Sam Elliott, Abraham Alexander honored at Lone Star Film Festival Gala
A couple of “Landman” cast members and an Oscar-nominated musician helped close out the 19th annual Lone Star Film Festival Friday, Nov. 7.
The night of many stars was the festival’s gala that recognizes artists for their contributions to film. This year’s sold-out event was held at the Bowie House hotel on Friday evening.
Four awards were presented throughout the event, including one to actor Sam Elliott and another to singer/songwriter Abraham Alexander.
Much of Elliott’s “Landman” cohort attended the event, where Billy Bob Thornton present the actor with an award.
“Through the years, [Elliott’s] been such a hero, such an inspiration to me,” Thornton told the crowd. “There are no words for what this guy means to me.”
Lone Star Gala honors Sam Elliott
Elliott received the “Bill Paxton Achievement in Film Award,” which celebrates actors and filmmakers whose careers “embody bold, risk-taking artistry.”
Paxton was an original co-founder of the Lone Star Film Festival, and was someone Elliott worked with on “Tombstone.”
“We got pretty close,” Elliott said. “I valued that friendship a lot.”
It’s always been a gift to come back to Texas and work, Elliott said.
He spent several months in the Fort Worth area shooting the “Yellowstone” prequel “1883” back in 2021. This past spring and summer, he returned to Cowtown to work on “Landman” season 2.
Elliott gave credit to Taylor Sheridan, who was there, for casting him in both shows and bringing him back to the Lone Star state. Those shows were not the only reason Elliott was standing on the stage, but he said they sure helped.
“It’s a strange thing, in a way, for a kid from California to come to Fort Worth and get an award like this from a bunch of Texans,” Elliott said.
Abraham Alexander honored for musical contributions to film
Alexander was awarded the “Stephen Bruton Award,” which is named in honor of the late Fort Worth musician and celebrates musicians with significant ties to film.
It’s been quite a year for Alexander, who landed an Oscar nomination earlier this year for Best Original Song for “Like a Bird” from “Sing Sing.” The film was directed and co-written by Fort Worth native Greg Kwedar, who also landed a nomination for adapted screenplay.
Alexander reflected on his journey at the event, which began in his birthplace of Athens, Greece.
His family moved to Texas when Alexander was a boy, and nine months after landing here, his mother was killed in a car accident. It was only after finding himself in Fort Worth, Alexander said, the gap in his heart began to close, and he started to dream again.
“The city gave me a stage, but more importantly it gave me a community that believed in me,” Alexander said.
The award doesn’t belong to him, Alexander said.
Instead, it’s for every friend, mentor and fellow musician that helped him carry the weight.
“I’m so grateful,” Alexander said. “Every single one of you here are incredible, and are the veins that breathe life and blood into this city.”
Other honorees at the Lone Star Gala
Former Fort Worth film commissioner Jessica Hill received the “Pioneer Award” for her work in building and expanding the commission.
Hill led the film commission for nine years, and worked on numerous projects in her time, including “A Ghost Story,” “The Green Knight,” “Miss Juneteenth” and “The Old Man & the Gun.”
Red Productions President Red Sanders was awarded the “Visionary Award” for his contributions to the growing film scene in Fort Worth.
Sanders started his production company in the city in 2005, and was instrumental in launching the film commission in 2015. He also served as the Lone Star Film Society board chair for the past five years.
