ELECTRIC SLIDES

San Antonio artists and more wrap up dynamic PechaKucha season

PechaKucha is back with a new round of stories.

Photo by Ben Yanto

San Antonio’s most creative locals are grabbing the mic again. PechaKucha series is closing out its 2025 season on November 6 at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, giving notable locals the chance to share their stories, one image at a time.

PechaKucha is a global arts and culture event format in which each speaker shares 20 images that advance automatically every 20 seconds, for a total presentation time of six minutes and 40 seconds. Since its debut in San Antonio in 2011, the series has become a platform for local creatives, thinkers, and changemakers to share their passions and projects with the community.

Volume 47 will showcase a talented mix of local voices, emceed by poet and former Texas Poet Laureate Naomi Shihab Nye. The presenters include:

Debby Andersen, a certified Ayurvedic practitioner and yoga therapist specializing in women’s health
Agosto Cuellar, a fashion designer and activist whose heritage-inspired work celebrates Latine culture
Attie Jonker, a master craftsman whose treehouses and playscapes have become local landmarks at the Doseum and Zoo School
Juliette Montoya, co-owner of Headquarters and Strangers salons
Oscar Perez, founder of Tio Pelón’s Salsita
Ed Saavedra, a visual artist whose work is featured in the McNay Art Museum and the San Antonio Museum of Art
Tori Santos, a community choreographer, tech leader at USAA, and cofounder of Tejanas Defend Democracy

The night begins with live music from Kitten Mitten, a band known for turning their pets’ antics into heartfelt and playful anthems. Attendees will enjoy complimentary bites from Liberty Bar, Tio Pelón’s Salsita, Cheesy Jane’s, Bakery Lorraine, and Tobin Catering. Drinks and cocktails will be available for purchase.

Tickets are $10 per person and can be purchased online at Tobin Center PechaKucha. Doors open at 6:30 pm for a welcome reception, with presentations beginning at 7:30 pm.

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SCREEN TEST

San Antonio rolls out red carpet with new film incentive program

Photo by Machina Cinema

San Antonio hoped to attract more productions with new film incentives.

San Antonio is rolling out the red carpet for film and commercial productions. On Thursday, November 6, the City Council approved major updates to the local film incentive program, creating what city leaders are branding Texas’ most robust rebate package to lure filmmakers to Alamo City.

The revamped program, now called the San Antonio Film Incentive (SAFI), is administered by the San Antonio Film Commission and aligns with the Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program (TMIIP), the state’s $1.5 billion investment in film over the next decade. Combined with statewide incentives, filmmakers can now qualify for up to a 45% rebate, capped at $250,000 per project.

The goal is to attract high-profile productions, expand local hiring, and offer professional development opportunities for emerging talent, including students.

“Today’s approval marks a reinvigorated dedication to the future of film, television, and media in San Antonio,” said Krystal Jones, Director of the Department of Arts & Culture, in a release. “With expanded eligibility and new workforce development opportunities, we’re empowering local artists, crew members, and emerging talent — including students — to take part in and benefit from the remarkable growth of our film industry right here in San Antonio.”

Key updates to the program include:

Higher rebate levels: Base rebates jump from 7.5% to 10%, with additional 2% uplifts for productions meeting local hire and veteran hire thresholds.
Expanded eligibility: Commercial productions are now included, alongside feature films, shorts, documentaries, TV episodes, webisodes, and music videos.
Workforce development requirements: Productions must provide on-set learning experiences, workshops, or training for students through local college partnerships.

The incentives hope to build on the momentum established in the past few years. Since its post-pandemic restart in 2022, San Antonio has seen film permits jump 165%, from 221 in 2022 to 586 in 2025, while total film days nearly doubled to 710. With SAFI and TMIIP combined, the Alamo City now offers the most generous rebate in Texas, putting it on par with competitive markets like New Mexico.

Some of those permits have put San Antonio in the national spotlight. In 2024, the Paramount+ series 1923 filmed parts of its second season downtown, joining a list of other notable Hollywood moments like Miss Congeniality, Selena, and Undone.

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