San Antonio Film Festival

What San Antonio Film Festival does

San Antonio Film Festival (SAFILM) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1994 that produces an annual independent film festival in San Antonio, Texas, currently in its 31st edition. Its core product is a multi-day festival running film screenings, awards ceremonies, panels (e.g., Anne Goursaud + Lynzee Klingman Panel, Women's Panel, Screenwriting Made in San Antonio), filmmaker lounges, and red carpet events for independent filmmakers, film enthusiasts, industry professionals, and press. The festival operates a 23-category awards program covering narrative, documentary, animated, music video, series, food, children, screenplay, and San Antonio–specific categories, with a $10,000 prize attached to Best Narrative Short.

The supporting technology stack is intentionally lightweight: a Squarespace-hosted website as the primary public surface, integrated with RelayTix (festival ticketing), Showpass (course registration), Givebutter (raffle), PayPal (donations), and VolunteerMatch (volunteer sourcing). Beyond the annual festival, SAFILM runs the Digital Filmmaking Lab: Script to Screen, an 8-week hands-on course (August–October) covering screenwriting through post-production, priced at $750 plus processing fee. Programming is delivered free in coordination with the Texas Film Commission.

The business model is a nonprofit hybrid. Revenue streams include ticket and pass sales (RelayTix), educational tuition, individual donations, raffle tickets, broad-based corporate sponsorship (20+ regional partners including HEB, Argo Group, Alamo College District, and Dorcol), and institutional grant funding routed through the San Antonio Area Foundation across eight or more named charitable trusts. The organization is led by founder and executive director Adam Rocha and is governed as an independent 501(c)(3) without parent, subsidiary, or external ownership. Operations are concentrated in San Antonio with a single mailing address, and venue logistics are anchored through a partnership with the Gunter Hotel on Houston Street offering a $99/night festival rate.

Name

San Antonio Film Festival

Legal name

SAFILM - San Antonio Film Festival

Website

https://safilm.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SAFILM is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) that has run the San Antonio independent film festival annually since 1994, serving filmmakers, film enthusiasts, industry professionals, and local youth through screenings, awards, workshops, and recurring educational courses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Film Festival and Independent Film Programming

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Exhibition (51213), Motion Picture Theaters (except Drive-Ins) (512131)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture Theaters (7830), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Film Festivals & Festival Organizers (MPADAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Screening Rooms & Cinematheques (Nonprofit/Institutional) (MPADAKAF), Programming, Booking & Repertory Exhibition Services (MPADAKAL)

Keywords

• Independent film festival
• Film screenings
• Filmmaker education
• Film awards competition
• Nonprofit arts programming

Headquarters

HQ city

San Antonio

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Festival passes and individual event tickets sold through RelayTix ticketing platform. Website references 2026 passes and tickets for sale.
2. Educational Programs: Digital Filmmaking Lab: Script to Screen course priced at $750 plus $30.37 processing fee. 8-week hands-on filmmaking course from August 17 - October 5, 2026.
3. Donations: Accepts donations through PayPal. Contact email [email protected] for donation inquiries.
4. Raffle: Annual raffle promotions including Give & Getaway trip raffle campaign.
5. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors including Alamo College District, Argo Group, ArtScene SA, Cinema Sound Off, City of SA Department of Arts, DEKO 37, Dorcol, EVOENT, Film San Antonio, Guerrero Law PLLC, Guerrero CPA, HEB Helping Here, HUMO, Mutt Productions, P3 Imaging Solutions, MarioDavila, Pixal Power Graphics, Radius, SA City of Gastronomy, SASWG, Texas Premier Realty, TMS Event Production provide sponsorship support.
6. Foundation Grants: Grant funding from San Antonio Area Foundation funds including John L. Santikos Charitable Foundation, Beulah M. and Felix J. Katz Memorial Trust, Ruth Lang Charitable Fund, E. B. Loch Charitable Fund, Dan and Gloria Oppenheimer Fund, Frances Margaret Seaver Fund, Valley View Trust, Becky Whitehead Memorial Fund.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SAFILM operates an annual multi-day film festival in San Antonio, Texas, screening independent narrative, documentary, animated, music video, and specialty films from around the world, accompanied by panels, filmmaker lounges, workshops coordinated with the Texas Film Commission, and an awards ceremony with cash prizes (including $10,000 for Best Narrative Short). It also runs an 8-week Digital Filmmaking Lab: Script to Screen educational course and sells festival passes, individual tickets, press accreditation, and raffle entries.

Product overview

SAFILM - San Antonio Film Festival operates as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization running an annual film festival as its core product, showcasing independent films from around the world. The festival offers an accessible platform for cinema artists and provides cinematic culture to diverse audiences. Supporting products include the Digital Filmmaking Lab educational course and press accreditation services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SAFILM Annual Film Festival Passes and Tickets Multi-day annual film festival event featuring screenings of independent narrative, documentary, animated, music video, series, and specialty films, plus panels (including Anne Goursaud + Lynzee Klingman Panel, Women's Panel, Screenwriting Made in San Antonio Panel), filmmaker lounges, Q&A sessions, red carpet events, and an awards ceremony with prizes including a $10,000 Best Narrative Short award. Tickets and festival passes sold online through RelayTix for film enthusiasts, independent filmmakers, industry leaders, and press.
• Digital Filmmaking Lab: Script to Screen An 8-week hands-on filmmaking course for individuals aged 15 and older covering the full script-to-screen journey, including screenwriting, cinematography, working with actors, production management, post-production, marketing, and film festival strategies. Students produce a short narrative film in crew-style teams with guest filmmaker mentorship and culminate in a public Film & Friends Showcase celebratory screening. Tuition is $750 plus a $30.37 processing fee, registered through Showpass.
• Press Accreditation Press accreditation service for media professionals to attend and cover San Antonio Film Festival events, providing access for festival coverage and media reporting.
• Festival Raffle (Give & Getaway) Raffle program offering prizes including travel getaways such as the Give & Getaway trip promotion, sold through Givebutter with proceeds supporting the festival's nonprofit mission.

Quantifiable outcome

• 31 years of continuous operation as a film festival
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

29 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Alamo College DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional educational institution partner supporting film and arts education. Alamo Colleges include San Antonio College.
• Argo GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of SAFILM festival events
• ArtScene SAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal arts publication and marketing partner for San Antonio arts community
• Cinema Sound OffminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFilm industry media partner covering festival events
• City of SA Department of ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial City of San Antonio arts department partnership for municipal arts programming and support
• DEKO 37minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of SAFILM festival
• DorcolminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal spirits brand sponsor for festival events
• EVOENTminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner and sponsor
• Film San AntoniocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional film industry organization supporting San Antonio film community and SAFILM initiatives
• Guerrero Law PLLCminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal law firm sponsor of SAFILM
• Guerrero CPAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal accounting firm sponsor of SAFILM
• HEB Helping HerecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor Texas retail chain HEB's charitable giving program supporting community arts and events
• HUMOminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal media partner for festival coverage
• Mutt ProductionsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal production company partner
• P3 Imaging SolutionsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerImaging and visual technology sponsor
• MarioDavilaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndividual business owner sponsor
• Pixal Power GraphicsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGraphics and visual design sponsor
• RadiuscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRadius Center - economic development organization providing venue hosting at Radius HQ for festival events
• SA City of GastronomycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSan Antonio UNESCO City of Gastronomy initiative supporting cultural and culinary film programming
• SASWGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSan Antonio Software Working Group - tech community partnership supporting film and digital arts
• Texas Premier RealtyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerReal estate company sponsor
• TMS Event ProductionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent production company sponsor and service provider
• Texas Film CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState of Texas film commission coordinating free workshops with SAFILM for filmmaker education
• Gunter Hotel San Antonio RiverwalkcoreOthersFestival venue hotel partner at 205 E Houston Street. Historic 1909 landmark offering $99/night festival rate for attendees. $57 million transformation property.
• RelayTixcoreTechnology or IntegrationTicketing platform integration for festival pass and ticket sales
• ShowpasscoreTechnology or IntegrationRegistration platform for Digital Filmmaking Lab class registrations with $30.37 processing fee per transaction
• VolunteerMatchminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVolunteer recruitment platform connecting SAFILM with volunteers for festival operations
• Texas Public RadiocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional public radio station providing media coverage of festival events
• SAC NewscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSan Antonio College news outlet providing feature coverage on festival leadership (Adam Rocha profile June 2026)

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Austin Film Festival: One of the largest and most recognized film festivals in Texas, with a focus on screenwriting, narrative features, and shorts. Operates a multi-program nonprofit model with industry panels, competitions, and a writers conference directly comparable to SAFILM's annual film festival and educational programming.
• Lone Star Film Festival: Fort Worth, Texas-based annual film festival showcasing independent films, documentaries, and shorts. Operates with a similar nonprofit model, Texas regional focus, and program of screenings, panels, and filmmaker networking events.
• Dallas International Film Festival: Annual Texas-based nonprofit film festival showcasing independent narrative, documentary, and short films. Operates with similar award categories, industry panels, and educational programming targeting independent filmmakers in a comparable regional market.
• Florida Film Festival: Long-running, mid-sized regional film festival operated as a nonprofit in Orlando, FL. Comparable in scale, award categories, educational programming, and mission to support independent filmmakers outside the major coastal film hubs.
• Nashville Film Festival: Mid-sized regional nonprofit film festival featuring narrative, documentary, and short film competitions with industry panels and Screenwriting competitions. Comparable in size, mission, and programming to SAFILM.
• USA Film Festival: Long-running Dallas-based nonprofit film festival, founded in 1971, presenting independent feature films, shorts, and documentaries. Comparable to SAFILM in nonprofit structure, longevity, regional Texas focus, and educational mission.
• Deep in the Heart Film Festival: Texas-based independent film festival that, like SAFILM, focuses on narrative, documentary, and short films with a strong community and Texas-filmmaker focus. Comparable in size, regional focus, and nonprofit model.
• Houston Cinema Arts Society: Houston-based nonprofit presenting a film and arts festival, plus year-round screenings and educational programs. Directly comparable in nonprofit structure, mission to make cinema accessible, and combination of festival plus educational offerings.

Broad incumbents

• South by Southwest (SXSW) Film & TV: Massive Texas-based film festival operating as part of a much larger music/tech/gaming event. Serves as the dominant Texas film festival brand, drawing international press, distributors, and major premieres, with overlapping target audience of independent filmmakers and film enthusiasts.

Others

• Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP): National nonprofit supporting independent filmmakers through programs, labs, and advocacy. Not a direct festival competitor, but a peer in the broader independent film nonprofit ecosystem with educational programming comparable to SAFILM's Digital Filmmaking Lab.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/safilmfest
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/safilmfest

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about San Antonio Film Festival