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Governor Greg Abbott has extended an invitation to communities across Texas to participate in the upcoming Film Friendly Texas Forum, scheduled to take place on May 16 in New Braunfels. The event, hosted by the Texas Film Commission, aims to assist communities in pursuing strategies for local job creation and economic expansion through becoming Film Friendly Texas or Digital Media Friendly Texas Certified Communities.
"Texas is a mecca for media production, and we are seeing the positive economic impact in communities of all sizes across our great state," stated Governor Abbott. "With a rich history of film and television production spanning more than a century, Texas is recognized today as the premier destination for production across media industries, including digital media."
The Forum is set to offer a platform for professional development, networking opportunities, panel discussions, and workshops tailored to assist communities in becoming certified as Film Friendly Texas and Digital Media Friendly Texas Communities. Governor Abbott emphasized the importance of leveraging the advantages of these certifications, stating, "The Texas Film Commission works with our community partners to market their unique attributes, attract new investments in media production, and drive local job growth."
The target audience for the Forum includes community leaders employed by city or county government, convention and visitors bureaus, chambers of commerce, or local economic development corporations who will serve as the designated liaisons for facilitating media and digital media production inquiries.
Attendees will have the opportunity to partake in workshops such as "How to Become a Film Friendly Texas Certified Community" and "How to Become a Digital Media Friendly Texas Certified Community." Participation in a Texas Film Commission workshop is a necessary step for certification as a Film Friendly Texas Community or a Digital Media Friendly Texas Community.
The Film Friendly Texas Certified Community program, established in 2007, currently boasts over 175 certified communities focused on developing media production industries to stimulate job creation and economic growth in the state. Additionally, the newly launched Digital Media Friendly Texas Certified Community program aims to help Texas communities attract digital media production and foster job growth in areas such as animation, visual effects, video games, and extended reality.
Over the past five decades, the Texas Film Commission, operating within the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and Tourism, has played a pivotal role in promoting Texas as a premier destination for various forms of production, resulting in significant local spending and the creation of numerous production jobs across the state.
For those interested in registering for the Film Friendly Texas Forum or learning more about the certification programs, detailed information can be found on the official Texas government website.
The event is poised to be a significant opportunity for Texas communities to engage with industry experts, network, and explore avenues for economic growth through media production initiatives.