Festival co-founder and filmmaker Skylar Schanen joined Trevor Scott and Sierra Waggoner on We Are Austin to share what’s new for the festival’s third year, including exciting premieres, special guests, and unforgettable experiences.
Lights, camera, Round Top!
The place where “stories run wild” is rolling out the red carpet once again! The Round Top Film Festivalreturns November 12–15, 2026, for four days of film, music, conversations, and cinematic celebration in the heart of Round Top, Texas.
Festival co-founder and filmmaker Skylar Schanen joined Trevor Scott and Sierra Waggoner on We Are Austin to share what’s new for the festival’s third year, including exciting premieres, special guests, and unforgettable experiences.
Where stories run wild
What started as a passion project between Skylar and her mother has quickly become a celebration of creativity.
“When my mom and I started this, we were like, let’s just see. We’ll take it year by year, and every year it just gets bigger and bigger,” Schanen shared.
The festival will also feature an opening-night premiere of Heartland, along with additional screenings, filmmaker conversations, and special events.
With its charming small-town atmosphere and thriving creative community, Round Top provides a unique backdrop for filmmakers and movie lovers to connect.
“It’s become just a safe haven for the creatives,” Schanen explained. “It’s a really close-knit community.”
<img src="https://cbsaustin.com/resources/media2/16×9/8033/800/0x420/80/da70d855-8bca-44d7-9088-b55836bbbf22-KKP4591.jpg" alt="This year's festival is bringing even more opportunities to celebrate storytelling, with new panels exploring fashion and film, production design, and books adapted for the big screen.”>
This year’s festival is bringing even more opportunities to celebrate storytelling, with new panels exploring fashion and film, production design, and books adapted for the big screen.
Exciting premieres and new experiences
This year’s festival is bringing even more opportunities to celebrate storytelling, with new panels exploring fashion and film, production design, and books adapted for the big screen.
One of the most anticipated screenings is Family Movie, featuring Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick, who fell in love with Round Top during last year’s festival and returned to film the project in the area.
“They actually fell in love with Round Top last year and shot the whole movie out here,” Schanen said. “I cannot wait to see what they did with the town.”
The festival will also feature an opening-night premiere of Heartland, along with additional screenings, filmmaker conversations, and special events.
The festival will screen a documentary about acclaimed Nashville songwriter Shane McAnally, followed by an intimate, separately ticketed musical experience inspired by Nashville’s iconic Bluebird Cafe.
“When my mom and I started this, we were like, let’s just see. We’ll take it year by year, and every year it just gets bigger and bigger,” Schanen shared.
A little Nashville magic in Round Top
Music lovers have something special to look forward to!
The festival will screen a documentary about acclaimed Nashville songwriter Shane McAnally, followed by an intimate, separately ticketed musical experience inspired by Nashville’s iconic Bluebird Cafe.
“Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne are going to be singing, and in between the songs, they’re going to be talking about their flow and their writing,” Schanen explained.
The special event offers audiences an opportunity to experience the stories behind the songs in an intimate setting.
With new announcements being released regularly, attendees are encouraged to check the festival’s website and Instagram for the latest screenings, special guests, and ticket information.
A festival built on connection
For Schanen, the festival’s greatest success isn’t just the films on screen. It’s the relationships formed along the way.
What started as a passion project between Skylar and her mother has quickly become a celebration of creativity.
“When we started it, we really wanted to prioritize the filmmakers and having that experience and getting to bond,” she shared.
From meaningful conversations to creative collaborations, the festival continues to bring artists together in ways that extend far beyond the four-day celebration.
“The success stories of people that meet and now are making movies and working together is what really makes my heart happy,” Schanen said.
The place where “stories run wild” is rolling out the red carpet once again! The Round Top Film Festival returns November 12–15, 2026, for four days of film, music, conversations, and cinematic celebration in the heart of Round Top, Texas.
Plan your Round Top Film Festival experience
With new announcements being released regularly, attendees are encouraged to check the festival’s website and Instagram for the latest screenings, special guests, and ticket information.
Visit RoundTopFilmFest.org and follow @roundtopfilmfeston Instagram.
Watch the full We Are Austin interview with Skylar Schanen to learn more about this year’s Round Top Film Festival!
Visit RoundTopFilmFestival.org and follow @roundtopfilmfest on Instagram.
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