Inaugural event
Festival Program
Five Days of Film.
One Central Texas Town.
Stories that inspire. Community that connects. Here is what the week looks like: premieres and shorts blocks, panels with working industry professionals, a student showcase, a pop-up drive-in, a red carpet and a few very good parties.
Use this to see how much of the festival you want to catch, then choose the pass that covers it.
7
Feature screenings and premieres
4
Shorts blocks, from Texas to international
4
Industry panels with working professionals
5
Days across Leander, Cedar Park and Georgetown
The Story Is Still Being Written
Our programming team is carefully selecting extraordinary films and experiences for our inaugural festival.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11
Veterans Day Memorial and Pop-Up Drive-In
A community opening night, with a drive-in screening of Sgt. Stubby.
Gates Open and Veterans Welcome
Doors open with a welcome reception for veterans, their families, and neighbors.
Veterans Day Memorial Presentation
A tribute and remembrance ceremony to open festival week.
Veterans Day Pop-Up Drive-In: Sgt. Stubby
An outdoor screening of Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero, the true story of the stray dog who became the most decorated war dog of the First World War. The soundtrack is broadcast to your car radio, so pull in, bring a blanket, or stay in the truck bed.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12
Opening Night and Cinematic Foundations
Texas filmmaker spotlight, red carpet and the opening gala.
Badge Pickup and Filmmaker Registration
Hospitality suites open for badge holders, with a second pickup window for afternoon arrivals.
Filmmaker Brunch and Mentor Session
Brunch with informal mentor conversations for visiting filmmakers.
Shorts Block: Experimental and Animation
Five animated and tech-forward shorts from the competition categories.
Shorts Block: Texas Filmmaker Spotlight
Five live-action shorts made by Texas filmmakers.
Red Carpet Arrival and Filmmaker Mixer
Media photocall, filmmaker arrivals, and the festival welcome address.
Opening Night Premiere: JIMMY
Our headline Texas premiere and the official start of competition screenings.
Law vs Law Community VR Boxing Competition
The Leander and Cedar Park police chiefs face off in the ring to raise money for youth arts and film education. Runs at the same time as the opening night premiere, so you can pick your night.
Festival Mixer
Craft beer, food trucks, and networking once the boxing wraps up.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13
Crafting the Story
Student and marketplace track: career mentorship, screenwriting and the student spotlight.
Student Shorts Block
A curated block of shorts from student filmmakers.
The Leander Feature Screenplay Pitch Session
Eight finalists pitch their features live to an industry panel.
Student Film Showcase
Our inaugural competitive student feature block.
Emerging Creator Feature
A feature from a first-time director, screened in competition.
Panel: Hybrid AI Movies and Scaling Low-Budget Post Production
Visual effects supervisors on modern post workflows, intellectual property and guild compliance.
The Industry Night
Late-night networking and an industry mixer. Ages 21 and over.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14
Texas and International Track
The biggest screening day, closing with a party open to the whole community.
Panel: Navigating Texas’s $1.5 Billion Film Incentive
What SB 22 means for productions here, with a matchmaking session pairing out-of-state producers with local partners.
Feature Film: International Cinema Showcase
Our centerpiece screening from the international competition category.
Panel: Streaming Markets, Theatrical Breakouts and Low-Budget Execution
Distribution executives on streaming deals, theatrical runs and international sales.
Shorts Block: Global Perspectives
Five international live-action shorts.
Feature Film: Leander and Lone Star Winner
An evening screening of the winning film with Texas roots.
Live Band, Dance and Taste of the Hill Country Lounge Party
Live music and dancing, brick-oven pizza, craft beer and wine cave flights. Open to the community.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15
Faith, Family and the Closing Finale
A morning producers session, closing screenings, the awards, and an elegant farewell.
Panel: The Producers Network
Literary managers on the jump from screenwriter to producer, plus speed networking with verified producers.
Pilot Shot in Leander: Faith, Family and Moral Reflection
A short pilot from our faith and family category, filmed right here.
Faith and Family Feature Film
A full-length feature screening straight after the Leander pilot.
Closing Night Feature Film with Filmmaker Q&A
A crowd-pleasing festival favorite, followed by a conversation with the filmmakers.
Awards Banquet and Closing Wrap Party
An evening of great food and wine, closing with the formal awards ceremony across all ten competitive categories.
Choose your pass before early bird pricing ends
A single screening ticket gets you in the door for one film. An all-screenings or all-access pass covers the week: premieres, shorts blocks, panels and the parties. Early bird pricing ends September 30.