View the following incentives and funding resources for film and media production.
Austin Creative Content Incentive Program
The Austin Creative Content Incentive Program offers incentives of up to 0.75% to qualifying film and television productions.
- 0.50% of wages paid to local residents (Austin Metro Area)
- 0.25% if the project is produced by Austin-based company or promotes Austin
For questions and additional information, contact the Global Business Expansion Division's Haileigh Meyers at 512-974-2254.
Learn more about the program and guidelines here.
City Permits for Film Production
Visit the Film Production in Austin – City Permits webpage to learn more about filming on City property and in right-of-ways.
Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program
The Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program offers qualifying feature films, television programs, commercials, video games, and visual effects projects the opportunity to receive a payment of 5-22.5% of eligible Texas spending upon completion of a review of their Texas expenditures. Visit the Texas Film Commission for more information.
State of Texas Tax Exemptions & Refunds
Texas also offers:
- Up-front Sales Tax Exemptions on most items rented or purchased for direct use in production;
- Refunds of the 6% State Occupancy Tax on hotel rooms occupied for more than 30 consecutive days;
- Refunds on Fuel Tax paid on fuel used off-road.
Visit the Texas Film Commission for more information.
City of Austin Cultural Funding
The Economic Development Department’s Cultural Arts Funding Program supports cultural arts programs for the Austin community by contracting with arts organizations for specific services. The Cultural Arts Division has administered various funding programs since 1981 through the Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) authorized by state law. Visit Cultural Funding and contact Jesus Pantel at 512-974-7854 to learn more.
Austin Film Society Grants
The Austin Film Society awards grants to emerging film and video artists in the state of Texas through the AFS Grant Program. Since 1996, $1.25 million in cash and $141,790 in goods and services to over 370 projects. In addition to grants for production, post-production and distribution, we provide cash stipends to Texas filmmakers traveling to prestigious film festivals through its AFS Travel Grant program.