ANNOUNCING THE 2026 LIVE EVENT ENTERTAINMENT AWARD HONOREE-ELAINE GARZA
WIFT TEXAS ANNOUNCES ELAINE GARZA AS THE 2026 “CELESTIAL AWARD™ FOR EXCELLENCE IN LIVE EVENT ENTERTAINMENT” HONOREE
Founder & CEO of Giant Noise, Elaine Garza, will be honored at The Celestial Awards™ show on January 17th at The World-Class Tobin Center in Downtown San Antonio
SAN ANTONIO, December 1, 2025 – Today, Women in Film & Television Texas (WIFT Texas) is honored to announce Elaine Garza, the founder and CEO of Giant Noise and one of the most influential voices in Texas entertainment, culture, and live events, as the 2026 recipient of the Celestial Award for Excellence in Live Event Entertainment.
The Celestial Awards™ honor trailblazing women of achievement in the media and entertainment industry, recognizing excellence across all verticals. The awards show will take place on Saturday, January 17th, 2026, at The Tobin Center’s world-class H-E-B Performance Hall in downtown San Antonio, following the Texas Media+Entertainment Summit™ on January 15th and 16th at the Gunter Hotel. Actress and producer Renae Treviño will host the high-profile, entertainment-filled awards show.
For nearly two decades, Elaine Garza has been a defining force in shaping how Texas presents itself to the world. As founder and CEO of Giant Noise, she leads one of the most respected public relations, digital marketing, and creative agencies in the state, known for its unmatched impact across entertainment, hospitality, culture, and lifestyle.
What began in 2006 as a bold entrepreneurial leap has become a powerhouse agency with 77 employees, 150+ current clients, and national recognition from outlets including Forbes, PR Net, Inc. Magazine, and the Longhorn 100.
“I am deeply honored to receive The Celestial Award for Excellence in Live Entertainment from Women in Film & Television Texas. Live entertainment has been at the heart of my career since the beginning. Building Giant Noise into Texas’s leading entertainment PR firm has been the greatest privilege of my professional life. From red carpets to music festivals to historic venues, every project has reinforced my belief in the transformative power of live experiences. To be recognized by WIFT Texas, an organization championing women in our industry, makes this honor especially meaningful. Thank you to Ceslie and the entire WIFT Texas team for this incredible recognition,” said Elaine Garza.
Under Garza’s leadership, Giant Noise has elevated countless Texas cultural institutions, including: SXSW Film Festival (red carpet + festival publicity), The historic Paramount Theatre, The Moody Center, C3 Presents, and multiple major music festivals, Texas Monthly, Hotel Emma, South Congress Hotel, The Pearl, The Moontower Comedy Festival, and more. Her firm bridges the best of Texas hospitality with national-caliber storytelling while making entertainment shine at every level.
“Elaine Garza has shaped the live entertainment landscape of Texas with a clarity of vision and a standard of excellence that elevates every experience she touches. Her leadership at Giant Noise has amplified the cultural energy of our state and given a powerful platform to the stories, artists, and institutions that define us. Honoring Elaine with The Celestial Award for Excellence in Live Event Entertainment is a celebration not only of her remarkable career, but of the vibrancy and possibility she continues to ignite across Texas,” said WIFT Texas CEO & Executive Producer of the Texas Media+Entertainment Summit™ and The Celestial Awards™, Ceslie Armstrong.
Elaine Garza is a community leader deeply invested in Texas’ future. Before launching Giant Noise in Austin, she honed her entertainment career in New York, serving as director of communications for SPIN and VIBE magazines, overseeing brand communications and high-profile events, including the Vibe Awards. She also worked with HarperCollins Publishers, Outside Magazine, and Latina Magazine, all experiences that sharpened her creative instincts and shaped her approach to culturally informed, audience-driven storytelling.
“Having worked in the event industry for more than 25 years, I’ve seen how powerful live entertainment can be in shaping culture, building community, and creating moments people never forget. Few leaders understand and elevate that impact as profoundly as Elaine Garza. Her vision at Giant Noise has amplified the stories behind the stages and strengthened the heartbeat of Texas entertainment. Her recognition by Women in Film & Television Texas is incredibly well-deserved,” said Traci Lewand, Chief Experience Officer, San Antonio Zoo and WIFT Texas Commissioner, Producer, The Celestial Awards™.
Elaine Garza’s commitment extends well beyond her client roster. She contributes to the community through service on the Texas Exes Board of Directors, KUT Public Media Board, Moody College of Communications Advisory Board, and is a member of Les Dames d’Escoffier. Her leadership is marked by generosity, mentorship, and a commitment to building pathways for women in media and entertainment — values that are central to Women in Film & Television Texas’ mission and ethos.
ABOUT “CELESTIAL AWARD™” HONOREE ELAINE GARZA
Elaine Garza’s journey to becoming the founder and CEO of Giant Noise is rooted in a rich history of experience in the media and communications industries. A proud University of Texas alumna, Elaine graduated with a degree in journalism, laying the foundation for her future in public relations and media strategy.
Elaine’s entertainment career began at HarperCollins Publishers. She then went in-house at SPIN and VIBE magazines, where her role as director of communications was pivotal. She oversaw all communications and brand extensions, including high-profile events like the Vibe Awards. This position allowed her to develop a nuanced understanding of brand management and media relations at a national level. Elaine’s expertise spans an impressive range of publications, having collaborated with notable titles such as Outside Magazine and Latina Magazine. This diverse portfolio equipped her with insights into various audience demographics and industry sectors, preparing her for the multifaceted challenges of running a PR agency.
In 2006, Elaine founded Giant Noise, leveraging her extensive experience to create a dynamic PR firm. Over the past 20 years, she has guided the company to become the go-to PR firm in Texas for a wide range of clients across entertainment, lifestyle, media, culinary, hospitality, corporate, and entertainment sectors.
Giant Noise’s entertainment credentials are extensive. Over the last two decades, the agency has worked on the red carpets for the SXSW Film Festival, handled PR for Austin’s historic Paramount Theatre and the Moody Center, and partnered with C3 Presents on numerous music festivals. Notable clients include Texas Monthly, Pearl Brewery, Hotel Emma, South Congress Hotel, Omni Hotels & Resorts, SXSW, and the Moontower Comedy Festival, among many others.
Under Elaine’s leadership, Giant Noise has earned significant industry recognition. The agency was named Best PR Agency by Forbes in 2021 and has been honored in the Longhorn 100, an award honoring the fastest-growing University of Texas at Austin alum-founded businesses, in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Giant Noise has been ranked #100 in Inc. Magazine’s list of the fastest-growing companies in the Southwest and named one of the 100 best PR agencies in the US by PR Net. Elaine herself was named Best CEO by the Austin Business Journal in 2024. Giant Noise is proudly certified as an Emerging Small Business Enterprise (ESBE), Women Business Enterprise (WBE), and Small Business Enterprise (SBE). While proudly based in Texas, the agency has built nationally recognized brands through its team’s diverse experience and proven expertise, combining local authenticity with national impact to deliver results for clients. Giant Noise has 77 employees and over 150 current clients.
What has most prepared Elaine for her role as CEO is this combination of hands-on experience in high-pressure media environments, her entrepreneurial spirit, and her ability to build and maintain relationships across various industries. Her journey from journalism graduate to in-house entertainment PR to respected agency leader demonstrates her adaptability, vision, and strategic thinking—all crucial qualities for a successful CEO.
A dedicated community leader, Elaine serves on the boards of Texas Exes and KUT Public Media, advises UT’s Moody College of Communications, and is a member of Les Dames d’Escoffier. She resides in Austin with her husband, Rich Garza, and their two daughters, Sabina and Luci, who are both pursuing their college degrees.
ABOUT WOMEN IN FILM & TELEVISION TEXAS
Women in Film & Television Texas is the statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing equity, opportunity, and economic empowerment for women working in all areas of media and entertainment. Chartered in 2023 and headquartered in downtown San Antonio — the hub of the Media & Entertainment Industry in Texas — WIFT Texas serves a rapidly growing membership representing film, television, audio, digital media, journalism, gaming, live entertainment, creative services, and emerging technologies.
WIFT Texas is an official chapter of Women in Film & Television International (WIFTI), a global network of more than 13,000 members across 50 chapters on six continents. For more than 50 years, WIFTI has championed professional development, leadership advancement, and achievement for women across the creative and technical spectrum of media and entertainment.
Through year-round education, mentorship, leadership programs, advocacy, and statewide convenings, WIFT Texas expands access, elevates women’s voices, and strengthens the creative economy and cultural landscape throughout the state.
ABOUT THE CELESTIAL AWARDS™
The Celestial Awards™ is the signature statewide awards show presented annually by Women in Film & Television Texas. Celebrating excellence across media, entertainment, culture, and creative leadership, the awards honor outstanding women whose work shapes the artistic, civic, and cultural landscape of Texas. Many of the awards are named in tribute to Texas women whose legacies embody courage, creativity, leadership, and community impact.
The 2026 awards show is hosted by Renae Treviño and pays homage to Texas’ first film studio, The Star Film Ranch, founded in 1910 in San Antonio. Guests are encouraged to don Western Chic black-and-white attire in honor of the pioneering spirit of Texas filmmaking and the legacy of leading lady Edith “Billy” Storey, a pioneering actress known for her grit, glamour, and groundbreaking roles.
Guests are encouraged to don Western Chic black-and-white attire in honor of this legacy and the pioneering spirit of Texas filmmaking.
ABOUT THE TEXAS MEDIA+ENTERTAINMENT SUMMIT™
The Texas Media+Entertainment Summit™ is a Media & Entertainment Industry gathering presented by Women in Film & Television Texas and produced by The BeXar Studios. Each edition convenes leaders from film, television, journalism, gaming, audio, live entertainment, culture, philanthropy, and emerging creative technologies for two days of keynote conversations, panels, and professional exchange.
Hosted in downtown San Antonio — the destination hub of the media and entertainment industry in Texas — the Summit draws speakers and executives from across the state and global creative centers. Designed as a forward-looking engine for Texas’ creative economy, the Summit explores the ideas, innovations, and collaborations shaping the future of storytelling, production, and cultural impact.
The Summit is held biannually in San Antonio and also serves as the professional anchor to The Celestial Awards™ weekend annually in January.
MEDIA CONTACT
Maria Gónima, BigSmile Co.
maria@bigsmile.co
To learn more about becoming a member, supporter, partner, and the programming slate including The Celestial Awards™, visit WIFTTEXAS.ORG or email hello@wifttexas.org
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