Texas-Made Films Vie for Houston Critics Honors
Five titles nominated as the year’s best movie produced in Texas
Five films produced in Texas will compete for the prestigious Texas Independent Film Award (TIFA) during the 16th annual Houston Film Critics Society (HFCS) awards in February. The TIFA review and selection process is supervised by HFCS members Cary Darling and Joshua Starnes, a past president of the Society.
Named as nominees are:
- Acid Test: Jennifer Waldo explores a young woman’s journey to discover her next steps
- Apollo 10 1⁄2: A Space Age Childhood: Richard Linklater imagines how fourth grader would feel landing on the Moon
- Conception: Tarun Verma asks if a marriage can survive the emotional and physical toll of IVF
- Deep in the Heart, a Texas Wildlife Story: Ben Masters savors the Lone Star State’s beauty
- Facing Nolan: Bradley Jackson celebrates the life and career of baseball legend Nolan Rya
“Each year, the TIFA nominees remind us of the creative contributions Texas filmmakers continue to make,” says TIFA Co-coordinator Cary Darling of the Houston Chronicle. “I’m continually impressed by the work emerging from artists working in the state.”
“We are extremely proud to honor the talent working on both sides of the camera in the state,” adds Joshua Starnes, HFCS past president and long-time coordinator of the TIFA selection process. “This year’s nominees are among the best we have seen and reconfirm that the Texas state of mind always has a home at the movies.”
To be nominated for the TIFA, a film must be shot in the Lone Star State, and submitted to the Society by October 31 of the awards year. Members of a select HFCS committee screen the possible nominees before all voting members view the nominees and select the winner. The TIFA will be announced February 19, 2023, at the Society’s live awards gathering at the Midtown Arts and Theater Center in Houston (MATCH).
“We are thrilled to return to MATCH for the fourth time where we will reveal the winner in the TIFA and 18 other categories,” says HFCS President Doug Harris. “Each year, the HFCS awards gain more notice as film enthusiasts recognize the dedication of our members to honoring quality films. While we are proud of all of our ultimate winners, the TIFA means the most, because it honors the movies and the state we love.”
Nominees in other categories, and ticket information for the awards ceremony, will be announced in early January 2023.
The 40 members of the Houston Film Critics Society are working film journalists on television, radio, online and in traditional print. Together, they reach millions of people each week across the United States with their critiques and commentaries on film. The organization’s mission is to promote the advancement and appreciation of film in the Houston community and beyond. For a list of members, visit www.HoustonFilmCritics.com.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Doug Harris, President
Houston Film Critics Society
DougH@Noisemaker.com
713-569-7716
