Julian Schnabel, Sydney Chandler, Sonny Carl Davis and the beloved film ‘Spy Kids’ will be honored at the 2026 Texas Film Awards and inducted into the Texas Film Hall of Fame, the Austin Film Society announced Thursday. Dedicated to recognizing those who have made a significant contribution to the advancement of the Texas film and media industry, the awards will take place on March 5 at Troublemaker Studios in Austin, Texas.
Schnabel will be honored for his contributions to cinema, including his bold paintings and acclaimed art films “Basquiat” and “Before Night Falls.” The artist and filmmaker spent his formative years in Brownsville, Texas and studied at the University of Houston. Since, he’s won the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Director and the Golden Globe Award for Best Director.
Born and raised in Austin, Chandler will receive the Rising Star Award for her work in films including “Alien: Earth,” “Pistol,” “Don’t Worry Darling” and “Sugar.” The actress is deeply connected to the Austin community, where she is involved with organizations including the Austin Farm Sanctuary.
Having appeared in more than 50 film and television productions over his decades-long career, Texas native Davis’ credits include “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” “Thelma & Louise” and “The ’Burbs.” But Davis first became cemented in Texas independent film history after his turn in the Texas-set 1983 film “Last Night at the Alamo.”
In celebration of the 25th anniversary of “Spy Kids,” the film will receive the Star of Texas Award, which is awarded to iconic Texas film and television shows. Shot across Austin and San Antonio, “the 2001 film ‘Spy Kids’ has become a landmark Texas-made film, having helped establish Austin as a major production hub for director, writer, and producer Robert Rodriguez and producer Elizabeth Avellán’s Troublemaker Studios,” the festival said in a statement. Rodriguez, Avellán and members of the principal cast will be in attendance at the awards.
Musician Adrian Quesada and AFS Board member Celeste Quesada are the evening’s chairs, and Noah and Kyle Hawley, co-founders of 26 Keys Productions, will serve as the event’s honorary hosts. The awards will benefit the Austin Film Society’s artistic and educational programs as well as grants, which have awarded nearly $3 million to more than 700 independent film projects since 1996.
Previous inductees to the Texas Film Hall of Fame include Carol Burnett, Matthew McConaughey, Willie Nelson, Ethan Hawke, Renée Zellweger, Luke Wilson, Sissy Spacek, Glen Powell, Shirley MacLaine, Forest Whitaker, Paul Thomas Anderson, Michelle Rodriguez, Noah Hawley, Farrah Fawcett, Guillermo del Toro and Margo Martindale.