Transforming Laredo into a Film-Friendly City

"Cinema will always have an important role to play in society."- Leslie Caron. Beyond entertainment, films inspire, educate, and unite communities. For years, cities like Atlanta, New York, and Los Angeles have dominated the filmmaking industry, successfully attracting directors with their resources. While these places hold a strong reputation, it's time for directors to focus on the untapped cinematic potential in other cities, such as Laredo! Imagine a Laredo known as a thriving film destination, a city with more job opportunities, educational paths, and arts. This is the vision the Laredo Film Society and local TAMIU students are working to create.  

The Laredo Film Society, with help from the Laredo Convention and Visitors Bureau, has taken on the task of shining the spotlight on Laredo by getting it certified as a film-friendly city through the Texas Film Commission. This certification would recognize our city as a welcoming place for film production and increase our visibility with production companies. The first step in obtaining this certification–building a database of potential filming locations–has been a tall order for LFS board members and volunteers. LFS has been coordinating this initiative with city officials, community members, and businesses. They’ve taken on the responsibility of scouting and photographing various sites in our city that can be registered as potential filming locations. Despite the challenges, LFS works diligently to meet all required guidelines, as doing so may help Laredo prosper artistically and economically in the coming years. Moreover, it would also give aspiring actors, directors, writers, production designers, and more a reason to stay and the tranquility of knowing they can find a job here without leaving. 

Furthermore, Texas A&M International University students are spreading this push for cinema. Students registered in communication courses with Marcela Moran, Associate Professor at TAMIU, create short films for the yearly Shoot To Kill Film Festival. This festival allows students to showcase their creativity, passion, and skills to the community of Laredo. Apart from courses, students can join the TAMIU Filmmakers' Guild, an organization that hosts the Scotty's Peculiar Film Festival every semester. Through TFG, students may attend workshops that educate them on the process of pre-production and post-production to further enhance their final submission. TFG allows TAMIU students and local filmmakers to submit their films for the showcase. Films submitted for both film festivals cover various genres, some inspired by the unique and cultural border region of Laredo. Students hope that showcasing their work will encourage the community and highlight what can be achieved when cinema is supported. Their efforts enhance the growing movement to make film a central part of Laredo's cultural identity. 

With the dedication of local students and the Laredo Film Society, we can redefine what our city is known for. It’s exciting to think about what can be accomplished in Laredo if our community and the Texas Film Commission supports our local filmmaking talent. It's time to help build the vision and bring Laredo's richness to the big screen. Transforming Laredo into a film city starts now and with us!