Texas Denied 'Elastic Hearts' a $128,000 Film Credit Over Abortion Storyline, Filmmakers Say

The Texas Film Commission rejected the indie film "Elastic Hearts" for a tax incentive worth roughly $128,000 — and the filmmakers say the reason came down to one line delivered over the phone: "You made a film about abortions in Texas. What did you expect?"

Director Milad Avaz, a Danish-Iranian filmmaker based in Copenhagen, and his brother, producer Misam Avaz, learned of the denial on June 25, 2026 — nine months after filing their application, against a stated turnaround of one to three months. No formal written reason was given. The brothers say a film commission staffer told them the grant was denied for political reasons after a closed-door review by the office of Governor Greg Abbott.

"It was so blatant that political influence and government elected officials had an influence on what art was being created that we were just baffled by it," Milad Avaz told IndieWire. "I definitely think that's why it was denied... I can tell you pretty upfront that it's the abortion rights."

What is the film actually about?

"Elastic Hearts," Avaz's first English-language feature, stars Cole Sprouse, Darby Lee-Stack, Dean Norris, and Stephen Dorff. It follows a 19-year-old cello prodigy in rural Texas who turns to her gay, estranged older brother when she discovers she's pregnant; the two travel out of state to an abortion clinic.

The filmmakers insist the film centers on grief and family, not abortion politics. Abortion has been largely outlawed in Texas since 2022. The written application, which IndieWire obtained, never mentions abortion. It describes two siblings "haunted by the recent loss of their mother" who "navigate a fractured relationship marked by love, guilt, and buried pain."

The application sells Texas hard: a local crew of more than 40 people, about 125 background actors, and a "tribute to and reimagining of Texas" with international distribution deals already secured.

How the rejection happened

The numbers tell the story of the stakes:

• $2.2 million — the film's total budget
• $1.24 million — estimated Texas spending in the application (Avaz says it came closer to $1.3 million)
• $128,000 — the credit the film stood to earn: a 10 percent base credit on spend plus a small rural-location bonus
• September 8, 2025 — production start, with the application filed beforehand
• June 25, 2026 — the formal denial, arriving well after the Texas shoot wrapped

The brothers worked closely with the Texas Film Commission and Austin Film Commission for months during pre-production and thought the credit was secure. The Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program can return up to 31 percent in grant money, awarded after production — and its rules explicitly allow the commission to deny applications "because of inappropriate content or content that portrays Texas or Texans in a negative fashion."

When the brothers asked for a written explanation, the commission declined to provide one. It wasn't until August that their commission representative spoke to them by phone, telling them the governor's office had reviewed the film's political content in a closed-door meeting the representative wasn't allowed to attend. Asked whether they could appeal or reapply, they were told it wouldn't make a difference.

Governor Abbott's press secretary, Andrew Mahaleris, said in a statement: "Under Texas law, the office is not required to act on every grant application and reviews each application thoroughly. In making determinations, the office considers general standards of decency and respect for the diverse beliefs and values of the citizens of Texas. The State does not use taxpayer dollars to fund projects that portray Texas or Texans in a negative fashion."

What does this change for independent filmmakers?

For the Avaz brothers, the money would have covered the post-production budget; losing it cuts into the film's backend and delays their next project. They're stable as a company, but Milad notes the same loss "easily could be something that would ruin another filmmaker or first-time director."

The case lands as Texas's film credit program has become a political football. A Texas House representative called the program a "socialist scheme" and vowed to repeal it after a star of "The Chosen" endorsed Democrat James Talarico in the upcoming U.S. Senate race. And this isn't the commission's first contested denial: Robert Rodriguez sued unsuccessfully in 2019 after his grant application for "Machete Kills" was twice rejected.

The film's stars didn't hold back. "If what we've been told is true, then the denial of our application is a constitutional violation of the First Amendment and more plainly — viewpoint discrimination," Sprouse said. "I'm deeply disappointed by both the cowardice of the Texas Film Commission and not surprised in the slightest by Governor Abbott."

"Censorship. That is what it says," Lee-Stack said. "This decision made by one politician on behalf of all Texans robs Texas of an opportunity to represent itself as a community of diverse thought and culture."

Milad argues the film doesn't take a black-and-white view of its subject — it's about a young woman facing a decision where either choice might be right. "There was no way this was going to represent Texas in a wrong light or in a negative way because I didn't view Texas in a negative way," he said. "I love the place. Me and my family lived there for half a year, and we want to go back."

"Elastic Hearts" has finished post-production and submitted for consideration at Sundance and South By Southwest — if Avaz is allowed back in the state, he jokes. Misam puts the stakes plainly: "As a movie maker, you should have the right when you use your voice to tell something this important, you should have that freedom of speech."

The next test comes at festival season, when the film denied Texas money for portraying the state negatively gets its first public audience.