Fredericksburg is a hot spot for filmmakers and movie lovers through the weekend. That's because the Hill Country Film Festival marks its eight year with 17 feature films and 85 shorts that represent nine countries.
- This is the eighth year for the festival.
- One of the festival's founders was an actor in "The Fate of the Furious."
The festival's fresh crop of indie films includes the documentary "Dealt" which screens Saturday. It tells the astounding story of San Antonio's Richard Turner, one of the world's greatest card magicians, who is also completely blind.
Many of the festival's entries have strong Texas ties.
"It's a tough time with filmmaking in Texas and so we want to do everything we possibly can to encourage those filmmakers stay in Texas, keep making their movies in Texas. So showcasing those films is important to us," said festival Executive Director Chad Matthews.
One of the festival founders, actor Gary Weeks, may look familiar. He plays a jet pilot in the nation's current number one film, "The Fate of the Furious."
"The irony is we came here and Fast 8 was playing in one of the theaters. I've crossed worlds in a weird way," said Weeks.
The festival films don't have to be made in the Texas Hill Country, but it sure doesn't hurt if they are.
"My film ("Chasing Grace") is actually shot in the Hill Country in Texas, and it's almost kind of a character in the film so we just felt like it would a great place for it to play. We love Fredericksburg and the community here is just so supportive of filmmakers," said filmmaker Julia Barnett.
The Hill Country Film Festival runs through Sunday at Fritztown Cinema in Fredericksburg. For more information, visit the HCFF website.