Houston Cinema Arts Society (HCAS)

Cinema Arts Festival Houston is a multimedia film and arts festival. The annual five-day festival, held in November, showcases films by and about artists in the visual, performing, and literary arts, shown not only in traditional theatrical venues but also via interactive video installations, live multi-media performances, and outdoor projections.

The Festival celebrates the vitality and diversity of Houston and enriches the city’s film and arts environment. Through its focus on multimedia artworks and films by and about artists, the Festival aims to broaden the public’s understanding and appreciation of contemporary cinema and its indelible ties to the creative arts.

Developed as an initiative of Houston Mayor Bill White in 2007, the Houston Cinema Arts Society (HCAS) was shaped by a task force composed of leaders from Houston film and arts organizations under the guidance of board chair Franci Crane.