The second annual Round Top Film Festival was a blissful blur of glamorous parties, world premiere movie screenings, and star studded celebrity panels.
The second annual Round Top Film Festival was a blissful blur of glamorous parties, world premiere screenings, and star-studded celebrity panels as film industry notables and cinephiles from all over the country congregated in charming Round Top for a film-fueled four-day weekend.
Opening day kicked off with a special screening for Round Top area middle school students as part of RTFF's local education programming. Students and teachers gathered in the stunning concert hall at Round Top's celebrated Festival Hill performance theater for a viewing of the holiday movie A Christmas in New Hope. The screening was followed by an engaging Q&A with the film's director Julia Barnett. That evening, the Rodeo Roundup Opening Night Party was held at the dazzling new Oakbones event venue. Film fest pass holders were treated to an authentically Texan evening with cocktails by Sage Roots, a Frito pie and barbecue sandwich bar, mechanical bull rides, roping demonstrations, live country music and more.
Skylar Schanen and Shanna Schanen gathered with Round Top area middle schoolers for a screening of A Christmas in New Hope at Festival Hill.
Actor Eric Roberts, Rob Schanen. (Photo by Kolton King)
Mariel Hemingway and Shanna Schanen. (Photo by Ben Porter)
Cosimo Blodgett, Skylar Schanen, Shanna Schanen, and Rob Schanen. (Photo by Ben Porter)
Carol and Mark Sadoski, with son Thomas Sadoski. (Photo by Kolton King)
Rodeo Roundup Opening Night Party at Oakbones. (Photo by Henry Clark)
Rachael Thornquist, Kelsie Lynne, Callie Neatherlin, Vanessa Cella, Jayma Woods. (Photo by Henry Clark)
Zuzana Kastleman. (Photo by Henry Clark)
Rodeo Roundup Opening Night Party at Oakbones. (Photo by Henry Clark)
Day two of the fest started early with coffee and conversation with esteemed actor Eric Roberts (King of the Gypsies, Runaway Train, The Pope of Greenwich Village) followed by a day of discussion panels (held primarily at the historic Round Top Dance Hall at The 550 Market), feature films, indie film blocks and entertainment and pop-up shops on the lawn during intermissions.
A Tribute Celebration was held to honor outstanding industry professionals both on and off screen. Honorees included Thomas Sadoski, who received the Lone Star Storyteller tribute for Adult Children. Casting director Kerry Barden was the recipient of the Ensemble Architect tribute award, and costume designer Ellen Mirojnick was honored with the Threads of Influence tribute. John Magaro (Omaha) received the Spotlight Acting tribute; and production designer David Gropman was recognized with the Artistry in Design tribute. Texas socialite Lynn Wyatt, whose story is being told through the tribute film Lynn (directed by Chloe Russell Kent), was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award in Arts and Philanthropy. The award was accepted on her behalf by her son Steve Wyatt.
Fashion in Film panel at the Round Top Dance Hall: Juliana Hoffpauir, Ellen Mirojnick, Dominique Dawson, Christina Flannery, and moderator Aisling Ayers. (Photo by Ben Porter)
Doug Forrest and Shanna Schanen. (Photo by Ben Porter)
Former Melody Maids Patricia Adams and Carol Greiner Eddins. (Photo by Ben Porter)
Melody Maids. (Ben Porter)
Meryl Poster. (Photo by Ben Porter)
Later in the evening, Round Top Film Festival Founders Circle members gathered for a private fiesta dinner prepared by Word of Mouth Catering at Rancho Pillow. Guests were entertained with an exclusive fashion show put on by South to North and Zadok's, live mariachis, and a candlelit concert by The Flinns. Dinner included carajilos and churros in true “Frida” style.
Saturday brought additional screenings and panels, including the rising star panel featuring young actors Charlie Rowe (Jay Kelly), Paulina Chávez (Landman), Greg Tarzan Davis (Mission Impossible, Top Gun), and Ayden Mayeri (Honeyjoon).
The day was capped off with a final awards celebration honoring the juried winners in each film category, the recipients of the festival’s special honors, and the winner of the Audience Award. Jurors for this year’s festival included: Leslie Zemeckis (Director – Behind the Burly Q; Grandes Horizontales), Marc Klein (Screenwriter – Serendipity; Mirror Mirror), Marié Botha (Actress – The Penguin; Slave Play. Not a Movie. A Play), Mariel Hemingway (Actress – Manhattan; On Sacred Ground), and Meryl Poster (Producer – Chocolat; Chicago).
Shonnery Pettit. (Photo by Ben Porter)
Rising Star Panel: Charlie Rowe, Paulina Chavez, Ayden Mayeri, Greg Tarzan David. (Photo by Ben Porter)
Rising Star Panel: Charlie Rowe, Paulina Chavez, Ayden Mayeri and Greg Tarzan David with moderator Richard Robichaux. (Photo by Ben Porter)
Founders Circle Members: Tracey Marshall, Kim Rolland, Shonnery Pettit, Skylar Schanen, Shanna Schanen, Susan Ashcroft, Kristen Reilly, Wendy Burks. (Photo by Ben Porter)
Shanna Schanen, Steve Wyatt, Chloe Kent, and Meryl Poster. (Photo by Ben Porter)
Neches, directed by Katy McCarthy was among the award-winning films, taking home the Best Texas Short award. Best Live Action short went to She Raised Me, directed by Ben Lewis. Best Live Action Short (Drama) was awarded to Sound of the Somme, directed by Michaël Vermaercke; They Call Me The Tattoo Witch directed by Lindsay Nyman was selected as Best Documentary Short; Best Overall Short went to Red River Cowboy, directed by Grace Wriggles. Michaël Vermaercke won Best Director for Sound of the Sommeand She Dances directed by Rick Gomez took home the Audience Award.
The final awards ceremony was followed by an over-the-top Studio ’54-themed awards after-party at Market Hill. RTFF pass holders dressed in their disco best boogied the night away to tunes spun by DJ Eva Vos while sipping movie-themed cocktails, and indulging in bites catered by Round Top favorite Local Roots.
Shanna Schanen and Skylar Schanen. (Photo by Ben Porter)
Stunt Panel: Todd Longwell, Chris O’Hara, Vic Armstrong, Nate Boyer, Shane Habberstad, Crystal Hooks, Noelle Therese Mulligan, Tom Struthers. (Photo by Ben Porter)
State of the Film Industry Panel: Bruce Franklin, Jonathan Lipnicki, Julie Candelaria, Marc Klein and Brian Kavanaugh-Jones. (Photo by Ben Porter)
The final day of the festival allowed RTFF to shine the spotlight on veterans and stunt performers, with engaging panel discussions. Vic Armstrong received the Lifetime Achievement Award in Stunts during Sunday’s stunt panel, while Chris O'Hara was awarded with the Maverick Stunt Award presented by Variety magazine.
Dates for the third annual RTFF have been set for November 12 – 15, 2026. Visit here for more information and to purchase passes when they become available.
2026 WINTER ANTIQUES & DESIGN SHOW, JANUARY 22-25 | 2026 SPRING ANTIQUES & DESIGN SHOW, MARCH 14 – 28
