AUSTIN (KXAN) — Filmmakers came to Austin Thursday night for the 2025 Texas Film Awards while celebrating 25 years of the Texas Film Hall of Fame.
The honorees included actress Michelle Rodriguez, who was born in San Antonio, screenwriter Noah Hawley, actor Jared Padalecki, and Tim and Karrie League — the founders of The Alamo Drafthouse.
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Honoree Michelle Rodriguez at 2025 Texas Film Awards (KXAN Photo: Kevin Baskar) -
Robert Rodriguez at 2025 Texas Film Awards (KXAN Photo: Kevin Baskar) -
Jared Padalecki at 2025 Texas Film Awards (KXAN Photo: Kevin Baskar) -
Elijah Wood was a presenter at the 2025 Texas Film Awards (KXAN Photo: Kevin Baskar)
The Texas Film Hall of Fame honors those who have made a significant contribution to the advancement of Texas film and creative media.
KXAN spoke with Rodriguez and actor Elijah Wood about the growing film culture here in Austin.
“I think there’s a massive creativity bubble happening here in Austin, I mean, it’s obvious. Rodriguez said. “The community here is growing, especially post pandemic, it became like a magnet for people who want to express themselves and be around other creative folks who are open to that. I think that Austin has been doing that for about a good 15 to 20 years, and I think now it’s hitting, like, like, a tipping point where, God knows what’s going to happen. All sorts of things are coming into town. So I love it.”
Wood told KXAN Austin is an interesting place where filmmakers from around the world come and show their films. He said directors will come and show their films and have Q&As, because there is an audience that’s very receptive to all types of cinema.
“I think film is alive and well, cinema is alive and well, there are always going to be people telling interesting stories that demand to be seen by audiences,” he said. “It always breaks through.”
