The Round Top Film Festival returns November 12-15, 2026, with four days of film, music, filmmaker conversations and special events in the small Texas town of Round Top. Co-founder and filmmaker Skylar Schanen described the third edition on the Austin television program We Are Austin, highlighting an opening-night premiere of the film Heartland and a mix of screenings and live events.
From a Family Project to a Growing Event
Schanen said the festival began as a passion project she shared with her mother. "When my mom and I started this, we were like, let's just see. We'll take it year by year, and every year it just gets bigger and bigger," she said. The organizers have framed each year as a test, growing the program as attendance and interest allow.
The festival's identity rests on its setting. Round Top, a town of modest size in Fayette County, offers a small-town atmosphere that Schanen says has drawn a close-knit creative community. "It's become just a safe haven for the creatives," she said. The emphasis on a compact, walkable environment is part of what organizers believe distinguishes the event from larger film gatherings in cities.
What the 2026 Program Includes
- An opening-night premiere of Heartland.
- Additional film screenings and filmmaker conversations.
- New panels on fashion and film, production design, and books adapted for the screen.
- A screening of Family Movie, which Schanen said actors Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick filmed in the area after falling in love with Round Top at the previous year's festival.
- A documentary about Nashville songwriter Shane McAnally, followed by a separately ticketed musical event inspired by Nashville's Bluebird Cafe.
Schanen said McAnally and songwriter Josh Osborne would perform and discuss their writing process between songs. Because the program is still being announced, organizers have pointed attendees to the festival's website and Instagram account for updated screening times, guests and ticket information. Readers should confirm those details directly before planning travel.
Relationships as the Measure of Success
Schanen said the organizers prioritized filmmakers from the start, with the goal of giving them room to meet and collaborate. "The success stories of people that meet and now are making movies and working together is what really makes my heart happy," she said. Her comments suggest the festival's value is measured as much by networking and creative partnerships as by its screen lineup, though the interview offers no data on how many collaborations have resulted.