North Texas filmmakers land Oscar nominations for second year in a row
Two filmmakers with North Texas ties just landed their second Oscar nominations in as many years.
Nominations for the 98th annual Academy Awards were revealed early Thursday, Jan. 22 at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Los Angeles. The awards ceremony is set for Sunday, March 15.
Dallas-based Clint Bentley and Fort Worth native Greg Kwedar were nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay for “Train Dreams.”
Bentley also directed the period drama, which is based on Denis Johnson’s novella of the same name. In addition, Kwedar is an executive producer on the flick.
“Train Dreams” also landed nominations for Best Picture, Best Cinematography and Best Original Song.
Bentley and Kwedar back at the Oscars
This is the second year in a row that Bentley and Kwedar have been nominated for an Academy Award.
Last year the duo landed Best Adapted Screenplay honors for their work on “Sing Sing,” which Kwedar directed. The film was also nominated for Best Original Song and Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role.
Kwedar, who is based in Austin, spoke with the Star-Telegram about “Sing Sing” in early 2025 and his local ties.
“Really proud to be from Fort Worth, Texas,” he said. “A lot of my family still lives there.”
Bentley and Kwedar are creative partners, who co-write every film together but trade off directing duties.
Kwedar directed their first film “Transpecos” in 2016, followed by Bentley helming “Jockey” in 2021. The duo’s next project, a Chicago-set romance titled “Saturn Return,” filmed in the Windy City last year.
“Train Dreams” first played the Sundance Film Festival in January 2025.
The film was quickly acquired by Netflix later that month and set for release in November. Ahead of its wide release, “Train Dreams” kicked off Fort Worth’s 19th annual Lone Star Film Festival in October.
“Train Dreams” is now streaming on Netflix.
