If you love film, Texas and a good time, the Round Top Film Festival is for you! The unique festival was founded by mother-daughter duo Shanna Schanen and Skylar Schanen to honor the spirit of Texas film. And boy, does it!
Taking place November 6-9 in Round Top, Texas (population 90), the festival is in its second year, but you’d think it’s been going on for, well, forever. It’s cool and quaint and full of star power!
When asked what she learned in her first year, Schanen said, “I learned how much work it actually takes to put on a film festival.” In the second year, she explained, they started earlier, added even more programming and really stepped it up.
Here’s what happened on the first jam-packed day of RTFF!
The event began with a red carpet surrounded by music, merchandise, drinks and Texas cowboy chic. Think sophisticated and sophisticated, yet down to earth and down to earth. Everyone is different and there are no strangers – just friends you haven’t met yet.
The opening film was Adult childrenwith Texas native Thomas Sadoski. Best known for these roles The newsroom And Life in pieces (and his marriage to Amanda Seyfried), Sadoski grew up in College Station, where his parents still live. Not only did they attend the event to support their son, but they also arrived on a bus with all of their friends. It was truly one of the sweetest things you could experience.
Spill the ATX asked Sadoski how it felt to receive so much love and support from family and friends. “It feels great,” he said. “It’s weird standing on a red carpet and looking around and seeing people I grew up with… making fun of me and making faces like we used to do when we were eight years old and on the swim team together.”
He concluded: “It makes everything that much more special and I couldn’t be happier to be here.”
He is not alone. Every visitor to the festival is happy to be there! After the screening, the audience gathered for an opening party where everyone danced hard. There was neon, there was a mechanical bull, line dancing, brisket, Frito pie, and of course lots of libations.
The festival continues through Sunday with features, short films, tributes and even a Texas-style Studio 54 event. Stay tuned for more highlights and follow the adventures of Spill the ATX Instagram And TikTok.