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Source Filmmaker
Source Filmmaker · Bellevue, Washington, United States · founded 1996
What it is
Source Filmmaker is Valve’s free movie-making tool for creating films inside the Source game engine. It combines rendering, keyframing, motion-capture editing, and sound editing in one workflow. Hardware rendering provides a real-time preview while scenes are refined. The initial release includes nine characters, hundreds of locations, and thousands of props, particles, textures, and sounds from Team Fortress 2. Source-engine assets made for the TF2 Workshop or game mods can be recompiled and loaded. Completed movies can be exported for web upload or shared as ordinary movie files. SFM is released for Team Fortress 2, and its TF2 build can be modified to create new worlds. Steam is required for installation, Windows is supported, and the FAQ says Mac is not supported. The Steam listing specifies at least 15 GB of storage. Valve assets are permitted in free community movies and images, but that permission does not cover commercializing those assets.
For and against
For
- Free movie-making tool for the Source engine
- Combines rendering, keyframing, motion capture, and sound editing
- Includes Team Fortress 2 characters and production assets
- Supports recompiled Workshop and mod assets
- Exports movies for web upload or file sharing
Against
- Windows support only; Mac is not supported
- Steam is required for installation
- At least 15 GB of storage is specified
- Valve assets cannot be commercialized under the stated permission
The verdict
Source Filmmaker brings several filmmaking tasks and a large Team Fortress 2 asset set into one Source-engine tool. Its Windows-only support, Steam requirement, and limits on commercial use of Valve assets are important before starting.
Who it suits
Source Filmmaker suits creators making animated films with Source-engine assets, especially Team Fortress 2 content. It is intended for Windows users with Steam and at least 15 GB of storage.
Plans and prices
Free
Movie-making tool for the Source engine · Team Fortress 2 and selected Meet the Team assets included · Steam Workshop support
Read 22 Sep 2026 · store.steampowered.com
Source Filmmaker
Free public beta · Steam account required · non-commercial use with Valve assets
Read 12 Oct 2026 · store.steampowered.com
On the record
- Commercial use
- The FAQ says Valve assets may be used for free community movies and images, but it does not grant a license to commercialize those assets; content without Valve assets may be monetized without restrictions stated there.sourcefilmmaker.com · read 12 Oct 2026
- Compatibility limit
- The FAQ says SFM is being released for Team Fortress 2 and that users can mod its TF2 build to create new worlds.sourcefilmmaker.com · read 12 Oct 2026
- Custom assets
- Source-engine assets made for the TF2 Workshop or game mods can be recompiled and loaded into SFM.sourcefilmmaker.com · read 12 Oct 2026
- Export and sharing
- Movies exported with SFM can be uploaded to the web or shared like any normal movie file.sourcefilmmaker.com · read 12 Oct 2026
- Included content
- The initial release includes nine characters, hundreds of locations, and thousands of props, particles, textures, and sounds from Team Fortress 2.sourcefilmmaker.com · read 12 Oct 2026
- Installation
- Steam is required to install Source Filmmaker.sourcefilmmaker.com · read 12 Oct 2026
- Minimum storage
- The Steam listing specifies at least 15 GB of hard-drive space.store.steampowered.com · read 12 Oct 2026
- Operating system
- The Steam listing specifies Windows system requirements, and the FAQ says SFM is not supported on Mac.store.steampowered.com · read 12 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Source Filmmaker is Valve’s movie-making tool for creating films inside the Source game engine.sourcefilmmaker.com · read 12 Oct 2026
- Real-time preview
- Its hardware rendering lets storytellers work in a what-you-see-is-what-you-get environment while iterating toward the final audience experience.sourcefilmmaker.com · read 12 Oct 2026
- Support
- The official site provides a FAQ, video tutorials, community discussions, a wiki, a team contact email, and a bug-report email.sourcefilmmaker.com · read 12 Oct 2026
- Workflow
- It combines workflows such as rendering, keyframing, motion capture editing, and sound editing in one system.sourcefilmmaker.com · read 12 Oct 2026
