Over 300 Guests Joined us for the 11th Annual Water, Texas Film Festival

Texas Water Foundation (TWF) hosted its 11th annual Water, Texas Film Festival on May 12 at the Bullock Texas State History Museum IMAX, igniting a new beginning for this beloved event. Over 300 guests purchased their tickets for exclusive screenings of our finalist films, and the new short film from Fin & Fur Studios, Hope for the Guadalupe. 

Entrants in our three categories, Films about a Water Organization, Narrative/Art, and Documentary, competed for the chance to win a $1,000 cash prize. From each category, three finalists were chosen and screened at the event. Our Under 18 Winner and Runner Up were also screened at the event, showcasing the next generation of Texas filmmakers on the big screen. 

See the list of winners below, selected by TWF Board Member Richard Linklater. 

As part of the annual Film Festival, TWF previews a feature-length, water-themed documentary and hosts a panel discussion. Past screenings have included Ben Masters’ Deep in the Heart of Texas, and Jay and Chrissy Kleberg’s Chasing the Tide, and Ellen Temple’s The Neches River: Wild Heart of East Texas. 

After screening this year’s festival contestant films, TWF shared the Austin premiere  of Hope for the Guadalupe. Hope for the Guadalupe tells the story of loss, resilience, and restoration in the Texas Hill Country following the devastating floods of July 4, 2025. The film follows community members, nonprofits, and volunteers who are part of a large initiative to replant native grasses and trees along the river.

Following the preview, Ben Masters, Pam Nelson Harte, Katherine Romans, Austin Dickson, Jeremy Walther, and Michael Eason took the stage to participate in a panel discussion moderated by TWF CEO Sarah Schlessinger. They discussed how the Hill Country came together to  get to work for Guadalupe River communities.

In support of these efforts, TWF and the Water, Texas Film Festival were honored to present a $5,000 gift towards the Hope for the Guadalupe River Recovery Fund, a dedicated fund by The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country that will support the Hill Country Alliance, San Antonio Botanical Garden, the Kerr County River Foundation, and the Hunt Preservation Society’s efforts to restore the river. 

The Water, Texas Film Festival was created 10 years ago as a grassroots effort by Carole Baker and volunteers. It celebrates the art of storytelling as a way to value water in Texas. TWF believes in storytelling, whether as documentaries or art, as a powerful way to shift the narrative, and as a critical part of how Texans will shape their water future.

All selected film finalists and winners are available for viewing on TWF’s YouTube channel. View the photos and more about the event at www.watertexasfilms.org. 

TWF thanks all attendees, filmmakers, and sponsors for continuing to support the work 11 years later. Check out this special thank you video from Richard Linklater.

Adeline Fox