Family-friendly entertainment under the stars was offered Thursday evening as the Hill Country Film Festival hosted a free outdoor screening of short films at Marktplatz. The four-day event continued with screenings at Fritztown Cinema through Saturday and a sendoff party Sunday at Pedernales Cellars. Additional coverage from the festival, including award winners, can be found on page D1. — Photo courtesy Manny Pandya
“Night Owls,” a romantic comedy that premiered earlier this year at South by Southwest, took home the Cinema Dulce (best of fest) award at the sixth annual Hill Country Film Festival, held Thursday through Sunday.
Over 90 short films and 10 feature length movies screened at Fritztown Cinema.
“This year’s film festival exceeded our expectations with over 60 filmmakers in attendance from all over the United States,” Chad Mathews, executive director of the sponsoring Hill Country Film Society, said. “We couldn’t have asked for a better weekend of films in Fredericksburg.”
Other top award recipients honored at a closing night ceremony Saturday at the Nimitz Ballroom included “WildLike,” named best feature film, and “Mount Lawrence,” named best documentary film.
The festival’s audience choice award went to the short film, “Stray,” from director Tyler Glodt, whose feature film, “Buck Wild,” won Cinema Dulce two years ago.
“It seems to me that our audience and filmmaker interaction goes beyond networking,” Mathews said. “When you attend a festival like this, people have the opportunity to truly develop personal relationships.
“Fredericksburg is such a relaxing environment that our filmmakers are able to enjoy themselves without the pressure to promote, sell or pitch their projects and that is really conducive to enjoying the town, the movies and forging friendships with fellow filmmakers.”
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