Category: Hill Country Film Festival
Last Night in Rozzie: Independent hit a solid double
by Matt Ward
One of Hill Country Film Festival’s greatest success stories makes its theatrical debut this weekend. Last Night in Rozzie, directed by Sean Gannet from a screenplay by Ryan McDonough, won both the Cinema Dulce (Best of Fest) and Best Feature Film award at the 12th annual festival this summer and will open in limited release on the big screen as well as premium video on … Read More Last Night in Rozzie: Independent hit a solid double
The Get Together: Been a long time since party time
by Matt Ward
Will Bakke’s latest film wasn’t made with the pandemic in mind. Shot over 12 nights in a house on the edge of Austin, Bakke and co-writer Michael B. Allen sought to simply create the feel of a Friday night party that everyone has been to in their twenties. There’s the overly friendly guy, the girl who just wants to leave as soon as possible, … Read More The Get Together: Been a long time since party time
Jump Shot: More than a simple act
by Matt Ward
At uncertain times like these, inspirational films can be a salve and reprieve from the outside world and a reminder of wholesome goodness. Sports movies in particular are a frequent source for these moments of positivity, with themes of underdogs overcoming the odds or unlikely teammates rallying together for a common cause. A new documentary – which won the prestigious Audience Award at the … Read More Jump Shot: More than a simple act
The River and The Wall: Politics in perspective
by Matt Ward
Why build a physical wall when nature provides a beautiful, scenic barrier already? It’s one of many questions raised by director Ben Masters’ new documentary, “The River and The Wall,” an up-close, intoxicating feature about border security along the Rio Grande river in south Texas. Winner of the Louis Black “Lone Star” Award at the 2019 South by Southwest Film Festival and Best Documentary … Read More The River and The Wall: Politics in perspective
Dependent’s Day: Hill Country Film Festival review
by Matt Ward
Some of the best independent features start out as expanded versions of short films – made or just planned in the head of the filmmaker. Oscar-nominee Whiplash began as a short film from director Damien Chazelle and Hill Country Film Festival alum Before I Disappear began as an Academy Award winning short film called Curfew. Dependent’s Day, a comedy from writer/director Michael David Lynch … Read More Dependent’s Day: Hill Country Film Festival review
Bear With Us: Hill Country Film Festival review
by Matt Ward
What’s the worst possible way to propose to the perfect woman? Thought of it yet? Odds are whatever you thought of isn’t as outlandish as independent comedy Bear With Us, a hysterical film from director William Stribling and co-writer Russ Nickel. The film had audiences rolling in their seats at last weekend’s Hill Country Film Festival, where Bear With Us took home the prize … Read More Bear With Us: Hill Country Film Festival review
Cut to the Chase: Hill Country Film Festival review
by Matt Ward
Your average Hollywood thriller nowadays costs anywhere from $25-50 million to make. Boosted with formulaic scripts that are some variation of explosion here, car chase there with a half dozen gun battles along the way, there’s little originality left in the genre, especially when you get into the world of half-cooked, rushed to the screen sequels. If the thriller genre is ever going to … Read More Cut to the Chase: Hill Country Film Festival review
Transpecos: Hill Country Film Festival review
by Matt Ward
It’s hard to imagine a more timely independent feature to hit the big screen in 2016 than Transpecos, Greg Kwedar’s dynamic and explosive thriller along the Texas-Mexico border. With homeland security, drug lords and massive wall-building in the news, now more than ever do moviegoers need this film to help them engage in thought provoking discussion thanks to Transpecos’ cinematic world where ambiguity reigns … Read More Transpecos: Hill Country Film Festival review
Wildlike: Indie drama nails frontier Alaska
by Matt Ward
You’ve probably seen Bruce Greenwood in a lot of movies. He’s one of those “Oh that guy” character actors. You know the ones. A friend will say something like “I really liked (NAME OF ACTOR) in that movie I saw last week,” to which the immediate response is almost always, “Which one is he?” Then the friend explains what movies you’ve seen the actor … Read More Wildlike: Indie drama nails frontier Alaska
Night Owls: Hill Country Film Festival spotlight
by Matt Ward
A Chipotle in Beverly Hills wouldn’t seem like the ideal spot for crafting top notch independent comedy, but it sure seemed to work for the writing team of Charles Hood and Seth Goldsmith. What ultimately came from those late night meals/writing sessions was “Night Owls,” which premiered at South by Southwest in March and won the Cinema Dulce (best of fest) award at last … Read More Night Owls: Hill Country Film Festival spotlight
SEC Ready: Hill Country Film Festival spotlight
by Matt Ward
Nobody’s calling the University of Texas the big brother of Texas A&M University anymore. Not that anyone in Aggieland ever did. With the move from the Big 12 Conference to the Southeastern Conference two years ago, the Aggies have officially separated themselves from the perceived shadow of the Longhorns and are well on their way to long term success in the SEC. It’s why … Read More SEC Ready: Hill Country Film Festival spotlight
The Origins of Wit and Humor: Hill Country Film Festival spotlight
by Matt Ward
Good comedy is hard to find. Movies that consistently make us laugh without being formulaic and/or cliché are fewer and farther apart. Originality in the genre — whether it’s Oscar winners like “Birdman” and “Grand Budapest Hotel” or small independent efforts — should be equally celebrated. It’s thrust into this environment that Chicago-based filmmakers Christian Gridelli and Hunter Norris find themselves with their debut … Read More The Origins of Wit and Humor: Hill Country Film Festival spotlight
Cinematic Considerations 