Two Texas communities are turning the first weekend of November into a celebration of home‑grown cinema. In Hico, the eighth Billy the Kid Film Festival runs Nov. 7‑9, while the Addison Performing Arts Centre hosts the inaugural Addison Full Circle Film Festival Nov. 7‑8.
Billy the Kid Film Festival – Hico
Hico’s outlaw‑themed festival will showcase 45 films, including seven feature‑length titles (five narratives, two documentaries) and a slate of short films and music videos. The opening night on Nov. 7 features Natalie Aramendia’s Under the Western Skies, a music‑driven picture that sets the tone for the weekend’s “outlaw spirit.”
Local PBS series Texas Dance Halls: Still Swingin’ will present an episode directed by BTKFF alumnus Jay Pennington, with film and television veteran Barry Corbin joining the discussion at Green Canoe.
The festival’s closing screenings include Carl Bailey’s B‑western homage Dawn at Dominion and Theodore C. Flood’s double‑feature Western The Last Outlaw, followed by a VIP Red Carpet Party at the Wide Saddle Saloon.
Founder Luci DiGiorgio said, “The eighth year is going to be even better than before. We are proud of our returning filmmakers and the new Texas talent getting a spotlight in our Hico‑based fest.”
Saturday’s filmmaker workshop, “Cut the Crap, Film Festival Reality Versus Fantasy,” will be led by John Wildman and Bart Weiss at the Hico Community Center.
Highlights include Sara Gaston’s short Coyote, a tense tale of three women seeking denied medical care while pursued by unknown enemies, and Manuel Navarro’s Garden Valley, inspired by the 1988 Mann family murders. Rebeca Duran’s Rebel Heart follows Paulita Maxwell, a strong‑willed young woman navigating the Lincoln County Wars.
Sunday’s program features Tracy Satterwhite’s documentary Shine, profiling Mike Straughter, owner of the historic Chase Shoe Shine Parlor in Houston’s Third Ward, a neighborhood long celebrated for civil‑rights activism. The weekend concludes with Victor Quinton’s thriller The Blue Moon Rising, about a former Navy SEAL confronting a cult that abducts young girls during each blue moon.
Addison Full Circle Film Festival – Addison
The Addison Performing Arts Centre rolls out the red carpet Nov. 7‑8 for the inaugural Full Circle Film Festival, a two‑day showcase of Texas filmmaking produced by Andrew Worley and Bobby Williams of Full Circle Films. The festival’s mission is to highlight Texas talent and strengthen the state’s film community.
Feature‑length films will screen on the Addison Main Stage, while short works appear in the Black Box Theatre. Selected screenings are followed by filmmaker Q&A sessions, giving audiences insight into the stories and creative process behind each picture.
Festival organizers partnered with Addison Performing Arts Centre manager Nichole Bedford to create a “Howdywood” experience, complete with a glowing sign at the theatre entrance and an updated bar offering concession favorites and “sophisticated sips.”
Worley explained, “We wanted to create an event that showcases the depth of talent across Texas while giving audiences a chance to engage with the stories and artists behind the work. It’s exciting to bring North Texans a festival created by filmmakers for filmmakers, where everything truly comes around full circle.”
Tickets are sold through Eventbrite at $15 for a one‑day pass or $25 for a two‑day pass. Programming runs from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, offering a weekend of compelling stories, emerging talent and a celebration of Texas creativity.
Both festivals underscore the vibrant cultural life thriving in Texas towns, providing families, film enthusiasts and community members with affordable, family‑friendly entertainment that honors the state’s rich storytelling heritage.
Original reporting: Focus Daily News — read the source article.
