Elastic Hearts: Filmmakers Say Texas Blocked Tax Credit Over Abortion Storyline

Texas Tax Credit Rejected After Months of Waiting, Filmmakers Allege Political Interference

Filmmaker Milad Avaz says his first English-language feature, Elastic Hearts, was denied a Texas film tax incentive after an unusually long delay — and that the refusal was tied to the movie’s treatment of abortion. The Danish-Iranian director, who made the indie drama with his brother and producer Misam Avaz, claims the denial came only after a closed-door review involving the office of Governor Greg Abbott.

“You made a film about abortions in Texas. What did you expect?” Milad says he was told during a phone call with a representative who had reviewed the decision. The Avaz brothers say that call left them convinced political considerations — not eligibility criteria — were the deciding factor.

How the project ended up in Texas

After finding Los Angeles crowded and competitive, Milad and Misam chose Texas as their shooting base for Elastic Hearts. The film, which features Cole Sprouse, Darby Lee-Stack, Dean Norris and Stephen Dorff, was produced on a roughly $2.2 million budget. The team says they hired more than 40 local crew members and about 125 background performers, and scouted locations from Elgin to spare, minimalistic churches — describing the movie in its incentive application as both a tribute to and a reimagining of Texas.

They applied to the Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program (TMIIIP) before production began. The program can provide up to a 31 percent tax credit for qualifying projects; the Avaz brothers estimated about $1.24 million (they later said closer to $1.3 million) of the production spending occurred in Texas, which would have produced a credit of roughly $128,000 once awarded.

Timing and the decision

The application was filed well ahead of a September 8, 2025 production start. Producers say the Texas Film Commission typically responds within one to three months. Instead, Elastic Hearts’ application lingered for nine months. Production and post-production were completed during that time. On June 25, 2026, the Avazes received a terse written notice denying the application; it offered no substantive explanation.

When the filmmakers pressed for details, they say the commission initially refused to put a reason in writing. In August, their point of contact at the Texas Film Commission reportedly told them the governor’s office had reviewed the film’s political content during a closed meeting and the commission was not permitted to disclose the outcome. The representative allegedly also said an appeal or reapplication would be futile.

What the application said about the story

The official synopsis submitted with the application did not explicitly mention abortion. It described Elastic Hearts as the story of two siblings wrestling with grief and a fraught relationship as they travel through rural towns and desert highways, a film in which Texas is woven into the emotional and visual identity of the piece. The application emphasized the production’s local economic impact and argued the film would promote the state’s landscapes and tourism internationally.

The Avazes insist the movie’s approach to abortion is complex, not polemical: the narrative centers on a young woman confronting an agonizing choice, with the film exploring nuance rather than advancing a simple political message. They say crew members who lived and worked in Texas felt the story treated the place with affection rather than contempt.

Cast and creators push back

Both Milad and Misam have called the decision chilling, arguing it sets a dangerous precedent where political leaders can influence which stories receive public support. “It was so blatant that political influence and government elected officials had an influence on what art was being created,” Milad told reporters.

Cole Sprouse called the denial “viewpoint discrimination,” saying Elastic Hearts met the technical requirements for the incentive and, if the filmmakers’ account is accurate, the refusal raises First Amendment concerns. Darby Lee-Stack labeled the move “censorship,” framing it as an attempt to suppress artistic freedom and a denial of the state’s opportunity to reflect diverse perspectives.

Misam said the withheld credit, which would have helped cover post-production costs, will limit the film’s backend and their ability to greenlight future projects — a potentially catastrophic outcome for smaller filmmakers and first-time directors.

State reply and the broader political backdrop

Governor Abbott’s press secretary, Andrew Mahaleris, responded that the governor’s office is not required to act on every grant application and that reviews take into account “general standards of decency and respect for the diverse beliefs and values of the citizens of Texas.” He added that state funds are not used to support projects that portray Texas or Texans negatively.

The Texas incentive program has recently become politically charged. A Texas House representative has called it a “socialist scheme” and threatened repeal after a star of The Chosen publicly backed Democrat James Talarico in an upcoming U.S. Senate contest. The film commission’s authority to reject projects is not new: Robert Rodriguez unsuccessfully sued the state in 2019 after denials for Machete Kills.

Financial impact and next steps

Elastic Hearts’ producers estimate the lost credit would have amounted to about $128,000, derived from a base 10 percent credit on their eligible spend and an additional rural-location bonus. That money would have effectively covered post-production and helped finance their next project. With the denial finalized after the movie’s Texas shoot concluded, the crew and local hires have already been paid, but the withheld incentive still represents a meaningful financial hit to the indie team.

The film has finished post-production and has been submitted for consideration to festivals including Sundance and South by Southwest. Milad jokes about whether he’ll be allowed back into Texas to promote the movie, but for now the dispute remains unresolved as the filmmakers and cast publicly challenge the commission’s actions and the governor’s office’s role in the decision.

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Claude Merritt

Claude Merritt explores the world of entertainment with a keen eye. From music to film, TV series, and popular culture, he covers celebrity news and American cultural trends with a lively and critical approach.