The annual Fort Worth event returns for its 20th edition this year, Nov. 4-13 in the Cultural District. All-access passes and individual tickets are on sale via the festival\u2019s website.<\/a><\/p>\n Nearly 100 films are screening at the festival, including over a dozen features and more than 70 short films.<\/p>\n Click to resize<\/p>\n The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth will host most of the screenings, with additional slots at AMC Palace 9 and the Texas Ballet Theater.<\/p>\n \ud83c\udfac In case you missed it: <\/p>\n Two decades of film screenings and conversations is \u201cpretty remarkable,\u201d festival executive director Chad Mathews said.<\/p>\n Mathews, who has been with the festival since 2015, said the longevity is testament to Fort Worth\u2019s creative community. While Cowtown\u2019s film industry is shining now thanks in part to Taylor Sheridan<\/a>, the festival is proof that locals have been passionate about the art form for some time now.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s wonderful that we\u2019ve been around for 20 years,\u201d Mathews told the Star-Telegram over Zoom. \u201cIt\u2019s something to be celebrated.\u201d<\/p>\n KJ Apa as Jimmy Stewart in \u201cJimmy.\u201d Courtesy of Burns & Co Entertainment <\/p>\n Jimmy Stewart biopic opens Lone Star<\/p>\n A new film about the life of acclaimed actor Jimmy Stewart will open the festival Nov. 4.<\/p>\n \u201cJimmy\u201d<\/a> follows Stewart\u2019s service in World War II and how it shaped his role as George Bailey in the 1946 holiday classic \u201cIt\u2019s A Wonderful Life.\u201d The biopic stars KJ Apa, Kara Killmer, Neal McDonough, Max Casella, Christopher McDonald, Sarah Drew, Rob Riggle, Julian Works and Jen Lilley.<\/p>\n Stewart served as a celebrity ambassador to Fort Worth during the 1970s and narrated a short film called \u201cFort Worth: The Unexpected City,\u201d which depicted Cowtown\u2019s cultural heritage.<\/p>\n That Fort Worth connection is why the producers of \u201cJimmy\u201d wanted to have the screening at the festival, Mathews said. It also happened to be good timing, as the film\u2019s wide release is just days later on Nov. 6.<\/p>\n \u201cWe think it\u2019s going to be a really great opening-night film for us and for the city,\u201d Mathews said.<\/p>\n Much of the \u201cJimmy\u201d cast and crew will attend the opening-night screening.<\/p>\n Texas films and \u2018The Debut\u2019<\/p>\n Of the nearly 100 films screening at the festival, about 30% of them are Texas-made.<\/p>\n Most of those Texas films are shorts, including a package from KERA that screens on Nov. 8. Some of the subjects depicted in the films are Dallas artist Antonio Lechuga, Dallas low rider culture, Fort Worth artist Sedrick Huckaby and recent Michelin star honoree Goldee\u2019s Bar-B-Q.<\/a><\/p>\n Some of the feature-length Texas films include Austin-filmed dark comedy \u201cAutofiction\u201d on Nov. 6 and El Paso-filmed supernatural thriller \u201cRumination\u201d on Nov. 10.<\/p>\n \u201cWe love to be able to shine the light on Texas-made movies,\u201d Mathews said. \u201cWe feel like it\u2019s really important, especially smaller independent films like these.\u201d<\/p>\n To find the full list of Texas films, head to the festival\u2019s website and click on the \u201cTexas Made\u201d tag.<\/p>\n Attendees at the 2024 Lone Star Film Festival in Fort Worth. Manny Pandya Lone Star Film Festival <\/p>\n The biggest mainstream film to screen at the festival is \u201cThe Debut,\u201d which has a special out-of-competition screening Nov. 6.<\/p>\n Jesse Eisenberg wrote and directed the musical theater drama, starring Julianne Moore and Paul Giamatti. Lone Star attendees will get to see the film more than a month before its wide release on Dec. 11.<\/p>\n The festival asked distributor A24 about screening a few of its films at the festival and \u201cThe Debut\u201d is the one they presented, Mathews said. The two have worked together on \u201cSing Sing,\u201d which played the festival in 2024 and comes from Fort Worth native Greg Kwedar.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cWe hope that partnership continues,\u201d Mathews said.<\/p>\n Student films and industry discussions<\/p>\n Festival-goers will also be able to check out films from Fort Worth students.<\/p>\n Lone Star hosts a filmmaking camp every year in the summer. High school students create their own projects with real film equipment. Students have two weeks to write, direct and edit short films that then screen at the festival.<\/p>\n Mathews is a part of those summer sessions and said students have an \u201ca-ha\u201d moment when they see their work at the festival. It\u2019s sometimes hard to convey that the work they\u2019re doing in July will play on the big screen in November.<\/p>\n \u201cI really feel like it is a wonderful encouragement and inspiration for them to keep making movies,\u201d Mathews said. \u201cMany filmmakers out there in the world don\u2019t ever get to see their movies on the big screen.\u201d<\/p>\n To find the full list of student films, go to the festival\u2019s website and click on the \u201cStudent Made\u201d tag.<\/p>\n Filmmakers speak at the 2024 Lone Star Film Festival in Fort Worth. Manny Pandya Lone Star Film Festival <\/p>\n In addition to screenings, the festival also has several film talks with filmmakers and industry folks.<\/p>\n There\u2019s a discussion with law firm Duane Morris on Nov. 5 about entertainment-related topics such as copyright laws and negotiating contracts. On Nov. 8, there\u2019s a conversation about making TV in Texas with some of the people behind North Texas-filmed \u201cThe Chosen.\u201d<\/p>\n On Nov. 6, Dallas-based filmmaker Clint Bentley will chat with Austin Film Society\u2019s Holly Herrick about his career. Bentley\u2019s latest film, \u201cTrain Dreams,\u201d played Lone Star<\/a> last year before going on to land four Oscar nominations at the 98th Academy Awards.<\/p>\n The film talks have proven to be popular, so Mathews said they\u2019re trying to meet the demand with more discussions.<\/p>\n \u201cWe just have so many people that want to be a part of those things,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The filmmakers behind \u201cSing Sing\u201d speak at the 2024 Lone Star Film Festival in Fort Worth. Manny Pandya Lone Star Film Festival <\/p>\n Taylor Sheridan and Lone Star Gala<\/p>\n Over the last few years, Lone Star attendees have gotten an early look at some of Taylor Sheridan\u2019s shows.<\/p>\n In 2023, \u201cLawmen: Bass Reeves\u201d screened two episodes<\/a> at the festival before its Paramount+ release. \u201cLandman\u201d screened its series premiere<\/a> at the fest in 2024 and the series returned last year to premiere Season 2.<\/a><\/p>\n Lone Star doesn\u2019t have anything planned around a Sheridan project this year, mainly because there isn\u2019t a show set to release in November as in years past, Mathews said.<\/p>\n The next Sheridan show set to release is the Samuel L. Jackson-led \u201cFrisco King,\u201d<\/a> which premieres over a month after the festival ends, on Dec. 18. Nevertheless, Mathews is looking forward to working with Sheridan and 101 Studios on bringing future projects to the fest.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ve been incredibly supportive of the festival over the years,\u201d Mathews said.<\/p>\n The cast and crew of \u201cLandman\u201d arrive for a group photo on the red carpet for the premiere event of the second season at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth on Nov. 6, 2025. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com <\/p>\n The festival will conclude with its annual gala on Nov. 13.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a black-tie event that honors artists for their contributions to film. Actor Sam Elliott and musician Abraham Alexander were honored last year.<\/a> Past honorees include Billy Bob Thornton, Jeff Bridges and Richard Linklater.<\/p>\n Honorees have yet to be announced for this year\u2019s gala, but Mathews said that will come soon.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re gonna make it happen,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
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