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"Elastic Hearts" filmmakers claim Texas denied tax credit for abortion content

Filmmakers of the indie film "Elastic Hearts," shot in Texas, claim their application for a Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program grant was denied due to the film's abortion storyline. The Avaz brothers say they were told the rejection followed a closed-door meeting from Governor Greg Abbott's office.

Where
Texas
When
Not stated in sources
Sources
Reported by 2 outlets

Taxes and money

The sources don't state an effect on taxes. They do state these figures.

  • Tax credit grantup to 31 percent1 Who pays or receives it: Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program

Does this affect you?

Who's involved

  • Milad Avazfilmmaker and director of 'Elastic Hearts'
  • Misam Avazproducer of 'Elastic Hearts'
  • Greg AbbottTexas Governor
  • Texas Film Commissionstate agency administering tax incentive program
  • Cole Sprouseactor in 'Elastic Hearts'
  • Darby Lee-Stackactor in 'Elastic Hearts'
  • Dean Norrisactor in 'Elastic Hearts'
  • Stephen Dorffactor in 'Elastic Hearts'

The facts

  • The film stars Cole Sprouse, Darby Lee-Stack, Dean Norris, and Stephen Dorff.1
  • The film follows a 19-year-old cello prodigy in rural Texas whose character discovers pregnancy and travels out of state to an abortion clinic.1
  • The Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program can provide up to 31 percent tax credit in grant money for eligible productions.1
  • Texas rules state the Film Commission may deny applications because of inappropriate content or content portraying Texas or Texans negatively.1
  • The application was rejected after an abnormally long delay with no formal written reason given.1
  • In 2019, Robert Rodriguez sued unsuccessfully after his 'Machete Kills' grant application was twice denied.1
  • The film was shot largely with a Texan crew.1

Who said what

These are statements and claims made by the people involved. They are reported, not verified.

  • Milad Avaz The grant was denied for political reasons following a closed-door meeting from Governor Abbott's office.1
  • Milad Avaz The abortion rights theme led to the denial.1
  • Milad Avaz Someone at the film commission said: 'You made a film about abortions in Texas. What did you expect?'1

How they headlined it

The same event, as each outlet put it. Marked words appear in only one outlet's headline.

  • ‘Elastic Hearts’ Filmmakers Claim Their Movie Was Denied a Texas Tax Incentive Over Abortion Storyline

    IndieWire, IMDb

  • Indie film reportedly denied Texas tax credit over abortion storyline

    A.V. Club

Sources

Outlets: 3 not rated Who's covering Texas →

These outlets were found through Google News headlines. Google decides which outlets appear there, and they lean mostly one way, so this sheet can only be as balanced as the reporting it was built from. Leanings are AllSides Media Bias Ratings.

  1. ‘Elastic Hearts’ Filmmakers Claim Their Movie Was Denied a Texas Tax Incentive Over Abortion Storyline IndieWire Not rated, October 26, 2026
  2. ‘Elastic Hearts’ Filmmakers Claim Their Movie Was Denied a Texas Tax Incentive Over Abortion Storyline IMDb Not rated, October 26, 2026
  3. Indie film reportedly denied Texas tax credit over abortion storyline A.V. Club Not rated, October 27, 2026

This sheet was written by AI from the sources above and adds nothing they don't state. Read the originals for full context.

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Keep reading

Rick Perry loses reelection to Fermi board of directors seat

Former Texas Governor Rick Perry failed to receive votes for reelection to the board of directors of Fermi, a planned data center and power generation company he co-founded, at an annual shareholder meeting Friday.

Rick Perry, Former Texas Governor and board member; Toby Neugebauer, Former CEO and co-founder; Fermi, Planned power and data center company and 1 more

One outletOnly left-leaning outlets reported thisFound via Google News

Texas Agriculture Department bars H-1B visa worker employers from state grants

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller announced that the Texas Department of Agriculture will no longer award eligible grants to businesses employing H-1B visa holders. Miller called on Gov. Greg Abbott and other statewide officials to adopt similar restrictions across their agencies.

Sid Miller, Texas Agriculture Commissioner; Greg Abbott, Governor; JD Vance, US Vice President and 1 more

Reported by 2 outletsFound via Google News

UT dedicates Architecture Library to Texas' first Black licensed architect

The University of Texas at Austin dedicated the John S. Chase Architecture and Planning Library on Oct. 22, honoring John S. Chase, Texas' first Black licensed architect and UT's first Black graduate from its School of Architecture. Chase's son and daughter-in-law made a $5 million gift to support the naming and endowments.

$5 million for gift for library naming and endowments

John S. Chase, First Black graduate of UT School of Architecture and Texas' first Black licensed architect; Anthony (Tony) Chase, Son of John S. Chase, made transformational gift; Dina Al-Sowayel, Daughter-in-law of John S. Chase, made transformational gift and 6 more

Reported by 2 outletsFound via Google News

Texas Agriculture Commissioner bars H-1B employers from TDA grants

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller announced that the Texas Department of Agriculture will no longer award eligible TDA-administered grants to businesses that employ H-1B visa holders, saying the policy prioritizes Texas workers and protects taxpayer funds.

Sid Miller, Texas Agriculture Commissioner; Texas Department of Agriculture, administers affected grants

Reported by 2 outletsFound via Google News

K-water and Austin sign agreement on AI water management technology

Korea Water Resources Corp. (K-water) and the City of Austin signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate on artificial intelligence-based water management. The agreement covers sharing best practices, holding joint seminars, and identifying pilot projects for local application.

Korea Water Resources Corp. (K-water), signatory to memorandum of understanding; City of Austin, signatory to memorandum of understanding; Michael Rogers, assistant city manager/deputy mayor of Austin, led city delegation and 2 more

Reported by 2 outletsFound via Google News

FCC to vote on allowing prisons to jam contraband cellphones

The Federal Communications Commission announced it will vote November 19 on rules allowing state and local prisons and jails to deploy cellphone-jamming equipment to stop unauthorized communications by inmates. Texas prisons have recovered hundreds of contraband phones in recent years.

Federal Communications Commission, Agency voting on cellphone-jamming rule; Brendan Carr, FCC Chairman announcing the vote; Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Operator of state prisons affected by proposed rule

Reported by 2 outletsFound via Google News

Texas Secretary of State flags voter records for citizenship verification

Election administrators in Central Texas confirmed voter rolls remain secure as early voting concluded. The Texas Secretary of State's Office flagged 2,724 voter files statewide for citizenship verification and referred 117 cases to the Attorney General's Office for investigation.

Jared Goldsmith, McLennan County Elections Administrator; James Stafford, Bell County Public Information Officer; Dan Patrick, Incumbent Republican Lt. Gov. and 3 more

Reported by 2 outletsFound via Google News

Texas federal judge fails to appear for misconduct investigative hearing

US District Judge Ada Brown, a federal judge in Dallas, failed to appear on Friday for an investigative interview ordered as part of a judicial conduct proceeding against her. She faced allegations of abandoning her docket and other misconduct claims.

Ada Brown, US District Judge in Dallas; Fifth Circuit, Federal judicial body overseeing the proceedings; Judicial investigators, Investigators in the conduct proceeding

Reported by 2 outletsFound via Google News

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