Over three Saturdays, participants move from idea to polished, production-ready short film scripts through guided instruction, pitching, peer feedback, and table reads. This is a true workshop environment designed to help young writers understand not just how to write a script, but how scripts move from page to production.

Photo courtesy of LSFF/FWFC

Who It’s For

• High school students interested in screenwriting or filmmaking
• Students hoping to submit a script for Summer Film Camp consideration
• Open to college students & adults (high school voices prioritized)

Note: Only scripts written by high school students are eligible for Summer Film Camp production consideration.

Photo courtesy of LSFF/FWFC

Workshop Details

• February 21, February 28, March 1 (Saturdays)
• 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• BLANC cowork + studio| Fort Worth

Space is limited. Capacity is limited to 10 participants.

Learn more & register at our website.

Start writing the short that gets made.

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The Bill Paxton Achievement in Film Award, named in honor of Fort Worth native Bill Paxton, recognizes actors, producers, writers, and directors whose careers embody bold, risk-taking artistry.

Sam Elliott
Photo courtesy of LSFF

“Sam Elliott’s storied career, especially his iconic contributions to the Western genre, resonates deeply with a festival rooted in a city so closely tied to Western heritage,” said Chad Mathews, Executive Director of the Lone Star Film Society.

Past recipients of this award include Luke Wilson, Paul Schrader, Jeff Nichols, Jane Seymour, and Cybill Shepherd.

The Stephen Bruton Award celebrates musicians with significant ties to film, honoring the legacy of Fort Worth musician and songwriter Stephen Bruton. This year’s honoree, Abraham Alexander, earned an Academy Award nomination for his song “Like a Bird” from the Lone Star Film Festival-selected feature Sing Sing.

Abraham Alexander
Photo Credit: Mike Pham

Past recipients include Charley Crockett, Ryan Bingham, Michael Martin Murphey, Tim DeLaughter, Pat Green, Terry Allen, Clint Black, Lyle Lovett, Ray Benson, Willie Nelson, T Bone Burnett, Betty Buckley, and Billy Joe Shaver.

The Fort Worth Film Commission, a division of Visit Fort Worth, continues its longstanding role as presenting partner of the Gala and the festival.

“We’re proud to partner with the Lone Star Film Society, which consistently honors the industry’s best, for the annual gala,” said Taylor Hardy, Fort Worth Film Commissioner. “This year is particularly special as we celebrate Fort Worth’s own Abraham Alexander, and welcome back Sam Elliott to celebrate his achievements in acting, including work on 1883 and Landman season two, filmed in Fort Worth.”

Individual gala seats are available for $600, and tables begin at $10,000. Proceeds benefit the Johnny Langdon Film Education Initiative, which provides film education programs for both adults and high school students interested in the art of cinema. For tickets and more information, visit lonestarfilmfestival.com/gala-2025

The Lone Star Film Society, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, brings the world of cinema to Fort Worth each fall through the annual Lone Star Film Festival (LSFF). This seven-day celebration highlights the art of independent film and the creatives behind it while showcasing Fort Worth as a hub for film production in Texas. Learn more at LoneStarFilmFestival.com.

The Fort Worth Film Commission, an office of Visit Fort Worth, was established in 2015 to promote Fort Worth and Tarrant County as an ideal place to produce film and television. Through location services, preproduction and postproduction, the Film Commission has worked with hundreds of projects, driven over $700 million in economic impact and created more than 50,000 jobs, raising awareness of Fort Worth as a city for creative industries and a tourist destination. For more information visit FilmFortWorth.com.

Visit Fort Worth is the official destination marketing organization for the nation’s 11th-largest city, dedicated to promoting Fort Worth as a thriving center of creativity, culture, commerce, and innovation. Its initiatives include the Fort Worth Herd, Fort Worth Film Commission, Fort Worth Sports Commission and Hear Fort Worth. Learn more at FortWorth.com.

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Photo courtesy of Lone Star Film Society

 Camp Schedule:

• 9 AM – 3 PM daily (excluding weekends)
• TCU Bob Schieffer College of Communication
• 2805 S University Blvd, Fort Worth, TX 76129

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Lone Star Film Festival will take place November 1-November 4, 2024, in the Fort Worth Cultural District. All-Access Festival Passes are on sale now at www.lonestarfilmfestival.com.  Single screening tickets go on sale October 1, 2024. Venues will include the Modern Art Museum, The Crescent Hotel, Kimbell Art Museum, Hotel Dryce and Bowie House Hotel. In addition to film screenings, the festival offers a variety of events to enhance the experience. Join industry panels, workshops and networking opportunities to connect with filmmakers and film enthusiasts from around the world.

“We’re excited to be back in the Fort Worth Cultural District for the 18th edition of the Lone Star Film Festival,” noted Chad Mathews, Executive Director of the Lone Star Film Festival. “Our venue partners in the Cultural District and the Fort Worth Film Commission have elevated our festival to one of the city’s must-attend events for film lovers.”

The Fort Worth Film Commission, in collaboration with the Lone Star Film Festival, will introduce a new Texas Made track this year, highlighting the best in Texas filmmaking. The track will feature narrative films, documentaries, and shorts filmed in Texas by Texans and will represent 52% of this year’s film lineup.

“The Lone Star Film Festival is an opportunity to celebrate cinema and the spirit of Texan storytelling,” said Mitch Whitten, Chief Executive Officer for Visit Fort Worth, parent organization of the Fort Worth Film Commission. “We’re so excited to partner with the Lone Star Film Festival for the eighth year to present another exceptional festival, showcasing filmmakers and storytellers to Fort Worth audiences and beyond.”

The All-Access Festival Pass allows entry to award-eligible screenings, film talks, panel discussions, and social events.

The Lone Star Film Festival will host two exclusive screenings.

“Landman”: Season 1, Episode 1 Special Advanced Screening
Sunday, November 3, 2024 at 5:30 p.m.
The Modern Art Museum

Co-created by Oscar nominee Taylor Sheridan and Christian Wallace, and set in the proverbial boomtowns of West Texas, LANDMAN is a modern-day tale of fortune seeking in the world of oil rigs. Based on the notable 11-part podcast “Boomtown,” the series is an upstairs/downstairs story of roughnecks and wildcat billionaires fueling a boom so big, it’s reshaping our climate, our economy and our geopolitics. LANDMAN is produced by MTV Entertainment Studios, 101 Studios and Sheridan’s Bosque Ranch Productions exclusively for Paramount+.

Coleman Domingo in Sing Sing
Photo courtesy of the Lone Star Film Festival

Sing Sing
Saturday, November 2, 2024 at 12:30 p.m.
The Modern Art Museum
Directed by Greg Kwedar
Starring: Colman Domingo, Clarence Maclin, Sean San Jose

Divine G, imprisoned at Sing Sing for a crime he didn’t commit, finds purpose by acting in a theatre group alongside other incarcerated men in this story of resilience, humanity, and the transformative power of art.  Fort Worth native, Greg Kwedar, will be in attendance for a post-screening Q&A.

The 18th annual Lone Star Film Festival Gala will honor luminaries in film who have made outstanding contributions to film in Texas. The gala will take place on Friday, November 1 at Bowie House Hotel and bring together local filmmakers, industry professionals and film enthusiasts for a night of celebration and recognition.

To purchase tickets, see a lineup of festival events and learn more about this year’s Lone Star Film Festival Gala, visit their website LoneStarFilmFestival.com. 

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The Stephen Bruton Award celebrates exceptional artists whose careers are not only anchored in music, but also include artistic expression in film. The LSFF and the Bruton Family established this award to honor the late Stephen Bruton, the legendary songwriter, musician, and actor, who forever remains in the hearts of people from Fort Worth.

“Charley’s music reflects the unique and passionate sounds of Texas artists,” said Tom Martens, director of the Fort Worth Music Office. “His artistry in music and storytelling is compelling for everyone in creative industries, and we’re excited to honor his contributions to music and film in Fort Worth.”

Charley Crockett brings his unique brand of “Gulf and Western” sounds to audiences across the country. Crockett’s album The Man From Waco claimed the #2 spot on Rolling Stone’s list of the Best Country and Americana albums of 2022. Crockett made waves with a series of media appearances including CBS Mornings, NPR Tiny Desk Concert, The Daily Show, CBS “Saturday Sessions” and Jimmy Kimmel Live! He played his The Man From Waco tour to sold out venues across the U.S. and Europe.

photo credit: Bobby Cochran, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

“We are thrilled to honor Charley Crockett with the Stephen Bruton award,” said Chad Mathews, director of the Lone Star Film Festival and Society. “His special connection to Fort Worth makes this recognition even more special.”

Past Stephen Bruton award recipients include Ryan Bingham, Michael Martin Murphey, Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, Billy Joe Shaver, Lyle Lovett, Ray Benson, Betty Buckley, T Bone Burnett, Waylon Payne, Terry Allen, Pat Green and Clint Black.

Visit Fort Worth and the Fort Worth Film Commission are partnering with LSFF to produce the 2023 gala and festival. Details of the 2023 Lone Star Film Festival, including additional gala honorees, the lineup of films, panels and events, will be announced later in August.

For more information visit www.LoneStarFilmFestival.com.http://www.LoneStarFilmFestival.com

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Taking place on the campus of TCU at the soundstage and editing lab of the Bob Schieffer College of Communication, the Lone Star Film Festival Summer Film Camp will host two separate camps, with the first two-week camp opening on July 10th (Session 1) and the following on July 24th (Session 2).

Photo courtesy of Lone Star Film Festival

High school-age students interested in filmmaking are welcome to register before July 1st.  Participants will learn about screenwriting, directing, producing, on-camera acting, editing, and cinematography.  Each of the film camp sessions will be tasked with writing, acting, producing, and editing an original short film.  Each produced short film will screen at the 2023 Lone Star Film Festival in November.

“The Bob Schieffer College of Communication has been an incredible partner for our film camp,” said Lone Star Film Society Executive Director Chad Mathews. “With the success of last year’s camp at TCU, we are thrilled with the opportunity to expand as we hope to educate and inspire an even greater number of young filmmakers here in Fort Worth.”

Photo courtesy of Lone Star Film Festival

Last year was the first year that the Lone Star Film Festival Summer Film Camp took place over two weeks and utilized the state-of-the-art facilities on campus.

“We’re excited to join our Lone Star Film Society partners in teaching high school students the art and craft of filmmaking,” said Dean Kristie Bunton. “Film camp gives young people the chance to explore how professional communicators can change the world for good with the messages they create and the audiences they reach.”

Photo courtesy of Lone Star Film Festival

Discounted registration is currently being offered before March 1st, and financial aid applications are open.  Registration starts at $375.

For more information, visit https://www.lonestarfilmfestival.com/lsff-film-camps.

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John Ware Reclaimed follows filmmaker Cheryl Foggo on her quest to re-examine the mythology surrounding John Ware, the Black cowboy who drove cattle from Fort Worth, Texas to Alberta, Canada. Foggo’s research uncovers who this iconic figure might have been, and what his legacy means in terms of anti-Black racism, both past and present.

“We are thrilled to continue this partnership with Visit Fort Worth and the Fort Worth Film Commission.” said Noëlla De Maina, Consul, Political, Economic, Consular and Public Affairs at the Consulate General of Canada in Dallas, Texas. “In 2020, the Consulate General of Canada and Visit Fort Worth partnered to permanently honor John Ware’s historic contributions to Canada-United States bilateral relations and the advancement of racial diversity with a plaque dedicated in his honor. The Lone Star Film Festival screening of John Ware Reclaimed will enhance public knowledge about the footprint of John Ware in this region and draw attention to this unique cross border story.”

L-R: Mrs. Mildred Ware; Robert Ware; Nettie Ware; John Ware. Copied from PA-4011-1.

The Fort Worth Film Commission, Telefilm Canada and the Consulate General of Canada in Dallas partnered to host a filmmaker mixer at the Visit Fort Worth House during SXSW in 2021.

“We are excited to continue our partnership with the Consulate General of Dallas and Telefilm Canada,” said Jessica Christopherson, vice president of marketing and film commissioner for Visit Fort Worth and the Fort Worth Film Commission. “We look forward to showcasing John Ware Reclaimed at Lone Star Film Festival and to continue to look for opportunities to showcase creative talent across borders.”

The plaque is located in the heart of the Fort Worth Stockyards. Visitors can view the plaque year-round. Visit www.FortWorthHerd.com to learn more.

The 16^th annual Lone Star Film Festival runs from November 10-12, 2022. For details on tickets and the full festival line up, please visit www.lonestarfilmfestival.com.

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The award, named after the iconic Texas novelist and screenwriter, Larry McMurtry, honors native Texans who have made great contributions to the film, television and creative industries. The 2021 honorees were Ethan Hawke and Richard Linklater.

“It’s an honor to be getting the Larry McMurtry Award in my hometown,” said Taylor Sheridan. “I was such a fan of his work and being recognized in this way is for sure a thrill.  I feel lucky to be able to tell the stories I love while also giving back to the community that has meant so much to me.”

Photo courtesy of the Lone Star Film Festival

Taylor Sheridan is an Academy Award-nominated writer behind the hit series YELLOWSTONE, its critically acclaimed prequel 1883, and the hit series MAYOR OF KINGSTOWN. His breakout screenplay SICARIO earned massive praise, followed by Golden Globe and Oscar nominated HELL OR HIGH WATER, and the highly successful WIND RIVER. Sheridan has many more projects in the works, including 1923, LIONESS, and 1883: THE BASS REEVES STORY. A Texas native, Taylor owns and operates two ranches in his home state: the legendary 6666 Ranch, headquartered in Guthrie, and Bosque Ranch in Weatherford. Taylor excels in the Western horse performance industry as an avid supporter and competitor in reining and cutting.

Taylor Sheridan’s Paramount+ hit, 1883, filmed in Fort Worth over the summer of 2021 in the Stockyards National Historic District and surrounding ranches.

“Taylor is changing the landscape of television and his contributions to the film industry in Texas will only continue to grow,“ said Jessica Christopherson, vice president of marketing and film commissioner for the Visit Fort Worth and the FWFC. “1883 employed hundreds of locals and contributed greatly to the local economy; we are so excited to honor Taylor at this year’s gala.”

Visit Fort Worth and the Fort Worth Film Commission are partnering with LSFF to produce the 2022 gala and festival. Details of the 2022 LSFF including the lineup of films, panels and events will be announced in August.

“We are thrilled to honor Fort Worth’s own Taylor Sheridan,” said Chad Mathews, director of the Lone Star Film Society and Lone Star Film Festival. “Our Board of Directors wanted to recognize Sheridan for all he has done for the film industry in Fort Worth, and the Larry McMurtry Award seemed the perfect fit.

Community leader and board chair of the National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame, Kit Moncrief, will serve as chair of Lone Star Film Festival Gala.

Moncrief is a familiar figure to the philanthropic community throughout North Texas. She has supported a number of causes through her roles as a philanthropist, wildlife conservationist, and animal welfare advocate.

“I am grateful to be a part of the Lone Star Film Festival Gala this year, especially as my dear friend, Taylor Sheridan, is being awarded with the Larry McMurtry Award. The Festival provides a great opportunity to celebrate films and filmmakers from around the world and showcase all that Fort Worth has to offer.”

Moncrief currently serves as President of the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame and co-Chairwoman of the Fort Worth Zoological Association. Kit is the first woman to serve as the Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Texas Christian University and will become Chair in the Fall of 2022. She is past President and current Vice President of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Foundation. Kit also serves as Vice President of the Moncrief Cancer Foundation, a board member of UT Southwestern Moncrief Cancer Institute, the Brown Lupton Foundation, Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, and the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.

In addition, Kit co-founded the Saving Hope Foundation, an organization with the intent to end animal abuse and neglect through advocacy, education, and spay-neuter programs. Outside of Fort Worth, she serves on the Board of the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and Laura W. Bush Institute for Women’s Health National Advisory Board.

Individual seats to the gala are available for $750 each and tables start at $10,000. Proceeds of all sales go to the Johnny Langdon Film Education Initiative, which provides film education programs for adults as well as high school aged students interested in the art of cinema. For more information, visit https://www.lonestarfilmfestival.com/gala.

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On February 11, Fort Worth Opera will showcase Puccini’s
timeless Parisian romance, La Bohème, with soprano Sonya Yoncheva and tenor Michael Fabiano as ill-fated lovers Mimí and Rodolfo.

Finally, on February 18, the company will present Donizetti’s hilarious comedy, La Fill du Régiment (Daughter of the Regiment), starring soprano Pretty Yende as Marie, mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe as Marquise of Berkenfield, tenor Javier Camarena as Tonio, and screen legend Kathleen Turner as the Duchesse o Krakentorp. For the full Moonlight Film Fest cast list, click HERE.

Tickets can be purchased ONLINE or by contacting Fort Worth Opera’s box office at 817.731.0726, Monday-Friday, 9 am–5 pm CST

1 Film $35
2 Films $60
3 Films $75
Prices shown are per 1 car.

Coyote Drive-In is located at 223 NE 4th Street Fort Worth, TX 76164. Gates open at 6 pm and showtime is 7 pm, for all shows.

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It is a perfect example of what Lone Star Film Festival represents for filmmakers, an engaged audience looking for fresh talent and unique work. Matt Hoff and Daniel Luis Ennab, both working as writers and directors on the project, have created an intriguing and auspicious debut that has stylistic traces from another era, inspired by John Cassavetes, Hal Ashby and Bob Rafelson and filled by character dynamics that recall Diner or Stand by Me. Though reminiscent of a time long gone, they engage a fresh understanding of American males.

Cajoling and confused, the portrait of a tight-knit group of young men on a camping trip offers a rare glimpse into the problems of contemporary masculinity. Developed by filmmakers who met and developed the concept at New York’s School for Visual Arts, And the Boys Go is beautifully shot mostly around Mount Greylock in Western Massachusetts. The project evolved from their own high school experiences. Ennab brought Hoff the original script for a coming-of-age epic and the two began refining the story around a similar trip Matt Hoff’s friends had taken when they graduated. When the original location in the Poconos fell through, he knew of a perfect scenic area back home. What began life as a complex story of high school life was shaped into something more intimate full of ripe quiet beats that registers a sincere impact.

Between Ennab’s drafts and Hoff’s editorial refinements, the script found its spare intensity and next they needed to find faces to play it. Hoff explains, “It was difficult because actors are so hard-wired to perform, and we wanted something more natural and less constructed.” In casting these long-time friends, Hoff and Ennab tried everything to find the right combination of talent and chemistry; they had a clear vision of group dynamics which ultimately led them to Ali Zaman, James L. Lawrenson, Jayden Kyle and Nicholas Matthews. Intensifying the brotherhood, the directors had the quartet bunk together throughout the shoot, as Hoff reasons, “We didn’t want them to have any space apart for the entire shoot.”

Ennab quickly adds, “Sometimes we felt like parents behind closed doors. It was the first film for all of us and we went in with a lot of expectations.” The filmmakers’ journey to get the film made had its share of parallels with their young protagonists who are confronting their own expectations about life and friendship. Admittedly, they were not above tricks to pull unique and surprising reactions out of the actors, as Hoff shares, “We would tell an actor to do something different in a scene, but not tell the others, just to see where it would go and keep it fresh.” Each actor shines, but it is driven by the push and pull of the dynamic. Nicholas Matthews who plays Steve, the group’s tall machismo factory, gives a nuanced performance granting pathos to a grandiose character who seems to represent something different for each other character.

Improvisation enlivens performances and the subtle use of two hand-held cameras was key, as Hoff details, “It allowed us to have improv in nearly every scene and maintain continuity.”  Packing their gear for a mile in order to get breathtaking scenes, the film taps into a subdued intensity as the filmmakers make superb use of the landscape of the Taconic Mountains. Both admit to a slight camping aversion, which has led them to question how they ended up making a movie about a camping trip, but it was just another part of the process to Ennab, “We had to compromise how we might normally do things in order to get into the nitty gritty of the story. Camaraderie was important, I think the crew was even tighter than the actors.”

Refining not only their project through film school, but also their collaborative style, the duo has found a balanced working relationship that allows them both to remain creative problem solvers. Hoff tends to oversee and organize, dealing with structures, while Ennab interacts with the internal energies of the action or as he says, “looking for happy accidents.” Craftsman understand how to make the most with the least and these two have maximized space and time, viewers can be excited for the future projects from both of them.

An Austin native, Lyle Brooks relocated to Fort Worth in order to immerse himself in the burgeoning music scene and the city’s rich cultural history, which has allowed him to cover everything from Free Jazz to folk singers. He’s collaborated as a ghostwriter on projects focusing on Health Optimization, Roman Lawyers, and an assortment of intriguing subjects requiring his research.

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