Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) is a biodegradable polymer which has been used as an ophthalmic lubricant and controlled-delivery component in oral medicaments. Biodegradable polymers are recommended to form films in which an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) is suspended, since it gels when the temperature is increased. In this work, the effect of concentration and type of surfactant on the processing and final film properties loaded with griseofulvin, an API, was studied.  Three surfactants were chosen: sodium dodecyl sulphate, cetylpyridinium chloride monohydrate and lecithin, which are anionic, cationic and neutral, respectively. Rheological properties were used to study processing conditions for polymer systems. Thermotropic gelation and steady-state rheology of aqueous HPMC solutions, water evaporation rate during film formation, morphology, drug release and structure of films were studied as a function of concentration and type of surfactant. Steady-state viscosity was measured in a shear rate range from 0.1 to 100 s-1 at 25 °C. The viscosity curves of HPMC/Surfactant solutions show a Newtonian plateau at low shear rates followed by a shear-thinning regime. Gelation temperature showed an increase when surfactant was added to HPMC solution. Water evaporation rate during casting of the films does not show dependence with surfactant concentration. With all surfactants, ~100% water is removed in eight hours. But the initial evaporation rate (first four hours) for SDS is faster with suggest stronger interactions between the SDS and polymer. Morphology of the films was determined by optical and scanning electron microscopy. Optical micrographs suggest patterned features of the films as concentration of surfactant approximates to critical micelle concentration. SEM shows an increase in the porosity of the film at higher surfactant and elongated polymer agglomerates.