Fort Worth has a way of claiming the stars – or at least inviting them home for a night. This November, the city’s Lone Star Film Festival will do just that, honoring Fort Worth native Abraham Alexander, whose music has soared to the Academy Awards, and welcoming back Western icon Sam Elliott, whose gravelly voice and stoic presence have defined a generation of on-screen cowboys. They’ll be celebrated at a gala on Nov. 7 at Bowie House, a night where the city’s heritage and contemporary artistry converge.
Elliot is set to receive the Bill Paxton Achievement in Film Award, named for Fort Worth’s own fearless actor, which recognizes those willing to take risks and gamble on visions that might not pay off.
“Sam Elliott’s storied career, especially his iconic contributions to the Western genre, resonates deeply with a festival rooted in a city so closely tied to Western heritage,” said Chad Mathews, executive director of the Lone Star Film Society.
Elliott is hardly resting on his reputation. People Magazine recently ran photos of him on the set of Paramount+’s "Landman," a project shrouded in secrecy except for glimpses of him dancing with co-star Ali Larter. Billy Bob Thornton, who’s known Elliott since the 1980s, called the casting “a joy,” adding, “He’s been a hero of mine my whole career, and I call him my friend. He’s a great actor.”
Fans will have to tune in to see exactly how Elliott’s character shakes up the story, but they’ll know it’s Elliott – commanding the room without saying a word.
On the music side, Fort Worth native Abraham Alexander will receive the Stephen Bruton Award, which honors artists whose songs are inseparable from the stories they help tell on screen. He co-wrote the Academy Award-nominated song “Like a Bird” with Adrian Quesada for the film "Sing Sing," directed by fellow Fort Worth native Greg Kwedar. The movie also earned nominations for Best Actor in a Leading Role for Colman Domingo and Best Adapted Screenplay for Kwedar, Clint Bentley, Clarence Maclin, and John "Divine G" Whitfield. Alexander’s recognition places him among past winners of the Bruton Award, a lineup that reads like a Texas music hall of fame, including Ryan Bingham, Lyle Lovett, and Willie Nelson, and underscores how the city continues to produce artists whose work resonates far beyond its limits.
The gala itself, presented in partnership with the Fort Worth Film Commission, is as much about the city as it is about the stars. Seats start at $600 for individual tickets, tables at $10,000, with proceeds supporting the Johnny Langdon Film Education Initiative, which nurtures the next generation of filmmakers and musicians.
“We’re proud to partner with the Lone Star Film Society, which consistently honors the industry’s best, for the annual gala,” said Taylor Hardy, Fort Worth Film Commissioner. “This year is particularly special as we celebrate Fort Worth’s own Abraham Alexander, and welcome back Sam Elliott to celebrate his achievements in acting, including work on ‘1883’ and ‘Landman’ season two, filmed in Fort Worth.”
