Lone Star Film Festival Marks 20 Years With Star-Studded Slate
The annual Fort Worth event runs through November 11, featuring major premieres and a record number of local shorts.
By Marta Gray ·
The Lone Star Film Festival reaches its 20th anniversary this week in Fort Worth, presenting a curated selection of international and domestic cinema. The event runs from Wednesday, November 5, through Tuesday, November 11, serving as a central gathering point for North Texas film enthusiasts.
This year's program includes three headline features that draw from distinct genres and production backgrounds. Bleeding Hearts, directed by Andrew Morgan, tells the story of musicians Zella Day and Jesse Woods, the duo behind Chaparelle. The film follows their first year together as they pursue a shared dream while navigating personal pressures. The Debut is a musical comedy written and directed by Jesse Eisenberg. It stars Julianne Moore and Paul Giamatti and follows a housewife who becomes a method actor in a community theater production. The film also features Halle Bailey, Cara Buono, and Bernadette Peters. It is an A24 release that recently closed the 70th BFI London Film Festival. Rehearsals for a Revolution is a documentary directed by Pegah Ahangarani. The film won the L’Œil d’or for Best Documentary at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival. It traces Iranian history from the 1979 Islamic Revolution through the 2026 conflict using personal archives and testimony.
Screenings take place across four primary venues in Fort Worth. The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth serves as the main location at 3200 Darnell Street. Films also show at the AMC Palace Theater on East Third Street, the Texas Ballet Theater headquarters on Mall Circle, and Fort Works Art on Montgomery Street. The closing gala occurs on Thursday, November 13, at the Bowie House on Camp Bowie Boulevard. Pass holders can also visit Ampersand Coffee and Cocktails on Bledsoe Street for related events.
Ticket sales reflect high demand for the full experience. Film-only tickets are sold out, but all-access passes remain available for $400. This price covers seven days of admission to more than 20 film blocks, including features, shorts, and special screenings. It also includes afternoon talks, evening parties, and happy hours. Individual tickets for specific films start at $12 and are available through the festival's online schedule.
The festival emphasizes local talent alongside international work. The slate includes more than 70 short films, with nearly half created by Texas filmmakers. Notable local entries include A Cowboy in London by Jared L. Christopher and The Best Little Tiny Park in Texas by Margaret Barry. Narrative features from local directors include Murderous by Neil LaBute and Rumination by Dylan Snyder.
The event is a presentation of the Lone Star Film Society, a nonprofit organization. It partners with the Fort Worth Film Commission, a division of Visit Fort Worth. The commission states that its work in location services and production support has driven $1 billion in economic impact and created more than 50,000 jobs for the city.
