Popping the Top on a Successful Inaugural Round Top Film Festival

The stars at night…. Are big and bright…. Deep in the heart of Texas!

And the stars certainly did shine brightly at the first annual Round Top Film Festival from November 7th through the 10th at primary venues Festival Hill and 550 District, as well as a host of additional secondary venues in and around the charming town of Round Top.

Across four action packed days of screenings, Q&As, panels, parties, and other special events, the Round Top Film Festival transformed the town – known primarily for its antiquing and vintage finds – into a haven for filmmakers, visual creatives, producers, industry veterans, and up-and-comers alike.

Festival organizers Shanna and Skylar Schanen, surrounded by a dedicated and seasoned team of film festival veterans, ensured that no detail was spared in the organization of RTFF year one, which captivated attendees with moving, thought-provoking, and entertaining programming ranging from feature to short to music video.

Kicking off with a rousing Opening Night premiere of the first episode of forthcoming Taylor Sheridan Paramount+ series Landman, the Round Top Film Festival rolled out the red carpet (quite literally) for series co-creator and Texas Monthly alum Christian Wallace, whose popular TM podcast “Boomtown” inspired the forthcoming series, which stars Billy Bob Thornton in the titular role. Audiences were buzzing about the episode and enjoyed a wide-ranging Q&A afterward between Wallace and Texas Monthly editor-at-large Bryan Burrough.

The night wrapped up with the first of a series of nightly parties at venerable Round Top institution Junk Gypsy. The “Wild West Film Fest Welcome Party” saw attendees don their finest western wear for a rollicking night of calf roping (no actual calves involved), line dancing, live music, and a performance from the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Wrangler dance crew.

With that, the stage was set for an epic set of ensuing days, each of which was chock-a-block full of cinematic artistry set against the backdrop of one of the state’s most picturesque small towns. Fest attendees sojourned around the town in between RTFF-organized events, stopping at Henkel Square, browsing the shops at the 550, and dining at the myriad local F&B establishments that delighted in the influx of patronage that was evident all throughout the weekend.

Additional red carpet moments populated the weekend, including at a special “Spirit of Texas” screening of the cult classic Richard Linklater film Everybody Wants Some!! that included a reunion of cast members Temple Baker, Austin Amelio, and Will Brittain.

Saturday at RTFF featured two red carpets, one at 550 District for young Hollywood rising stars Sasha Lane, Marié Botha, and Lilli Kay – each of whom participated in a special Rising Star Showcase panel after posing for photos and conducting interviews on the red carpet – in this case a cheetah-print pattern.

On Saturday night, one of the truly special RTFF moments transpired as cast and members of the film crew from Sheepdog walked the red carpet at Festival Hill. Director Steven Grayhm (who also wrote and stars in the film) was flanked by fellow film talent Virginia Madsen, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Dominic Fumusa, and Matt Dallas. The crowd-pleasing yet emotionally gut-wrenching film was particularly resonant as it helped to usher in the festival’s veteran-themed programming, which served as the crux of the fest’s concluding day on Sunday – one day prior to the annual Veterans Day holiday.

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An awards brunch at the Round Top Rifle Association kicked off the final day’s festivities and featured a special veterans discussion populated by Apollo 13 co-screenwriter Bill Broyles, The Promised Land director Rebecca Murga, MVP director Nate Boyer, and prolific stunt actor RJ Casey.

The day of veteran-themed films that followed included The Promised Land, MVP, Apollo 13, and the Texas premiere of Behind the Lines.

Awards handed out for the inaugural Round Top Film Festival included:

RTFF Short Juried Award Winners:
Best Music Video Award - FUNERAL directed by Vanessa Pla
Best Documentary Short Award - HOW TO SUE THE KLAN directed by John Beder
Best Live-Action Comedy Short Award - THE WORD directed by Rob Neilson
Best Live-Action Drama Short Award - DEEP IN MY HEART IS A SONG directed by Johnathan Pickett
Best Overall Short Award - ONCE MORE, LIKE RAIN MAN directed by Sue Ann Pien

Audience Award Winner:
TAKIN’ CARE OF BUSINESS, directed by Tyler Measom

Maverick Stunt Performer Award:
RJ Casey, prolific stunt actor (DUNKIRK, INCEPTION and EXTRACTION 2)

RTFF Legendary Screenwriter Award:
Bill Broyles, Jr. (CAST AWAY, APOLLO 13, FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS)

All in all, the first year of the Round Top Film Festival proved to be a resounding Lone Star State success – as evidenced by the glowing reviews from attending talent, filmmakers, attendees, staff, and volunteers. “Reflecting upon the past four days, I am over the moon with the level of execution, attention to detail and the way in which the town of Round Top rallied around this film festival; RTFF grew from a dream that my daughter, Skylar, and I had into a significant undertaking – but an undertaking that we gladly took on and one that we look forward to evolving next year and beyond,” noted Shanna Schanen, Round Top Film Festival co-founder and Executive Director.

The 2025 Round Top Film Festival will take place from November 6th through the 9th, 2025.

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