New movie about Jimmy Stewart to premiere at Fort Worth’s Lone Star Film Festival
A new film about the life of Jimmy Stewart will make its world premiere in Fort Worth.
“Jimmy” follows Stewart’s service in World War II and how it shaped his role as George Bailey in the 1946 holiday classic “It’s A Wonderful Life.” The biopic stars KJ Apa, Kara Killmer, Neal McDonough, Max Casella, Christopher McDonald, Sarah Drew, Rob Riggle, Julian Works and Jen Lilley.
Ahead of its Nov. 6 release in theaters, “Jimmy” will make its world premiere as the opening night film of the Lone Star Film Festival on Nov. 4.
Fort Worth-based Papaian Studios is hosting the premiere in conjunction with the festival, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.
“Great storytelling matters. The right message matters even more,” Papaian Studios founder Hien Papaian said in a news release. “Fort Worth has a special meaning to the Stewart family, and with Burns & Co. Entertainment, we hope to honor Jimmy’s legacy, celebrate his service, and remember his life of resilience, kindness, and achievement in film and as part of the American story. Papaian Studios is proud to host this special world premiere.”
Jimmy Stewart film to premiere in Fort Worth
The full cast of “Jimmy” will be in attendance for the Fort Worth premiere.
In addition, “Jimmy” director Aaron Burns and screenwriter Justin Strawhand will be there as will producers David Cook, Angela Galgani Sullivan, Jack McClintock and executive producer Kelly Stewart-Harcourt.
The festival is also marking the special occasion by presenting the inaugural “Jimmy Stewart Service Award” to an actor who “exemplifies Stewart’s qualities of service and sacrifice.”
“There’s something fitting about premiering ‘Jimmy’ here, in a town Stewart genuinely loved. We’re proud to welcome this movie home to Fort Worth, where it will open the 20th anniversary Lone Star Film Festival,” said Chad Mathews, Lone Star Film Festival executive director, in a news release. “Jimmy Stewart would certainly have relished a festival premiere in a city he held such affection for. We’re honored to celebrate his legacy alongside Papaian Studios and Burns & Co., the filmmakers who brought this story to life.”
While born and raised in Pennsylvania, Stewart had a deep tie to Fort Worth.
The Academy Award winner served as a celebrity ambassador to Fort Worth during the 1970s and was a major promoter of the Fort Worth Zoo. During that time, Stewart narrated a short film called “Fort Worth: The Unexpected City” that depicted Cowtown’s cultural heritage.
Stewart’s voice from the film was revived just a few years ago in a new advertising campaign from Visit Fort Worth. The initial 2023 video, and new 2026 version, pair Stewart’s voice with modern views of the city.
In 2023, the Fort Worth Museum of Science & History opened an exhibit about the connection called “An Unexpected Friendship: Jimmy Stewart’s Love for Fort Worth.”
“My parents loved Fort Worth because they had very dear friends there, Bess and Fran Johnson,” said Kelly Stewart-Harcourt, Stewart’s daughter and “Jimmy” executive producer, in a news release. “The Johnsons introduced Mom and Dad to the world of the outdoors. They went on fishing trips to South America. They would visit Bess and Fran’s beautiful Texas ranch, called Possum Kingdom. Best of all they would go on wildlife safaris together in East Africa, an experience that resulted in a deep commitment to African wildlife and conservation.”
“Jimmy” opens the Lone Star Film Festival on Nov. 4.
