SAN ANTONIO (November 6, 2025) – Today, San Antonio City Council approved significant updates to its current film incentive program, which, when combined with new statewide incentives, creates up to a 45% rebate package (with a maximum per project of $250,000) for qualifying film and commercial productions filmed in the city’s metro area. This approval marks a major milestone in establishing San Antonio as the most financially competitive destination in Texas for film projects, surpassing offerings from all other major cities in the state and placing San Antonio on a competitive level with surrounding states, including New Mexico.
Administered by the San Antonio Film Commission, the redesigned incentive program—guided by the recent passage of Texas Senate Bill 22—aligns San Antonio’s local efforts with the state’s historic $1.5 billion investment in the Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program (TMIIP) over the next decade. It aims to attract more high-profile productions, encourage local hiring, and enhance professional development opportunities for emerging talent.
“Today’s approval marks a reinvigorated dedication to the future of film, television, and media in San Antonio,” said Krystal Jones, Director of the City’s Department of Arts & Culture. “With expanded eligibility and new workforce development opportunities, we’re empowering local artists, crew members, and emerging talent—including students—to take part in and benefit from the remarkable growth of our film industry right here in San Antonio.”
Key Incentive Updates:
- Increased Rebate Levels: The base rebate increased from 7.5% to 10%, with two potential uplifts of 2% each for meeting additional local hire (35-50% of crew/cast) and veteran hire (5% of crew/cast) thresholds.
- Expanded Eligibility for Commercials: For the first time, commercials are now eligible for incentives under specific guidelines, in addition to feature films, short films, documentaries, tv episodes/series, webisodes and music videos.
- Workforce Development Initiatives: Productions must fulfill a workforce development requirement, which could include on-set learning experiences, workshops, or professional training opportunities for students in partnership with local colleges and universities–further enhancing the industry workforce pipeline.
- Name Change: The incentive program name changed from Supplemental San Antonio Incentive (SSAI) to San Antonio Film Incentive (SAFI), as it can be used with the State’s program or on its own.
Since the program’s post-pandemic 2022 restart, San Antonio experienced a 165% increase in film permits, growing from 221 in 2022 to 586 in 2025, and total film days nearly doubled to 710. This momentum highlights the city’s expanded production capacity and rising national visibility as a creative hub.
With this film incentive update, San Antonio’s incentive remains the most competitive in the state. When combined with TMIIP, productions in San Antonio can qualify for a rebate of up to 45% on costs, which is the most competitive in the state.
For full program details and eligibility guidelines, visit FilmSanAntonio.com or contact the San Antonio Film Commission for permit information.