Trains, teen pregnancy and tuna: Movies we’re watching at the 2025 Austin Film Festival

The 2025 Austin Film Festival runs Oct. 23-30.

It’s known as the “Writer’s Fest” because of its unique focus on that aspect of filmmaking.

Folks really interested in becoming screenwriters are drawn to the conference side of things where professionals share their tips and tricks and struggles with writer’s block or feeling insecure about what they’re writing.

But AFF also screens movies and draws in filmmakers from every part of the process. Anyone who wants to head to Austin can buy a badge, a pass, or just a single ticket at the theatre to attend.

Here’s a quick look at several of the films with Texas ties screening at the fest.

Narrative feature films by Texans at AFF:

Train Dreams is probably the biggest film at AFF this year with Texas ties. It’s by Austin-based filmmakers Greg Kwedar and Clint Bentley. These guys have been getting big. Their film “Sing Sing” had Oscar nominations. They are also getting one of AFF’s big filmmaker awards this year.

“Train Dreams” will get a broader release soon after showing at the festival. It’s set for a limited theatrical release in early November and then will be on Netflix in late November.

Leads is another film by an Austinite. Bryan Poyser shot the film at Texas State University in San Marcos. It’s funny and really well-acted. And for a festival that’s all about screenwriting, it’s actually notable for its lack of a traditional script.

The Long Shot is about the saga surrounding Austin’s Municipal Golf Course. The folks at AFF described it as a 2020 “Caddyshack.”

Charliebird is set in a small Texas town. It was written by and stars Samantha Smart – who is originally from League City. She plays a music therapist working with an unmotivated teenager. It’s worth keeping an eye on as it won a couple of awards at Tribeca.

Sell Out was written and directed by brothers Nick and Josh Holden. They grew up in Louisiana before relocating to Austin and this film kind of reflects that journey.

Pickleheads is a mockumentary about yes, pickleball, and feature’s “Austin’s eccentric pickleball scene.”

Do No Harm is by Houston-based filmmaker Chris Hartwell. It stars Harry Shum Jr., who you’ll likely recognize from previous roles, as a nurse who has made a simple, but very harmful, mistake.

Valentina features the El Paso-Juárez border and a woman just trying to get things done.

Forelock is the first film produced by Houston-born sports journalist, Lindsay McCormick. Her husband stars in the film. You might recognize Caleb Alexander Smith from a couple of TV shows, including “The Catch.”

Documentary feature films by Texans and about Texas:

Bite to Bite is by Austin-based filmmaker Kelly Lipscomb. It has nothing to do with Texas – it’s about bluefin tuna fishermen and about how tuna ends up from the oceans in Canada to sushi restaurants in Japan.

The Boy from St. Croix is about San Antonio Spurs great Tim Duncan. It is directed by his brother, Scott Duncan – who we are interviewing on Texas Standard soon.

$10 Cowboy is about musician Charley Crockett and the making of his latest album. (Texas Standard also talked to him about this.)

Another feature film worth mentioning:

American Baby is not by a Texas filmmaker but it features Texas as a setting which influences the story. It was filmed in Amarillo – though Amarillo isn’t explicitly mentioned. In fact, the filmmakers make the city seem much smaller than it is. It seems they wanted a place that could serve as a background for story centered around how a teenage girl’s pregnancy isolates her from her small, largely Christian community.

Like writer/director Ellen Rodnianski, the main character also has a mixed, diverse background – her mother is a Ukrainian immigrant and that adds a layer to the experience of this pregnant teen in small-town Texas. The film also addresses the limitations available to someone right now trying to make a decision about the future of their pregnancy in Texas.

Some films at AFF coming to theatres soon:

Train Dreams (see above).

Hamnet is the new film by indie favorite Chloé Zhao. It is about Shakespeare’s family life and it’s hitting theaters in late November.

Jay Kelly is getting some early Oscar buzz. This new film by Noah Baumbach stars George Clooney and Adam Sandler. It will hit limited theatres and then will be on Netflix in early December.

No Other Choice by Park Chan-Wook is also getting Oscar buzz. It’s still making the festival rounds until late December and will have a wide theatrical release in January.

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is screening at AFF before a wider release. Rian Johnson will be at the festival along with actor Thomas Hayden Church. Church is living in Texas these days – he owns a ranch in the Kerrville area.

Eternity will also be in theatres soon. Star Elizabeth Olsen was set to come to the festival but, unfortunately, is no longer scheduled to make an appearance.

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