Texas Film Hall of Fame to Honor ‘Spy Kids,’ Julian Schnabel, Sydney Chandler and Sonny Carl Davis
The ceremony will take place this spring at Austin’s Troublemaker Studios
On March 5, the Austin Film Society (AFS) will induct a new class into the Texas Film Hall of Fame during the 2026 Texas Film Awards at Troublemaker Studios, honoring filmmakers, performers and a landmark film that helped shape Texas cinema.
The 2026 honorees include Oscar-nominated filmmaker and multidisciplinary artist Julian Schnabel (“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly,” “In the Hand of Dante”), Rising Star Award recipient Sydney Chandler (“Alien: Earth,” “Sugar”), and veteran Texas actor Sonny Carl Davis (“Last Night at the Alamo,” “Bernie”).
Also among this year’s inductees is “Spy Kids,” which will receive the Star of Texas Award. Members of the film’s principal cast and crew will be in attendance as the induction coincides with the movie’s 25th anniversary.
Released in 2001, the film—directed by Robert Rodriguez and shot across Austin—helped demonstrate that ambitious, studio-scale filmmaking could thrive locally, cementing Troublemaker Studios as a cornerstone of the city’s production landscape.
About the ceremony
Noah Hawley and Kyle Hawley, co-founders of 26 Keys Productions, will serve as honorary hosts. Hawley, who was inducted into the Texas Film Hall of Fame in 2025, also serves on the board of the Austin Film Society. Composer and musician JaRon Marshall—keyboardist for Black Pumas—returns as music director for the gala, leading a band of Austin all-stars.
Previous inductees into the Texas Film Hall of Fame have included Renée Zellweger, Matthew McConaughey, Sissy Spacek, Glen Powell and Jesse Plemons.
Proceeds from the event benefit the artistic and educational programs of the Austin Film Society. Those interested in attending the ceremony, learn more and reserve seats at their website.
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