Hecho en Tejas Showcase & Party

Hecho en Tejas is a beloved showcase celebrating films produced right here in Texas. This year’s program kicks off with a red carpet and special screening of the feature film Duranguito, followed by a spirited intermission with drinks and conversation, then the Hecho en Tejas Shorts Competition.The short films in competition are eligible for both an Audience Award and a Jury Award, presented in partnership with the Texas Archive of the Moving Image (TAMI).Celebrate Texas filmmaking with directors in attendance and a lively reception to close out the night!

 

FEATURE

Duranguito
Directed by Nikki Martinez, Zane Abraham
United States, Mexico

After a deceptive bond initiative passes in 2012, wealthy developers and city officials conspire to construct an arena within downtown El Paso’s oldest neighborhood, all while its elderly residents, led by a 94-year-old Antonia Morales, combat the attempts at forced displacement and the complete destruction of their historic border community.

 

COMPETITION

Somewhere You Feel Free
Directed by Sarah Joy Byington
United States

While hiking with her mother, an adventurous woman is forced to reassess her lifestyle when she encounters three men at a moment of vulnerability.

 

Fragmentos (Fragments)
Directed by Abraham Vida
Venezuela, United States

A Venezuelan filmmaker self-reflects on leaving his hometown, his country and the life he knew behind.

 

Sombras (Shadows)
Directed by Sofia Alejandro Barrios
United States

A Mexican immigrant father grapples with his unfulfilled dream of becoming a mariachi singer, escaping into vivid musical daydreams.

 

¿Cuando perdí mi cabeza? (When Did I Lose My Head?)
Directed by Marlon Rubio Smith
United States

A soon-to-graduate Mexican-American college student struggles to find a job when sudden visions and ancient entities question who he really is.

 

The Good Boy
Directed by Esmeralda Hernandez                United States

After learning that an innocent dog will be entered into a dog fighting ring to win prize money for his ailing mother, 8-year-old Isaac realizes he doesn’t want to hurt the animal but will betray his family if he sets it free.

 

Para Mama (For Mom)
Directed by Munira Alzahrani
United States

A daughter living abroad leaves her mother a voice message, reflecting on a shared memory while grappling with an unspoken longing for connection while being away from home.

 

Boca Chica
Directed by Ai Vuong, Samuel Diaz Fernandez
United States

Unrestricted access to beaches is a public right in Texas. But for the little known, magical, and untamed stretch of beach called Boca Chica, that right is curtailed when SpaceX takes flight. Boca Chica uncovers the mesmerizing beauty of this fragile coastline and the fight for free access for its longtime visitors whose memories and spirituality are rooted deep among the sandy shorelines.

 


In-Person

Austin PBS

May 17

Credits