Courtesy of Netflix
Audio By Carbonatix
Fort Worth’s Lone Star Film Festival is back, and it’s bringing a cinematic rodeo to Cowtown from Oct. 30 to Nov. 5. The week-long celebration of storytelling is a must for film and local history buffs, offering a mix of Texas talent, global perspectives and stories that will make you laugh, weep and think — maybe even all at once. Whether you’re into moving dramas, thought-provoking documentaries or under-the-radar indie treasures, this year’s lineup has a bit of everything.
But here are the five works that are most worth a damn:
1. Train Dreams
Screening: Oct. 30, 7 p.m. at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth
Opening the festival with a bang, Train Dreams is already generating Oscar buzz. Directed and co-written by Dallas-based filmmaker Clint Bentley (Sing Sing), this Netflix-backed drama stars Joel Edgerton as Robert Grainier, a logger navigating love, loss and the relentless march of progress in early 20th-century America. The film’s sweeping landscapes and intimate emotional beats promise a cinematic experience that’s both epic and deeply personal. Bentley, who grew up in Austin and now calls Dallas home, will be on hand for a post-screening Q&A. Don’t miss this chance to see a Texas filmmaker’s work on the big screen before it hits Netflix on Nov. 21.
2. Rediscovering the Stories: Exploring the History and Resilience of Dallas Communities
Screening: Nov. 2, 2:45 p.m. at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth
This powerful documentary series dives into the untold stories of some of Dallas’ most historic neighborhoods, such as Fair Park and Little Mexico, and examines the lasting impacts of gentrification, police brutality and systemic inequality on BIPOC communities.
Created in collaboration with KERA, local historians and activists, Rediscovering the Stories is more than a documentary series — it’s a call to action. With its focus on resilience and community, this doc is for anyone who wants to understand the heart of Dallas beyond its skyline. Maybe bring tissues and an open mind.
3. Due West
Screening: Nov. 4, 6:30 p.m. at the Movie Tavern West 7th
If you’re in the mood for a more gritty, Texas-rooted drama, Due West should be on your horizon. This film follows a small-town woman in West Texas who, desperate for medical care, finds herself breaking the law. Featuring Texas talents Henry Thomas (E.T.) and Adrianne Palicki (Friday Night Lights), the film captures the stark beauty and harsh realities of life in rural Texas. Having already made waves at the Dallas International Film Festival, Due West is back and living up to its name for an encore show that’s sure to resonate with audiences in a city dubbed “where the West begins.”
4. Leads
Screening: Nov. 1, 12 p.m. at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth
Texas takes center stage in Leads, a dramedy about an acting professor whose life is turned upside down when her unpredictable younger brother joins her class. Directed by Bryan Poyser (Lovers of Hate), who also stars alongside Heather Kafka (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre) and Macon Blair (The Toxic Avenger), the film is a love letter to the messy, beautiful world of creative collaboration. With its roots in Austin’s indie film scene and a story that feels both deeply personal and universally relatable, Leads is a testament to the power of Texas storytelling.
Texas actors Aaliyah Tardio and Heather Kafka bring their dynamic chemistry to Leads, a dramedy by Austin filmmaker Bryan Poyser.
Courtesy of Bryan Poyser
5. Coroner to the Stars
Screening: Oct. 31, 7 p.m. at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth
For true crime aficionados and Hollywood history buffs, Coroner to the Stars is a fascinating deep dive into the life of Dr. Thomas Noguchi, the former Los Angeles County Chief Medical Examiner-Coroner. From Marilyn Monroe to Robert Kennedy, Noguchi’s groundbreaking autopsies shaped forensic science and pop culture alike. This documentary explores his rise to fame as a Japanese immigrant in a city obsessed with stardom, as well as the controversies that followed him. Equal parts biography and cultural critique, Coroner to the Stars should be as compelling as the cases it chronicles.
How to Attend
Tickets and festival passes are available online. Whether you’re planning to catch a single screening or immerse yourself in a week of cinematic wonder, the Lone Star Film Festival is your ticket to unforgettable stories and Texas-sized talent.
