Austin Film Society Celebrates 25 Years of Texas Film Excellence
Michelle Rodriguez, Tim & Karrie League and Noah Hawley honored at the Texas Film Awards at Distribution Hall
The 2025 Texas Film Awards brought Hollywood glamour with a Lone Star twist to Austin’s Distribution Hall on March 6, honoring Michelle Rodriguez, Tim and Karrie League, and Noah Hawley. Hosted by the Austin Film Society, the event celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Texas Film Hall of Fame and marked the start of AFS’s 40th anniversary.
Texas Film Awards honorees
Michelle Rodriguez, known for her roles in the “Fast & Furious” franchise, “Lost,” and “Avatar,” was inducted into the Texas Film Hall of Fame, honored by filmmaker Robert Rodriguez and her longtime co-star Vin Diesel. Speaking about Robert Rodriguez presenting her award, Michelle Rodriguez said, “I love him! He’s a wonderful dude and he’s always been like a brother to me.”
Tim and Karrie League, founders of Alamo Drafthouse, were celebrated for their significant impact on the independent film industry, particularly within Texas. Actor Elijah Wood, who presented their award, praised the iconic Austin cinema: “The Alamo South Lamar has been a hub for so much of my life and I’ve had so many extraordinary experiences there. That place is sort of sacred.”
Tim League reflected on receiving the honor, saying, “It was shock and awe. It was humbling also. We invited a bunch of folks that have been with us a long time. We’re sort of aggregators of a lot of creative people and what’s so special about the Alamo is it came from so many different voices.”
Noah Hawley, Emmy-winning producer, director, screenwriter and creator of FX’s acclaimed series “Fargo,” was recognized for his contributions to Texas’s creative media landscape. Presenters Zazie Beetz and David Rysdahl introduced Hawley, who recently joined AFS’s board in 2024. Expressing his support for the society’s mission, Hawley stated, “AFS has such great sponsorship programs, grants and funding, so whatever I can do to bring more money to that and more attention to that, I’m happy to do.”
Hometown heroes
AFS CEO Rebecca Campbell highlighted the community’s pride, stating, “I love our honorees. There’s a lot of hometown pride tonight between Tim and Karrie League, Noah Hawley and Robert Rodriguez getting to honor Michelle Rodriguez. It feels like Austin magic.”
The star-studded evening began with a vibrant red carpet, followed by cocktails and dinner. A live auction featured unique experiences, including tickets to the Los Angeles premiere of Hawley’s upcoming “Alien: Earth” and a private dinner hosted by AFS founder Richard Linklater at Austin’s L’Oca d’Oro, coupled with VIP tickets to Linklater’s new film “Nouvelle Vague.”
Funds raised during the event support Austin Film Society’s ongoing mission to provide life-changing opportunities and resources for filmmakers throughout Texas.
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