A Slew of Texas-Centric Films Are on the Dallas International Film Festival Lineup

Now solidified as one of the nation’s few festivals that can screen for Academy Awards consideration, the Dallas International Film Festival has launched an exciting new slate of titles for its annual main festival. Although DIFF has hosted screenings of many acclaimed international titles and hits from prior festivals, this year’s programming has strongly emphasized local cinema.

More than two dozen titles in DIFF’s 2025 lineup are classified as “Texas films,” including shorts, documentaries, and independent narrative features from emerging artists. The programming indicates a faith in the North Texas market, which has proven to be one of the biggest in the nation. While many regional festivals attempt to entice broader audiences by including established names, DIFF has focused on spotlighting issues, stories and perspectives critical to Texan viewers. Given the increased focus on getting more productions developed in-state, it's an issue that is paramount to the future of the local market.

Localized programming certainly does not mean that DIFF lacks star power, as one of the most heavily anticipated premieres is the Texas-based documentary Willie Nelson Presents: King of the Roadies. At 91 years old, Nelson has been so consistently intent on touring that he has never settled down for a deep discussion about his career; he made an exception, as the documentary is directed by his daughter, Amy Lee Nelson. King of the Roadies has a unique focus on the career of the “lifelong roadie” Ben Dorcy and features archived interviews with legendary artists such as Johnny Cash, Kinky Friedman and Kris Kristofferson.
The crime thriller Due West is also included within the world premieres section, a breakthrough feature from Evan Miller, who wrote, directed, and co-produced the film. Set in West Texas, Due West is centered on a woman who is forced to commit crimes when she cannot pay for her medical expenses. Although the relevant subject material will provoke discussion, Due West also has some serious star power, as it features a comeback performance from Adrianne Palicki, best known for her work in the Texas-based television series Friday Night Lights. Henry Thomas, who also served as a co-producer, is also in the cast.
Texas-based issues are also at the forefront of The Salamander King, an independent comedy centered on a group of Austinites forced to save a municipal golf course as the city’s expansion endeavors threaten local businesses. While the tone is said to be more comic, The Salamander King is an earnest representation of the slogan “Keep Austin Weird,” which has been a continuous rallying cry for the state’s capital to offer a safe space for the admitted “weirdos” who make its culture so illustrious.
A fascinating industrywide narrative that has emerged in the past few years is the popularity of Texas Monthly, as the magazine’s features have served as the inspiration behind Richard Linklater’s Netflix comedy Hit Man, the Taylor Sheridan show Landman , and the Emmy-nominated miniseries Love and Death. Texas Monthly presents two documentaries at this year’s DIFF, each spotlighting an underrepresented piece of local history. Take It Away: The Rise of Tejano Hollywood tells the remarkable life story of Johnny Canales, who popularized regional Mexican music and gave opportunities to many other groundbreaking artists; Night in West Texas is a grueling true-crime expose about a gay Apache man falsely accused of murdering a Catholic priest, and how his testimony was silenced for decades by West Texas authorities.

This year’s DIFF includes a greater focus on animation, music videos, shot-on-film presentations and sports-oriented content within the “game on” series. A recurring favorite component of the festival is the “Deep Ellum Sounds” series, which centers on the musical achievements of Dallas-based artists. Among the exciting titles this year is DIY: The Rise and Fall of Punk, a comprehensive documentary focused on the transgressive popularity of the American punk scene.

National festivals have struggled this year, given the slow start to this year’s Sundance Film Festival, which failed to result in many notable deals or acquisitions. Nonetheless, DIFF picked up on one of the gems from the Park City festival with Omaha, a moving drama about a single father’s extended road trip with his two young children. What begins as a fairly pleasant slice-of-life story becomes much darker as the film touches on a systemic issue resulting from an unusual piece of Nebraska's legislature; the final words of text appearing on screen are chilling. Omaha features a career-best performance from John Magaro, who broke out a decade prior when he attended a screening at the USA Film Festival to promote his supporting role in The Big Short.

The “premiere series,” which highlights films that have received acclaim within the festival circuit, also includes a screening of the acclaimed dark comedy Friendship, which unites comedian Tim Robinson with Paul Rudd. Upon glowing reviews during its screening at the Toronto International Film Festival last year, Friendship was acquired by A24, which aims to introduce the film to a mainstream audience with a nationwide rollout in May.

DIFF will also screen a few smaller titles that have been picked up for distribution, but may need a boost of momentum from local audiences to build anticipation for their national rollout. Spider & Jesse explores the dark story of two young sisters who fear separation after their mother’s death, with Ghostbusters: Afterlife’s McKenna Grace and Stranger Things’ Dacre Montgomery in prominent roles; the riveting crime thriller Barron’s Cave also has a star-studded ensemble, including Garret Hedlund, Stephen Lang, Hamish Linklater and Severance’s breakout star Tramell Tillman.

Of course, determining the true standouts of the festival would be challenging given the many smaller titles in competition; the winners of this year’s contest will be announced following a Closing Night Party on May 1. However, this year’s DIFF is about more than just screenings; the robust celebration calendar includes several Q&A sessions, filmmaker panels, and seminars. It’s not just a celebration of the best that Dallas offers, but an opportunity to commune with one of the nation’s most prominent communities of cinephiles.

Dallas International Film Festival takes place April 25 - May 1. Visit DIFF's website for a complete program guide with times, locations, and ticketing.