Houston wants to be a film city. The Houston Feature Film Incentive Program (HFFIP) is its opening bid. But before you pack the grip truck, you should know what you're actually getting.
The Numbers
The HFFIP is a rebate program administered by the Houston Film Commission, a division of Houston First Corporation. Here's the deal:
- 10% rebate on approved Houston-area spending
- Maximum rebate per project: $100,000
- Narrative feature films and scripted television series only
- Funds distributed after project completion
- Must apply through the Houston Film Commission directly — no public application portal
That $100,000 cap is the number to focus on. On a $1 million Houston spend, you get $100K back. On a $5 million Houston spend, you still get $100K back. The percentage caps out fast.
How It Stacks With the State Program
The HFFIP sits on top of the state TMIIIP program. If you're spending $1.5M+ in Texas (with at least 60% shot in-state, 35% Texas crew, 35% Texas cast), you qualify for up to 25% base + additional uplifts from the state. Add Houston's 10% local and you're looking at a combined package in the 31–35% range — though Houston's cap limits the local piece.
Compare that to San Antonio, which just overhauled its program in November 2025:
| | Houston (HFFIP) | San Antonio (SAFI) | |---|---|---| | Base local rebate | 10% | 10% | | Local hire uplift | — | +2% (35-50% local crew/cast) | | Veteran hire uplift | — | +2% (5% veteran crew/cast) | | Max local rebate per project | $100,000 | $250,000 | | Commercials eligible | No | Yes (new in 2025) | | Combined with TMIIIP | Up to ~35% | Up to ~45% | | Workforce dev requirement | No | Yes |
San Antonio's program is more aggressive. Up to 14% locally, $250K per project cap, and commercials now eligible. The city saw a 165% increase in film permits from 2022 to 2025 (221 → 586). That's not a coincidence — money talks.
What Houston Has That San Antonio Doesn't
Infrastructure advantages:
- George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) — major international hub; easier for talent flying in from LA, NY, London
- Port of Houston — industrial, maritime, and port landscapes you can't replicate elsewhere in Texas
- NASA / Johnson Space Center — the only city in the state with actual space infrastructure (see: Houston Cinema Arts Festival's Space City Short Film Competition, judged by NASA employees)
- Medical Center — the world's largest; unmatched for medical/science-themed productions
- Population diversity — Houston is the most ethnically diverse major city in the U.S.; casting depth for any demographic
The problem is studio space. Houston does not have a purpose-built large studio campus comparable to SGS Studios (Fort Worth) or Austin Studios. Productions shoot in warehouses, commercial spaces, and on location. Until Houston builds or converts dedicated stage space, it will remain a location city, not a stage city.
The Honest Assessment
HFFIP is a start. The $100K cap makes it a sweetener, not a dealmaker. For indie features with Houston spends under $1M, it's meaningful. For larger productions, the state incentive is doing the heavy lifting and Houston's local piece is a nice line item, not a deciding factor.
Houston First launched HFFIP in early 2025 and issued a formal announcement in January 2026. The program is still young. If the city is serious about competing with Fort Worth (which has SGS Studios and Media Production Development Zone status) and San Antonio (which just outflanked everyone on rebate percentages), the cap needs to go up and the city needs to address its studio gap.
The bones are there. The money needs to grow.
Contact
Alfred Cervantes, Houston Film Commission acervantes@houstonfilmcommission.com 713-853-8957
Texas Incentives Guide: texas.film/incentives