Texas Filmmakers Showcase: Ya'Ke's "SECOND COMING"

This weekend, San Antonio native filmmaker Ya'Ke had the LA premiere of his student Academy Award-nominated short film, "SECOND COMING", at the Texas Filmmakers Showcase. Pictured are Film San Antonio's Janet Vasquez, Ya'Ke and Ralph Lopez (Ya'Ke's producer) at the AUGUST EVENING reception at the LA Film Festival later that night.

Los Angeles Film Festival: AUGUST EVENING

Janet Vasquez (Film San Antonio's location coordinator) and I just returned from the Los Angeles Film Festival, where we hosted a reception for the film "AUGUST EVENING", which had its world premiere there on June 24th. Pictured from left to right are: Connie Hill (producer), Veronica Loren (actor), Chris Eska (writer, producer, director), yours truly, and Pete Castaneda (actor). Much of the film takes place in San Antonio, and was shot in SA in the summer of 2005.

Chris announced Sunday evening after the screening that he had signed a distribution deal for a theatrical release of the film. Look for the film to premiere on screens throughout the US in the months to come. Congratulations Chris!

Read this great review of the film in the LA Weekly.

SAUFF - This Weekend!

The San Antonio Underground Film Festival launched its 2007 event this morning with a press conference at the Historic Aztec on the River Theater. From left to right, Drew Mayer-Oakes (yours truly), Lane Smiley (Aztec theater manager), Adam Rocha (director/founder SAUFF), Matt Ryan (filmmaker, "Nowhere Fast"), and Karthik Nagarajan (Filmmaker “Haze”). Not pictured but also attending, Mike Fisher (filmmaker, “Fantastic Fortune”).

From fest director, Adam Rocha:

This ain’t Hollywood, this ain’t Sundance…it’s the San Antonio Underground Film Festival. Yes, we're back, kicking and screaming from the dead, and this year the SAUFF will premiere at two new locations: the renovated Aztec on the River and the newly constructed Jean Longwith Radio, Television and Film Building at San Antonio College.

During this year’s three-day event, audiences can see 62 independent films from around the globe. The SAUFF has existed as an indie filmmaker’s showcase for the past dozen years and we want to celebrate lucky No. 13 in style.

Check our blog for the latest updates on submissions selected for viewing, free workshops, special guest appearances and the complete event schedule at www.safilm.com!

Texas Film Incentive in Place

STATE FINANCIAL INCENTIVE PACKAGE MAKES IT EVEN SMARTER
TO FILM IN SAN ANTONIO!

The Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program is now in place, having been signed into law by Governor Rick Perry. Film producers can now benefit from a statewide financial incentive, putting us on the playing field with our neighboring states. When at least 25% of a film project is shot in the San Antonio area, productions may qualify for a 6.25% cash grant (up to a $2M maximum grant, based on Texas spending). Combine that with our state sales tax exemption, and production companies can trim film budgets even more (feature films must report at least $1M in Texas spending to qualify for the grant application process). Most television programs can qualify as well as commercial productions that meet in-state spending requirements.

Filming in San Antonio just got a whole lot better!

Read all the specifics at the Texas Film Commission website, http://www.texasfilmcommission.com/