2025

We're thrilled to share that SB 22 is now law, securing an unprecedented $1.5 billion over the next decade for Texas’ moving image incentive fund. This moment is truly historic — a landmark victory for our industry and for every creative professional who calls Texas home.

This achievement is the result of years of relentless advocacy and vision from TXMPA leadership, past and present. We are deeply grateful for their tireless efforts to build a sustainable, thriving future for film, television, commercial, gaming, animation, and XR production in our state.

To our many steadfast partners this session: thank you. It was your dedication and collective effort that helped bring about this landmark victory. We are especially grateful to the Texas House and Senate, and we commend the leadership of Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, Senator Joan Huffman, and Representative Todd Hunter for championing this transformative investment in Texas jobs, culture, and economic opportunity.

Most of all, we are immensely proud of how our community showed up. You made calls, wrote letters, testified – you shared your stories. Together, we demonstrated the strength, unity, and power of the Texas moving image industry.

The new biennium begins September 1, 2025, and with it, a new era for our state’s media production industry. The future of Texas media begins now.

As we step into this next chapter, you can continue to count on TXMPA to keep you informed, empowered, and engaged. Thank you for being a part of this incredible movement. Onward friends

06/18/2025

🎬 CineFestival San Antonio is turning up the volume on local and regional Latino talent—from rising voices to icons like Johnny Canales! 🌟

Rooted in Texas stories and powered by comunidad, this fest proves la cultura is alive, thriving, and ready for its close-up.

Experience the best of Texas filmmaking with feature films highlighting Latinx cinema at the 46th CineFestival in San Antonio.

06/18/2025

🎬✨ Big news from the Borderland!

The El Paso Film Festival has ONCE AGAIN been named one of MovieMaker Magazine’s Top 50 Festivals Worth the Entry Fee — a huge honor and a well-deserved celebration of this bold, inclusive, and inspiring Texas festival.

Now in its 8th year, the El Paso Film Festival is a cinematic celebration of stories from Texas, Mexico, and the vibrant cultures that call the border home. It’s three days of smart, spirited films in a city that knows how to cheer everyone on.

📅 Mark your calendars: September 25–27
🎟️ VIP badges are on sale now — and many events are free!

Congratulations to the El Paso Film Festival team — you're showing the world what Texas filmmaking is all about.

EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The El Paso Film Festival, now in its eighth year, has been named one of the top 50 film festivals worth attending. The festival, which will be held Sept. 25-27 in Dow…