The San Antonio film scene is facing a very real problem — not one invented for an online op-ed, but one that genuinely threatens the future of filmmaking in our city: we’re struggling to retain our up-and-coming talent.
Like much of San Antonio, our film community is spread far and wide, which makes it hard to coordinate shoots, host events, or even simply connect. On top of that, we’re fragmented into cliques — and in my opinion, that just doesn’t work. We’re not yet a big enough scene to afford gatekeeping talent or resources from one another. San Antonio’s film scene is growing every day, and we should be lifting up those who bring us together — not building walls between us.
I do want to give major credit where it’s due. UTSA’s Film & Media program, which launched during my later years there, has done amazing work under the leadership of Paul Ardoin. He’s created a space where young filmmakers can thrive — and more importantly, keep thriving after graduation. The UTSA Film & Entertainment Club was also a huge part of my own development — it’s where I met many of the crew I still work with today, and some of my closest friends.
But we can’t ignore the draw of UT Austin’s RTF program. It’s well-established, only 70 miles away, and offers a stronger launchpad for young filmmakers — which means every year, we lose San Antonio creatives to Austin. I know UTSA will catch up, but for now, that pipeline is working against us.
The San Antonio Film Festival is another bright spot — it’s been a local hub for filmmakers for over 30 years and is a great place to network and find your creative circle. Still, compared to the Austin Film Festival or the global reach of SXSW, our impact is limited. And that’s something we need to address.
This isn’t just about bragging rights. San Antonio’s Film Commission currently offers up to 7.5% in local incentive rebates that can stack with the Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program. Additionally, there are no fees to film in city-owned locations as film permits are free. And yet, it still doesn’t feel this way.
More importantly: why should we care?
Because San Antonio is a city of artists. And our artists are leaving in search of opportunity. But the grass isn’t always greener on the other side of I-35. If we spent more time building our local network and uplifting the talent already here, I believe we’d see the kind of success we dream about — right here, at home.
I’ve met dozens of brilliant filmmakers in this city. We are good enough to stay. We are good enough to tell our own stories. And by building a community rooted in collaboration, not competition, we create something even more powerful than just another film credit — we create belonging.
The stories of New York, Los Angeles, and Austin have already been written. But in San Antonio, the page is still blank. You still have a chance to write your chapter in this city’s story. And if you do, why not do it alongside your best friends?
That’s not just valuable — it’s priceless. I love this city. I love its filmmakers. And I hope that one day, we’re struggling to manage the amount of talent coming into San Antonio — not the talent leaving it behind.
Until then, there’s work to be done — and movies to be made.