Now in its second year,<\/a> film commissioner Taylor Hardy said the commission aimed to enhance the program for filmmakers this time around.<\/p>\n Not only was there a new red carpet screening venue in the Modern Art Museum, but the commission also gave filmmakers a chance to meet local production companies and vendors to see what the filmmaking infrastructure looks like in Fort Worth.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re helping the filmmakers connect with the local community,\u201d Hardy told the Star-Telegram.<\/p>\n Filmmakers from all six films attended Wednesday\u2019s event.<\/p>\n The four films chosen by the FWFC\u2019s program include coming-of-age drama \u201cBirdie,\u201d<\/a> documentary \u201cCindy Sherman: Picture This,\u201d<\/a> animated horror \u201cMonitor\u201d<\/a> and LGBTQ+ period drama \u201cPowdered & Dancing.\u201d<\/a> There were also two special presentations in \u201880s comedy \u201cLast Minute\u201d<\/a> and a documentary on Dallas singer Joshua Ray Walker\u2019s cancer journey, called \u201cThank You for Listening.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cPowdered & Dancing\u201d co-director Hugh Wyld came from London for the event, which was not only his first time in Fort Worth, but also in the Lone Star State.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been just incredible to witness how much film is celebrated here,\u201d Wyld said under a freshly bought black cowboy hat. \u201cWe\u2019ve done these tours around different studios, which has been incredible.\u201d<\/p>\n \ud83c\udfac In case you missed it: <\/p>\n \u201cBirdie\u201d director Praise Odigie Paige, who is based in New York, said she heard about the premiere program through a friend and thought it was a special opportunity.<\/p>\n \u201cI just thought it would be a really cool space to show my film and share it with this community,\u201d Paige said.<\/p>\n \u201cThank You for Listening\u201d co-director Gene Gallerano, who is from Dallas, said he was excited to be part of the evening since the film has such a Texas focus.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat the film commissioner and Fort Worth film team has done for the group of filmmakers is really cool and special,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Now it\u2019s a waiting game for these six films.<\/p>\n The Academy\u2019s submission deadline for animated, documentary and live-action short films was Oct. 8. If any of the filmmakers is on their way to a nomination, they\u2019ll find out when the Academy releases its Oscars shortlist on Dec. 15. From there, Oscar nominations will be announced in mid-January ahead of the ceremony in mid-March.<\/p>\n One of the film\u2019s selected in last year\u2019s premiere program, \u201cThe Pearl Comb,\u201d landed on the Oscar shortlist but fell short of a nomination. Looking ahead to this year\u2019s crop, Hardy is hopeful for a nomination and said the films are \u201creally special.\u201d<\/p>\n The program received double the amount of submissions this year and the plan is to keep the program running for years to come.<\/p>\n \u201cI wish these filmmakers all the best,\u201d Hardy said. \u201cA nomination, a win, would be incredible not only for our community, but also for these filmmakers as they move forward in their career.\u201d<\/p>\n Related Stories from Fort Worth Star-Telegram<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/IMG_0560.jpeg\" "\\"IMG_0560.jpeg\\"")
The Fort Worth Film Commission hosted a red carpet screening for six films at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026. Brayden Garcia bgarcia@star-telegram.com Fort Worth Film Commission hosts Oscar-qualifying films<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/IMG_0562.jpeg\" "\\"IMG_0562.jpeg\\"")
The Fort Worth Film Commission hosted a red carpet screening for six films at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026. Brayden Garcia bgarcia@star-telegram.com What\u2019s next for the Oscar-qualifying films<\/p>\n
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