Texas Film Commission, Office of the GovernorTexas Film Commission, Office of the Governor

Moving Image Archive

The Texas Film Commission's Moving Image Archive Program celebrates the history of Texas and its film production heritage by preserving Texas-related moving images and making them available to the public via the Internet. Working in conjunction with Texas-based non-profit Texas Archive of the Moving Image (TAMI), the Film Commission's program consists of four components:

The program was awarded the American Association for State and Local History’s Leadership in History Award of Merit and the prestigious WOW! Award in 2010.

Free Film and Video Digitization

Individuals and institutions with Texas-related films and videos may receive free digital copies via the Archive Program. In exchange for the donation of the electronic copy of your film to the Archive Program's collection, TAMI will clean and prepare the materials for digitization, create a digital version and generate a DVD copy or digital files for you to keep. The original material will be returned after the process is complete and a selection of films will be incorporated into the TAMI Video Library.

Since its creation in 2008, the Archive Program has digitized more than 7,000 moving images of the state including home movies, commercials, local television programs and industrial films.

All donations to the Archive Program must be free from copyright, or the donor must be willing to grant TAMI and the TFC a license for use. The Texas Film Commission reserves the right to review content before any film's inclusion in the Moving Image Archive Program's collection.

Texas Moving Image Archive Program Collection in the TAMI Video Library

More than 900 films from the Moving Image Archive Program are available for viewing on the TAMI Video Library. The ever-growing online showcase features projects that represent the breadth of Texas' cultural history and its century of motion picture production. The collection is available free of charge or at no cost to students, teachers, researchers and the general public in Texas and around the world.

Film Round-Up Tour

TAMI and the Texas Film Commission host Film Round-Ups across the state, giving Texans an opportunity to submit their films for the free digitization program and learn about Texas media history and preservation. In addition to the free digitization drop-off, each event includes screenings of Texas films, the “Preserving Memories” traveling exhibit, and preservation workshops and demonstrations. The Film Round-Up has travelled to Austin, Lubbock, Harlingen, Brownsville, McAllen, Tyler, Dallas, El Paso and Houston.

Educator Resources

Illustrating the value of film preservation in education is also an important part of the Archive Program. In conjunction with the TAMI Video Library, a series of educator resources are available via Teach Texas. Lesson plans for grades K through 12 feature footage from the Archive Program that address Texas topics including politics, industry, geography and culture. The resources also address Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) in social studies, language arts, and career and technology education.

Contact Texas Archive of the Moving Image

To inquire about hosting a Round-Up in your community or to see if your films and videos qualify for digitization, you may contact the TAMI at the following: