'Elastic Hearts' makers say Texas denied film tax grant over abortion storyline

Left · 2Filmmaker Milad Avaz and producer Misam Avaz say their film 'Elastic Hearts' was denied a grant under the Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program because of its abortion storyline. 1 2 Left · 2The film, Milad Avaz's first English-language feature, stars Cole Sprouse, Darby Lee-Stack, Dean Norris and Stephen Dorff. It follows a 19-year-old cellist in rural Texas who turns to her gay, estranged older brother for help when she becomes pregnant, and the two travel out of state to an abortion clinic. IndieWire says the film is more concerned with grief and family than with abortion rights. 1 2 Left · 1IndieWire reports a $2.2 million budget (its subhead says $2 million) and an application estimating $1.24 million in Texas spending, which Avaz put closer to $1.3 million. Production began on September 8, 2025. The application was filed before production, and the first formal response came nine months later, on June 25, 2026, after Texas filming had wrapped. Avaz said he had been told the usual turnaround was 1-3 months. 1

Left · 2The program can pay up to a 31 percent credit after production. Its rules say the Texas Film Commission may deny an application "because of inappropriate content or content that portrays Texas or Texans in a negative fashion." Misam Avaz said the film stood to earn about $128,000, which would have covered its post-production budget. 1 2 Left · 2According to the filmmakers, the rejection email was vague and gave no written reason. In August, a Texas Film Commission representative told them by phone that Gov. Greg Abbott's office had reviewed the film for political content in a closed-door meeting. They say they were also told, "You made a film about abortions in Texas. What did you expect?", and that an appeal or reapplication wouldn't make a difference. These accounts come from the filmmakers; IndieWire says it obtained the email but no recording or confirmation of the call is reported. 1 2 Left · 2Abbott's press secretary, Andrew Mahaleris, told IndieWire that the office isn't required to act on every application and reviews each one thoroughly. He said it considers "general standards of decency and respect for the diverse beliefs and values of the citizens of Texas" and doesn't use taxpayer dollars for projects that portray Texas or Texans negatively. The statement, as quoted, doesn't address the abortion claim or the alleged meeting directly. 1 2

Left · 1Lee-Stack called the decision blatant censorship and said indie films "should not be controlled by politicians". Sprouse told IndieWire the film qualified for the incentive. If the suspected grounds are true, Sprouse said, it would be "a constitutional violation of the First Amendment and more plainly—viewpoint discrimination." 2 Left · 1IndieWire notes the program is already politically charged: a Texas House representative called it a "socialist scheme" and vowed to repeal it after a star of 'The Chosen' endorsed Democrat James Talarico in the Senate race. It also notes that Robert Rodriguez unsuccessfully sued in 2019 after his 'Machete Kills' application was twice denied. The film has finished post-production and been submitted to Sundance and SXSW. 1