Save the Date: Texas Film Awards Returns in 2022

The last big party in Austin before COVID shut the world down in 2020 was the Texas Film Awards, the annual celebration of luminaries of Lone Star cinema. After a year off, the shindig will be back in 2022 with a new location.

The unofficial kickoff to SXSW has been held for the past few years at the AFS Cinema and Austin Studios, but for its 2022 return it heads downtown to the Long Center’s Terrace, right by Ladybird Lake, on March 10 - yes, as always, the day before SXSW kicks off.

Since the class of 2001 (including Oscar-winning actress Sissy Spacek, groundbreaking journalist Liz Smith, and a duet of Texas writers, Lonesome Dove scribe Bill Wittliff and Kramer vs. Kramer scripter Robert Benton), the roster of inductees into the Hall of Fame has included an IMDB's worth Texas residents and transplants. Names like Halloween director David Gordon Green (resident here for his Austin trilogy of Joe, Prince Avalanche, and Manglehorn), Jeff Nichols, Robin Wright, comedy legend Carol Burnett, Renée Zellweger, and good ol' JR Ewing himself, Larry Hagman, have all received the ultimate Texas movie biz plaudit. However, it's not just individual artists: The Star of Texas ward has gone to major projects that have defined Texas filmmaking, from Rio Bravo to Dazed and Confused.

No word yet on who joins these illustrious ranks in 2022, but considering who's already in there, it always promises to be an unmissable event. Plus, all proceeds go to the Austin Film Society's ongoing initiatives to support Texas filmmakers (and future HOFers), including the AFS Grants to feature and shorts directors. Book your tickets to this exclusive and always star-studded gala at austinfilm.org/texas-film-awards-2022.