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January 31, 2012 Steve Alberts, 512-583-7210
Gary Bond, 512-583-7229
MovieMaker Magazine again ranks Austin among top destinations to live and make movies
Annual ranking praises city’s strong incentives and substantial infrastructure
AUSTIN, TX – Once again, Texas’ capital city has been recognized as a top destination to live and make movies. Austin was ranked #2 in MovieMaker magazine’s twelfth annual list of the “Top Ten Cities to be an Independent Moviemaker.” Austin has appeared on this notable list since it began more than a decade ago; last year, Austin was ranked #4.
“Independent moviemakers in particular benefit from a local government that seeks to make moviemaking more affordable,” says MovieMaker. “Most city-owned locations are made available at “cost,” and many permit fees for shooting on streets, sidewalks and alleys are waived.” The article goes on to mention Austin’s growing popularity with filmmakers because of such financial incentives as a film discount card and the Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program which offers rebates for filming in Austin.
“Independent filmmakers have a wealth of resources in Austin,” says Gary Bond of the Austin Film Commission. “Aside from our office, the Texas Film Commission and a film-friendly government, Austin is home to the Austin Film Society (founded by Richard Linklater), which has awarded more than $100,000 to new filmmakers, local film support organizations, filmmaker newsgroups, networking communities and film festivals, notably the Austin Film Festival and SXSW.”
Within the last year, Edgen Films, a local independent film development / production company, working with D7 Studios shot the Feature Film The Curse of Babylon in Austin. The film is currently in active distribution talks. Other local projects included Cat Candler’s independent film Hellion and Peter Mackenzie’s Doonby.
Other cities listed among MovieMaker’s top ten cities include, in order: (1) New Orleans, LA (3) Albuquerque, NM (4) Seattle, WA (5) New York, NY (6) Boston, MA (7) Atlanta, GA (8) Chicago, IL (9) Richmond, VA and (10) Wichita, KS.
For more information about the Austin film industry, visit www.austintexas.org/film.
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About Austin CVB
The Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau is the official destination marketing and sales organization for the City of Austin. An accredited member of the Destination Marketing Association International, Austin CVB is charged with marketing Austin nationally and internationally as a premier business and leisure destination, thus enriching our community’s overall quality of life.
