The Hico-based Billy the Kid Film Festival today announced a return to in-person screenings and events for the third edition of the popular film festival taking place November 5-6. Once again, the 2-day cinema experience will both put a spotlight on outlaw-themed films, as well as Texas-shot and made productions, led off by the Opening Night free-to-the-public presentation of Chris Zuhdi’s Hico-shot feature film, MEXICAN MOON.
Festival founders and directors, Philip Vasquez and Luci DiGiorgio, along with lead film programmer Justina Walford, have continued the Billy the Kid Film Festival’s mission to connect audiences and film lovers with filmmakers with a Hico/Hill Country flavor as they have done since the inception of the film festival. This year is also cause for celebration as BTKFF returns to Main Street for screenings and events including an appearance by comedy legend and Billy the Kid Film Festival Ambassador Ruth Buzzi. BTKFF’s Closing night party, red carpet and awards will be at the Historic Hico Jail (208 S. Pecan).
Vasquez and DiGiorgio said, “The Billy the Kid Film Festival combines the unique personality of Hico with our love of film and this year’s films and events is sure to demonstrate that once again. Introducing our film fans to the work of these talented filmmakers, many of whom made their films in Austin, Dallas, other locations throughout Texas, and of course, Hico itself, is always a big thrill for us.”
Milk For Violence
One of those Hico productions, Chris Zuhdi’s Mexican Moon, will be featured on Opening Night following last year’s virtual sneak peak of one of the film’s scenes. Zuhdi will be on hand to talk about the Western Noir about a down on his luck Vietnam Vet who puts himself in the crosshairs of a local drug cartel when he decides to help himself to some of their ill-gotten money. Saturday Night will feature a screening of Lisa Belcher’s Austin-filmed short comedy Javelina Run, about two idiot ranch hands who pretend to be fugitive train robbers to get attention from the ladies at an old west saloon. Another locally shot production, the film is designed to be the first entry as part of a series involving the characters as they continue their adventures in the Old West. Also featured on Saturday night will be Aaron Levine’s Milk for Violence, written by Texan Justin Heller pits a preacher’s wife bent on revenge against a violent outlaw.
Half and Half, Fearless
Other features include; Sri Charan’s Half and Half, a dialogue-free adventure with music (filmed in Dallas) involving a homeless man and an abused young bride who form an unlikely alliance in order to try and win a supermarket’s big sweepstakes and buy freedom for both of them; Alex M. Garnett’s After the Night with Valerie, about a man recovering from a bout with amnesia who struggles with what is real and what is not. Wojciech Lorenc’s documentary Fearless, follows the ups and downs of the people training in a boxing gym in the tiny town of Conroe, Texas.
Film festival passes and tickets are on-sale now. For more information on the Billy the Kid Film Festival go to https://www.billythekidfilmfestival.com.
The 2021 Billy the Kid Film Festival official selections:
OPENING NIGHT PRESENTATION
Mexican Moon
Director: Chris Zuhdi
Country: USA; Running Time: 101 min
The drug cartels are putting a financial strangle hold on a small Texas town, forcing a Vietnam vet to lose his job at a local garage. However, his luck may have changed when he learns about one hundred thousand dollars that has been buried in a false grave by that same cartel.
Preceded by:
Roofing in July
Director: Cooper Shapiro
Country: USA; Running Time: 7 min
The youngest roofer in his company, Alejandro falls victim to a prank by his coworkers with deadly consequences.
FEATURE PRESENTATIONS
After the Night with Valerie
Director: Alex M. Garnett
Country: USA; Running Time: 96 min
A recovering amnesiac’s memories are replaced by fantasies he believes actually occurred.
Preceded by:
Smoking Gun
Director: David Butterfield
Country: USA; Running Time: 10 min
An old bartender is ready to close up his bar due to tough times when a couple of previously rebel soldiers turned outlaws enter the bar and stir things up.
Fearless
Director: Wojciech Lorenc
Country: USA; Running Time: 89 min
An intimate portrait of a boxing gym in a small town of Conroe, Texas. The film is constructed as an allegory for the challenges faced by people of color and immigrants in the US.
Preceded by:
Lesbian Bandida Massacre
Director: Vincent Augusto
Country: USA; Running Time: 3 min
- One morning, a girl chased by an angry landlord is saved by two gold diggers, who take her in. But the day after, a surprise awaits them…
Half and Half
Director: Sri Charan
Country: ; Running Time: 56 min
Two worlds collide as an unlikely friendship forms between an optimistic homeless man, Adam, and a jaded young bride, Amira, as they discover they’re both playing to win one million dollars and agree to split the winning share Half and Half.
Preceded by:
UnHoused
Director: Lauren C Unger
Country: USA; Running Time: 8 min
Unhoused is a short film about homelessness and Covid-19 pandemic. This short drama showcases three stories that collide in an unexpected way. Originally submitted to the 48-hour film project and now a 100 Hour Editors cut.
Milk for Violence
Director: Aaron Levine
Country: USA; Running Time: 43 min
Aaron Trow, greatest outlaw this side of the Mississippi, has just escaped from jail and is on the lam. Meanwhile, in the nearby frontier town of Plymouth Flats, Ana, the preacher’s wife, is left home alone by her husband Caleb. Out of seemingly nowhere, Aaron breaks into Ana’s cottage and proceeds to terrorize her into feeding him dinner. When Ana confronts his errant behavior, Aaron retaliates the only way he knows how; with violence, before disappearing into the night. After trying unsuccessfully to enlist the help of local law enforcement and her cowardly husband, Ana decides to take matters into her own hands. Will justice be served? Will Ana be able to stop Aaron before he strikes again? And what’s up with the three dysfunctional bounty hunters who just showed up in Plymouth Flats?
Preceded by:
Javelina Run
Director: Lisa Belcher
Country: USA; Running Time: 19 min
Javelina Run, a western comedy, is a proof of concept for a feature film. This is the first chapter in a collection of entertaining little tales from Javelina County all narrated by the town barkeep. In the film, two men attempt to impress a couple of beauties by taking credit for a recent train robbery. However, they may get much more than they bargained for by passing themselves off as dangerous criminals.
LOCAL FILMS & SHORTS BLOCK
The Ballad of Emma Wright
Director: Carlos Diaz
Country: USA; Running Time: 22 min
Late 1800’s – Housewife Emma Wright lives her life feeling unfulfilled, unhappy, and “trapped” by her husband. Out in this small desert town, she dreams of moving to the more modern and fast paced lifestyle of New York city. Her husband, William Wright, is a hard working, caring, and honest man. Emma realizes there is no way she can ever leave this town or her husband for the big city life – unless of course, William’s life is cut short.
Fade In Texas
Director: George Meyers
Country: USA; Running Time: 51 min
Fade In Texas is a Documentary Film highlighting the Entertainment Industry in Texas and more specifically, the Western Entertainment Industry.
Judge Yancey and the 17 Hand Mule
Director: Jason Watson
Country: USA; Running Time: 20 min
Based on a true story about a man named Jack Slate. He owned a livery stable and was known to raise fine quality mules. A circuit Judge tried to buy the mule. Jack didn’t want to sell. The mule turned up dead a couple days later. Someone had fed broken glass to the mule. Jack suspected the judge and ambushed him to try and kill him.
Nolan
Director: Moe Headrick
Country: USA; Running Time: 28 min
1800’s western, Nolan goes to break his brothers out of jail, with the help of two other outlaw gangs.
SHORTS BLOCK
Davis Family Values
Director: Bettina Davis
Country: USA; Running Time: 3 min
Mother and son start the day.
Killer Miller
Director: Austin Spicer
Country: USA; Running Time: 19 min
Follow the most feared and respected Texas Ranger of them all, Henry “Killer” Miller, as he trails a couple of murderous, outlaw brothers. He’ll try to bring them in peacefully, but as his name suggests – some people are just better off dead. Inspired by the Best-Selling novel, “Killer Miller” by R.J. Hendricks II.
My Dinner with Werner
Director: Maverick Moore
Country: USA; Running Time: 18 min
Based on real events, real people, and real things they actually said, My Dinner With Werner is a wildly bizarre and wacky farce about a 1987 dinner date with a murder plot as the main dish.
Perdition
Director: Paul N Foster
Country: USA; Running Time: 18 min
After losing a loved one, Mathews is caught off guard when Lilith shows up in the middle of the night seeking help, when her husband shows up looking for her, Lilith finds out that Mathew may not be what she thought he was.
Timber
Directors: Cullen Hamblen, Feifei Gong
Country: USA; Running Time: 8 min
Two friends are faced with a tough choice after something goes down on their camping trip.
ABOUT THE BILLY THE KID FILM FESTIVAL
The Billy the Kid Film Festival is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting film, filmmakers and film education through our annual event. In November, 2019, the first edition of the film festival will debut in Hico, Texas, the Hometown of “Brushy Bill” Robert, alias “Billy the Kid”. It is the film festival’s mission to celebrate film makers from all over the world, while giving our local film makers and residents a place to come together and appreciate the art of making movies
