Billy the Kid Film Festival 2025 Announces Lineup for 7th Edition of Outlaw-focused fest
The Hico-based Billy the Kid Film Festival 2025 announced the films and events for the 7th edition of the outlaw-themed film festival taking place November 7-9.
This edition’s film lineup will lead with an Opening Night free-to-the-public presentation of short films, including two documentaries with a Dallas connection: Dallas film influencer Bart Weiss’ Rolling Film, Rocking History, Al Maysles Captures the Beatles where Al Maysles tells the story of how he shot the Beatles coming to the USA for the first time and Justina Walford’s Tattler’s Tale about a legendary stray dog that finally finds a home in South Dallas.
Along with the two short documentaries, two narrative shorts will be included: Robby Robinson’s Hub City about a singer dealing with the mysterious death of his brother and The Strange Story of Blasting Betty directed by William Samson about a woman in the Wild West. The evening’s program will be capped by screenings of music videos I Remember the Alamo (But Can’t Recall Her Name), Let’s Keep Austin, Texas and The Elephant (Dear Valentine).
The 7th edition of BTKFF includes 55 films (9 feature-length, 46 short films and music videos) that have outlaw and/or western themes, with the film festival’s annual focus on celebrating the work of local and Texas-based filmmakers.
Along with the free-to-the public Opening Night screening under the stars in Green Canoe’s Beer Garden (108 Elm Street), a film festival workshop with filmmaker consultant Rebecca Smith will be offered to aspiring filmmakers and those navigating the film festival circuit, as well as the return of Dennis and Amanda Moore from Pine Moore Old West Studio to present BTKFF’s annual Pine Moore Award, in honor of the famous western and Old West location set and stages which has been utilized by countless films, television shows, commercials, and music videos for scenic backdrops.
Billy the Kid Film Festival 2025 lineup—celebrating Texas filmmaking with Bart Weiss’ Rolling Film, Rocking History, Al Maysles Captures the Beatles, Justina Walford’s Tattler’s Tale and more
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Beloved Film/TV and Texas legend, Barry Corbin will appear at the Billy the Kid Film Festival on both Friday and Saturday as a special guest. The festival will also feature the locally produced film Reel Hico, which was filmed entirely in Hico and showcases many of the town’s residents. This hometown favorite will screen as a Friday night feature presentation. Also, adding to this year’s excitement, the festival is introducing a new venue, the Wild Saddle Saloon, where films will be shown throughout the day on Saturday.
The VIP and Red Carpet Party will take place under a Big Party Tent provided by Event-O-Matic, offering attendees a lively and festive atmosphere to celebrate the weekend’s events.
Festival founder Luci DiGiorgio, said, “In our magical seventh year, the Billy the Kid Film Festival feels the confidence of a long-standing festival. We are ecstatic to bring the best of Texas filmmakers as well as daring films from all over the world. We’ve truly developed a filmmaker family here in Hico.”
BTKFF kicks things off on Friday, November 7 with selected short films made in Texas or produced by Texas filmmakers: Bart Weiss’ Rolling Film, Rocking History, Al Maysles Captures the Beatles, William Samson’s The Strange Story of Blasting Betty, Robby Robinson’s Hub City, Justina Walford’s Tattler’s Tale, Victor Quinton’s I Remember the Alamo (But Can’t Recall Her Name), Francine Sustaita’s Let’s Keep Austin, Texas, and Smitch Sifuentes’ The Elephant (Dear Valentine) featuring multiple award-winning BtKFF alumni Michael Payton.
Sunday will celebrate inspirational films following a student shorts block early in the day. Screenings include Gary Richard Milliken’s Cowboy Meditations and Diego Joaquin Campos’ Mission and will end with Ride Of Faith The Jeff Tackett Story. Zach Kepple’s documentary about Jeff Tackett. After suffering a near death accident on the back of a bull, Jeff embarks on a journey of faith to overcome the odds and find the courage to compete again, along the way finding his true calling to minster and disciple a new generation of cowboy.
Billy the Kid Film Festival 2025 lineup—celebrating Texas filmmaking with Bart Weiss’ Rolling Film, Rocking History, Al Maysles Captures the Beatles, Justina Walford’s Tattler’s Tale and more
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The Billy the Kid Film Festival sponsors include: The City of Hico, FilmsGoneWild.com, Green Canoe, Hico Chamber of Commerce, Tarleton State University School of Liberal Arts and School of Communications, Event-O-Matic, Bosque Film Society, and The Bosque Film Society.
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 2025 Billy the Kid Film Festival official selections:
OPENING NIGHT TEXAS FILMS
Hub City
Director: Robby Robinson
Country: United States; Running Time: 17 minutes
Singer/songwriter Billy Dan Hanson is faced with what to do after his older brother is mysteriously killed in prison. Should he go home to Lubbock for the first time in 10 years to investigate? And why has his old flame suddenly returned to urge him to do so? Set against Austin’s cosmic cowboy music scene of the early 70’s, Hub City follows a reluctant seeker hero into the past he hoped to leave behind.
I Remember the Alamo (But Can’t Recall Her Name)
Director: Cynthia Garcia
Country: United States; Running Time: 6 minutes
Capturing a night on the River Walk with two young guys enjoying San Antonio.
Let’s Keep Austin, Texas
Director: Jan Francine Sustaita
Country: United States; Running Time: 3 minutes
Music video written during COVID lockdown. Written by Scott Grace & Will Kimbrough, video by Francine Sustaita aka Nanomercial
Rolling Film, Rocking History, Al Maysles Captures the Beatles
Director: Bart Weiss
Country: United States; Running Time: 11 minutes
Al Maysles tells the story of how he shot the Beatles coming to the USA for the first time.
Tattler’s Tale
Director: Justina Walford
Country: United States; Running Time: 8 minutes
Rescuing a stray dog turns into much more in this short documentary about Dallas dog rescue.
The Elephant (Dear Valentine)
Director: Smitch Sifuentes
Country: United States; Running Time: 5 minutes
One “nice guy” refuses to finish last.
The Strange Story of Blasting Betty
Director: William Samson
Country: United Kingdom; Running Time: 13 minutes
A lone woman enters a saloon in the wild west but gets into all sorts of trouble with the locals.
NARRATIVE FEATURES
Blue Evening
Director: Jett Jansen Fernandez
Country: United States; Running Time: 40 minutes
A homeless addict in Los Angeles stumble upon a lost masterpiece in a thrift store, setting him on a desperate journey of redemption, survival, and self-discovery as he fights to reclaim his life before the painting slips through his fingers.
I Voted
Director: Tyler Mann
Country: United States; Running Time: 110 minutes
A polling location goes under lockdown during a tense presidential election, forever changing the lives of a group of strangers as they inevitably do what most do not recommend…talk politics.
Nowhere Fast
Director: Shaheer Naqvi
Country: United States; Running Time: 116 minutes
Murder binds the lives of a desperate woman and a haunted man as the two try for one night to outrun a maniacal cop, and the toxic lives they’re trapped in.
Stitched
Director: Zach Goodwin
Country: United States; Running Time: 106 minutes
Ted Terger, a former counterfeit criminal, is forced to listen to every single conversation that’s ever been held about him. He must relive his entire life from the perspective of his friends and family speaking honestly and gossiping about him. The decades spanning experience is divided into the four prominent family members from his life, his mother, ex-wife, son and granddaughter.
DOCUMENTARY FEATURES
The Absolutely Amazing, Wonderful, Frightening, Threatening Edge of Tomorrow
Directors: Springna Zhao, Hayden McComas
Country: Singapore, Switzerland, United States; Running Time: 85 minutes
The Absolutely Amazing, Wonderful, Frightening, Threatening Edge of Tomorrow is a cinematic exploration of the world of Web3, including AI, Blockchain and NFTs. Using evocative imagery, in-depth interviews, and thought-provoking narration, the documentary delves into the profound questions raised by Web3 technologies and their implications on the human condition.
Cowboy Meditations
Director: Gary Richard Milliken
Country: United States; Running Time: 55 minutes
Cowboy and poet Dick Gibford embodies the landscape where he lives: tough, timeless, resilient and real. He is a link to the Old West and an antidote to modern times.
Mission
Director: Diego Joaquin Campos
Country: United States; Running Time: 80 minutes
Mission follows the college campus ministry in a rural Texas town, exploring the spiritual journeys of the students involved, uniting them as one Body of Christ.
Ride Of Faith: The Jeff Tackett Story
Director: Zach Kepple
Country: United States; Running Time: 106 minutes
After suffering a near death accident on the back of a bull, Jeff embarks on a journey of faith to overcome the odds and find the courage to compete again, along the way finding his true calling to minster and disciple a new generation of cowboy.
We’re Here
Director: Lee E Wells
Country: United States; Running Time: 40 minutes
Director Lee Wells quickly gathers a camera crew and heads West with feed for the surviving livestock as the record-breaking wildfires subside across the Texas Panhandle. After sitting across kitchen tables and walking through burned-out barns with ranchers who have lost almost everything, a challenging and life-changing story emerges from the ashes. Hope springs up after the fires have destroyed so much. Help arrives from all over the nation.
SHORT FILMS AND MUSIC VIDEOS
A Walk with Kate
Director: Gaia Mitting
Country: Australia; Running Time: 14 minutes
Kate Kelly, sister of infamous Australian outlaw Ned Kelly, embarks on a bush walk which draws her through increasingly visceral memories of her own extraordinary, tumultuous life.
Almost Home
Director: Menhaj Huda
Country: United States; Running Time: 20 minutes
A decorated Muslim-American Marine battles his inner demons, prejudice, and a fractured sense of identity as he seeks self-discovery from the haunting memory of a life-altering event at war.
Bailar
Director: Hannah Marie Benavides
Country: United States; Running Time: 8 minutes
An elderly woman with late-stage dementia rediscovers an old pair of dance shoes, unlocking a lost love story from her past.
B.I.E
Director: Jesse Cowell
Country: United States; Running Time: 7 minutes
Two women, a generation apart, find themselves locked in an absurd battle for a coveted promotion. Desperate to outshine each other, the ladies escalate their rivalry from petty arguments to an all-out race to the office.
The Bounty Hunter
Director: Enrique Novials
Country: Spain; Running Time: 9 minutes
A young detective is on a mission to find a woman who has run away from her husband.
Butch & Mandalin: The Search for the Golden Morral
Director: Riley Engemoen
Country: United States; Running Time: 18 minutes
Two unlikely companions – a grumpy old trucker and a young, free-spirited hippie – embark on a river trip down the Rio Grande in far West Texas, chasing legends of buried Spanish treasure.
Cascades
Director: Brian Russell
Country: United States; Running Time: 14 minutes
A couple walks towards a crossroads on the day of their 30th wedding anniversary. Marcus and Denise have been happily married for 30 years. Well, almost happily married. Can they overcome the one thing that just might tear them apart? They both love Danny, but what happens when parents have radically different takes on what it means to love an adult child? What does it mean to let go of our children?
The Cowboy & the Rich Man
Director: Ian Mundie
Country: United States; Running Time: 12 minutes
In the old west, a cowboy, Jim, and a college graduate, Jack, face-off in a duel for the affections of Melissa, the local “desert flower”. Things aren’t so lucky for her though when she finds out that Jim, in his old age, has one foot in the grave and that Jack’s prospects are wrapped in massive college debt. Melissa takes control of her own future by pitting the clumsy men against each other. Will Melissa end up with the right man?
Crave Necklace
Director: Norry Nevin
Country: United States; Running Time: 1 minute
CRAVE is a brand renowned for its iconic pleasure jewelry and fine bedside products that inspire sexual empowerment and expression of desire. This advert is promoting the launch of their new vibrator necklace – the Vesper Mini
EL Lloron
Director: Rodrigo Moreno-Fernandez
Country: United States; Running Time: 17 minutes
Felipe is a professional mourner. He is compensated for lamenting and comforting grieving families during funerals.
Fishy, Fishy
Director: Amaya G. Elijah
Country: United States; Running Time: 4 minutes
A suicidal girl tells her therapist about how she envisions her next life as a fish.
The Girl
Director: Mandy Kowalski
Country: United States; Running Time: 11 minutes
A young girl and mother travel a long way to their new home, only to discover the neighborhood is a bit rougher than they expected.
Golden
Director: Hank Bagwell
Country: United States; Running Time: 6 minutes
A short documentary film about a long iconic beard! William Lee Golden of Country Music Hall of Fame group, The Oak Ridge Boys hasn’t trimmed or shaved his beard since 1980. Music legends Jamey Johnson (You Should Have Seen it in Color, High Cost of Living, Stars in Alabama), Eddy Raven (Operator Operator, I Got Mexico, Joe Knows How to Live), Tony Brown (producer of over 100 #1 records including George Strait, Reba, Chris Stapleton, Wynonna Judd, Steve Earle and more) and famous photographers weigh in on it in this animated short doc.
Grey Matter
Director: Kildare Riordan
Country: United States; Running Time: 10 minutes
A desperate woman flees one monster—only to find herself in the home of another. Trapped between a brutal past and a man with even darker secrets, she must decide: escape, or finish what he started. Violence saves her life… but will it cost her soul?
Hellvette
Director: Amiel Peter Matthews
Country: Australia; Running Time: 15 minutes
A young mechanics dream build becomes his worst nightmare when his missing 1978 C3 Corvette resurfaces, transformed into a death machine leaving a trail of bodies-and every clue points back to him.
J.P. United
Director: Sidney Timmons
Country: United States; Running Time: 8 minutes
An isolated German college student seeks to build community in the United States by organizing a co-ed football team.
Just the Janitor
Director: Sterling Gates
Country: United States; Running Time: 25 minutes
Harold Miller was once a henchman for some of the most dangerous criminals in the underworld. It wrecked his mind, his body, and his life. Now, Harold’s an elementary school janitor, doing his best to keep the floors clean and his sordid past behind him. But when Harold’s old hench buddies ask to use his school for a huge score, Harold has to decide what’s more important: money… or protecting children’s lives?
Kidd
Director: Britt Crisp
Country: United States; Running Time: 11 minutes
A violent incident forces an outlaw to finally come to terms with the consequences of her actions by the hand of her father, the local sheriff. While both have differing opinions between right and wrong, the outlaw and her father are forced to make a difficult decision that could tearing family apart; life or death?
Kingman Stables
Director: JC Tovar, JR Molina
Country: United States; Running Time: 9 minutes
Brothers JC and Sebastian Tovar dream of refurbishing their family’s horse stables into a premier place to house a horse. The first step? Make a great commercial. They hire filmmaker Victor De La Cruz to produce a high quality commercial sure to bring in new clients. For De La Cruz, it’s an opportunity to revive his failed filmmaking career, but the brother’s overbearing personalities annoy Victor to the brink of quitting the project.
Let Go
Director: Jacob Christopher Sizemore
Country: United States; Running Time: 8 minutes
Makin’ Progress
Director: Simon Flory
Country: United States; Running Time: 17 minutes
In February of 2025, people gathered at Record Town in Fort Worth, Texas to celebrate Roger Harvey and Simon Flory’s new album of early country, folk, and protest songs by artists like Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, and Joe Hill. An album called Progress. Makin’ Progress chronicles the duo’s nearly five year journey from their cancelled tour due to the global pandemic, to recording in-studio and live performances, interviews, and the album’s ultimate release and reception in the midst of social and political upheaval.
The Motorcycle Man
Director: Jason Ward
Country: United States; Running Time: 11 minutes
A 21st century trip set in the birthplace of the 60’s, this slice of Americana stars Tony Award winner John Glover as an easy-riding and sharp-tongued guide to two young travelers looking for Ken Kesey’s cabin deep in Northern California’s Santa Cruz Mountains. Examining ideas of autonomy, cultural literacy, and unexpected connection, the film was shot by National Geographic’s Emmy winning director of photography Ben Mullin and directed by Northern California filmmaker Jason Ward.
Neon Moon
Director: E’an Verdugo, Francis Juarez
Country: United States; Running Time: 3 minutes
Music Video
Out on a Limb
Director: Filip Kojic
Country: United States; Running Time: 18 minutes
In the Old West, a soul-searching son returns home to rescue his ill-fated mother. Out on a Limb is an original twist on the classic Western. A smart and engaging meditation on coming to terms with our violent pasts while forging a new road with Eastern influences.
Predator’s Mark
Director: Jacob Mejia
Country: United States; Running Time: 10 minutes
PhD biology students Oliver and Vega, former lovers turned reluctant colleagues, encounter a strange phenomenon in a remote part of Texas while on a field research trip. What begins as a study into natural wildlife becomes a terrifying ordeal when they discover an unnerving predator preying on the local ecosystem. As their expedition takes a deadly turn, they are forced to confront their own vulnerabilities in the face of an unknown and relentless force.
Pregnancy Smart
Director: Marisa Mendoza
Country: United States; Running Time: 6 minutes
Two young women take a pregnancy test for the first time… they are not taking it because they think they aren’t pregnant.
Reditus
Director: Stephen Bouldin, Michael Kelley
Country: United States; Running Time: 12 minutes
A decorated combat veteran struggles with PTSD and the loss it has caused in his life.
Ritual- Heir to Nothing
Director: Alessia Devecchi, Ryn
Country: United States; Running Time: 7 minutes
Music video for the release of Heir to Nothing’s song ‘Ritual’
Samuel Flint & the Magpie Gang
Director: Alessia Devecchi
Country: United States; Running Time: 8 minutes
Second Chance
Director: India Anne Mitchell
Country: United States; Running Time: 9 minutes
An inspired young filmmaker who witnessed a disturbing incident at school looks inside Juvenile Hall and Court, through the moving account of a juvenile offender and his parents, as well as the insights of the judge, attorneys and probation officer. Second Chance takes a step towards better understanding, compassion and ultimately, hope for juveniles who are some of the most vulnerable in our society, and who are also part of its future.
Slick
Director: Nick Thompson
Country: United States; Running Time: 11 minutes
Two environmentalist thugs enlist the help of a cat burglar to vandalize valuable art in the name of their righteous cause. However, they fail to foresee that their plan to protest pollution has a problem.
Stubborn
Director: Robert Gamperl
Country: United States; Running Time: 11 minutes
A horse breeder stumbles upon an injured man and discovers a gold nugget that could change her life. A horse breeder stumbles upon an injured man and discovers a gold nugget that could change her life. Driven by greed, the horse breeder descends into violence, only to become trapped in a mysterious cycle.
Toxic Abuse
Director: Robert Cantu
Country: United States; Running Time: 20 minutes
As ambitious Det. Rachel doesn’t realize how her alcohol addiction is ruining her career professionally and personally. Like all alcoholics, Det. Rachel doesn’t see the path awaiting her.
Unseen in Plain Sight
Directors: Rae’Dawn Rebert, Abigail Newlon, Samantha DiFiore, Juan Manosalva
Country: United States; Running Time: 14 minutes
We pass them on street corners, beneath interstate overpasses, and along busy shopping districts—yet we often fail to truly see them. The unhoused community, often at their most vulnerable, faces immense challenges and rarely receives the help they need. Unseen in Plain Sight is a compelling documentary that explores the lives of individuals experiencing homelessness, many of whom are battling addiction and mental health struggles.
Up In Flames
Director: Christopher Botvidson
Country: United States; Running Time: 24 minutes
A woman, desperate for freedom, lures her vengeful ex into a final, violent showdown with the ruthless kingpin who destroyed their lives. But she’s not the only one playing a dangerous game, and no one is guaranteed to make it out alive.
What We Imagined
Director: Shubhavi Arya
Country: United States; Running Time: 3 minutes
In a magical park, two children meet across a divide — one fast like a cheetah, the other once feared. Through questions, sketches, and a desktop of dreams, they invite us into a story of transformation, truth, and imagination. Their message is simple but powerful: Be who you are. Even if you’re still figuring it out.
When the Autumn Comes
Director: Pedro Moreno del Oso
Country: Spain; Running Time: 10 minutes
Who’s Chico?
Director: John Salanoa
Country: United States; Running Time: 13 minutes
After one of his collections comes in short, crime boss Maka Kupa‘a thinks a lesson in torture is just what his crew needs to fall in line. But the crew has other plans. Will the strongest survive, or the most cunning?
You Ain’t Gotta Die
Director: Chris Beyrooty
Country: United States; Running Time: 5 minutes
In a blaze of bullets, poison, and pure sass, Kaitlin Butts’ ‘You Ain’t Gotta Die to Be Dead to Me’ follows cowgirl Kissin’ Katie B as she rides into town to settle the score with every no-good man in sight.
Billy the Kid Film Festival 2025 Lineup
Q: When is the Billy the Kid Film Festival 2025?
A: November 7–9, 2025, in historic downtown Hico, Texas.
Q: How many films are screening this year?
A: The festival will showcase 55 films, including features, shorts, and music videos.
Q: Is the Opening Night free?
A: Yes! The Opening Night screening at Green Canoe’s Beer Garden is free and open to the public.