By Michael Ahr | November 3, 2026 |
There’s something exciting about a film festival that gives audiences the chance to see familiar Hollywood stars in unexpected roles or discover an independent filmmaker on the verge of a breakthrough. Experiencing stories that viewers might not otherwise encounter in their local cinemas is exactly what the inaugural Leander Film Festival is setting out to accomplish when it arrives in Central Texas this month.
Running from Nov. 11 to 15, the five-day festival boasts an impressive lineup of talent, including Michael Keaton, Renée Zellwegger, Adrian Grenier, James Hong, Martin Freeman, Barry Corbin, and many more recognizable names. But the festival is equally interested in giving emerging filmmakers, international storytellers, and Texan-based creative voices a platform, making for a wonderfully eclectic celebration of what independent cinema is capable of.
In fact, the festival aims both to entertain and educate its attendees. “The Leander Film Festival is more than a celebration of film. It creates opportunities to educate, inspire, and connect our community while helping the next generation discover storytelling and filmmaking,” says Mike Herrera, co-founder of the Leander Film Festival and co-owner of CSSI Solutions.
“I’m thrilled to be part of a festival dedicated to growing film and film education in Leander,” says Laura Davis, education advocate, co-founder of the Leander Film Festival, and owner of Davis Consulting AI. “The films submitted this year are incredible, and I can’t wait to celebrate them with our community from the opening night premiere of Jimmy to our Awards Gala.”
The biopic Jimmy, which follows the life and career of legendary Hollywood actor and World War II veteran James Stewart, is definitely one of the gathering’s biggest attractions. Riverdale star KJ Apa takes on the role of Stewart in the film written by Texas-based screenwriter Justin Strawhand, who is expected to be on hand for the movie’s red carpet premiere. Apa’s co-star Kara Killmer (Chicago Fire) is also set to attend the festival’s closing ceremony.
Elsewhere festival-goers can attend a screening of Faith, a locally shot comedy starring Adrian Grenier (The Devil Wears Prada) about an unlikely pastor attempting to save a small-town Texas church. Meanwhile, Renée Zellwegger will return to her home state of Texas to make her directorial debut with the experimental animated short They. Likewise, Michael Keaton steps behind the camera for Sweetwater, a science fiction drama co-starring Kyra Sedwick that explores grief through the lens of futuristic corporate memory simulations. The film’s screening will include an appearance by award-winning songwriter and screenwriter Sean Douglas, Keaton’s son.
Latino storytelling and representation also have a meaningful place in the lineup as well. Puerto Rican actress Paola Andino (Queen of the South) appears in You Can’t Leave, while Grenier brings his own Mexican American heritage to his aforementioned comedy Faith. But perhaps the most significant Latino-centered selection arrives on closing night.
Revolution’s Daughter, directed by Peabody and Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Thaddeus D. Matula, tells the extraordinary story of Alina Fernández, the daughter of Fidel Castro who eventually escaped Cuba and built a life outside her famous father’s shadow. Featuring artists like singer Gloria Estefan, playwright Nilo Cruz, and Artist José Bedia, the documentary offers a deeply personal perspective on Cuban history and life in exile.
In addition to screenings, the Leander Film Festival will host workshops and industry panels as well as awards ceremonies with cash prizes and development packages up for grabs in the Feature Screenplay and Co-Production Pitch Market, which is designed to help emerging writers take their projects to the next level. For its first year, the Leander Film Festival is making a bold statement about what a regional film festival can be, says the festival’s organizers.
“As one of the fastest growing cities in the country, Leander deserves its own cultural anchor, and we’ve been thrilled to discover incredible local filmmakers right here in our own community,” says Sasha Yelaun, co-founder of the festival. “The Leander Film Festival marks the birth of a major new creative hub, offering a distinct, intimate alternative to the crowded landscapes of SXSW and the Austin Film Festival.”
Den of Geek will be on-site at Leander Film Festival for an interview and photo portrait studio. Stay tuned for our coverage, and for the full schedule and tickets, visit leanderfilmfestival.com.
