A crowd of enthusiastic supporters turned out for the Round Top Film Festival gala, themed Where Stories Run Wild, held at Windy Knoll. The film festival was founded by Shanna Schanen and daughter Skylar Shannon; the third year runs November 12 through 15 throughout Round Top.
In keeping with the theme of the gala, guests in a panoply of animal-patterned attire paused for photos on the leopard-print carpet before heading into the venue for passed appetizers, a tasting by Black River Caviar, and welcome cocktails spiked with Agazul Tequila.
This year’s gala co-chairs Wendy Burks and Lisa Parrish raised over $ 600,000 for Round Top Film Festival to help fund its mission dedicated to bringing access to quality film, industry exposure, and educational opportunities to rural youth and communities across Texas.
The Dallas String Quartet provided the cocktail hour soundtrack with elegant interpretations of modern pop and country tunes on glowing electric violins, while artist Marian Villegas of MABLUE put the finishing touches on her auction piece. Villegas’ 50 by 60-inch painting, Chasing Love, sold for $20,000 during the live auction later in the evening.
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Courtney Jansky, Casey Boettcher (Photo by Kolton King)
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Auction in motion (Photo by Kolton King)
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Rick & Susan Ashcroft, Cosimo Blodgett, Skylar Schanen, Shanna & Rob Schanen (Photo by Kolton King)
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2026 Round Top Film Festival Gala at Windy Knoll. (Photo by Kolton King)
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Janet & Richard Schmidt (Photo by Kolton King)
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Dallas String Quartet at Round Top Film Festival. (Photo by Kolton King)
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Gala co-chairs Wendy Burks and Lisa Parrish (Photo by Kolton King)
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Kathy Young, Marla Hurley (Photo by Kolton King)
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Luis & Clarissa Labastida (Photo by Kolton King)
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Jenna McPhail, Jake Michael, Jamie Lee Manning. (Photo by Kolton King)
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Jason Hoppe, Jude Parrish, Jude Parrish and the Fellows (Photo by Kolton King)
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Round Top Film Festival Gala. (Photo by Kolton King)
Following cocktails, guests settled in at dinner tables overflowing with white flowers. and flickering candles. Wolfgang Puck Catering’s menu for the evening began with baby gem and strawberry salad with champagne vinaigrette followed by coffee- rubbed beef tenderloin, mushroom thyme risotto, grilled asparagus and blistered cherry tomatoes.
Espresso martini shots capped the dinner along with a dramatic dessert station offering “smoking” chocolate cigars crafted with rum-infused Valrhona chocolate, edible cigar paper, and caramel popcorn ash.
Among the many thoughtful details dreamed up by by co-chairs was the placement of a sweet caramel popcorn treat in every guest’s vehicle upon departure.
And the fun didn’t end with the gala. Guests flocked to an after-party at Ellis Motel bar with live music by Jude Parrish and the Fellows and late-night bites by P. Terry’s Burger Stand.
Round Top Seen: Shanna Schanen, Skylar Schanen, Cosimo Blodgett, Jim and Zuzana Kastleman, Meryl Poster, RJ Casey, Tom Struthers, Giovani Porta, Danielle Cocoanaug, Russel Groves, Marty (Martin) Jones, Jenna McPhail, Jake Michael, Jamie Lee Manning.
To learn more about Round Top Film Festival and to obtain passes to film festival weekend November 12 – 15, visit roundtopfilmfest.org.