FORT WORTH, TX – For the third consecutive year, Dallas-Fort Worth has earned a distinction shared by only a handful of cities in the country: official Oscar-qualifying status from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. This recognition means filmmakers’ path to Hollywood’s biggest night can begin in Fort Worth, and it’s attracting the attention of independent filmmakers from around the world.
To support creatives through this process, the Fort Worth Film Commission developed a first-of-its-kind Premiere Package program, which provides a free qualifying theatrical release and all-expenses paid trip to Fort Worth to celebrate selected short films. In its inaugural year, The Pearl Comb, one of the projects supported by the program, was selected for The Academy’s shortlist.
2026 Short Film Premiere Package recipients are:
- Birdie, directed by Praise Paige, a story of Black immigrant girlhood by a first-generation Nigerian filmmaker. It made its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival.
- Cindy Sherman: Picture This, directed by Sophie Chaninian, which provides a portrait of the enigmatic artist.
- Monitor, directed by Michael Berardini, an animated horror short that was the opening night film for Annecy, the world’s largest animation festival.
- Powdered & Dancing, directed by Hugh John Wyld, a compelling LGBTQ+ drama featuring lead actor Alex Lawther (The Imitation Game, Alien: Earth).
In addition, the Fort Worth Film Commission is proud to support two special presentations on their journey to the Academy Awards:
- Texas Short Thank You For Listening, directed by Gene Gallerano and executive produced by Texas Monthly, a documentary that chronicles Joshua Ray Walker’s journey as he battles third-generation cancer and plans his return to the Grand Ole Opry, the mecca of country music, in a captivating exploration of hope and healing.
- In partnership with the Louisiana Film Prize, Last Minute, Michael Cusumano’s short film set in pre-internet days, about a single mother scrambling to help her son with a last-minute homework assignment.
To celebrate these world-class films, a Red Carpet Screening event will be held at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth on Wednesday, October 28. This is an opportunity for audiences to watch all of the films, as well as meet and learn from these global filmmakers in a special Q&A session.
Beyond the red carpet, the Fort Worth Film Commission will host a locations tour for the selected filmmakers to showcase how film-friendly the city is and to make the case for bringing these filmmakers’ future productions back to Fort Worth. The tour will include stops at local film locations and meetings with industry experts, giving each team a firsthand look at why Moviemaker Magazine ranks Fort Worth a top destination for filmmakers and Screen International has recognized it as an Emerging Film Location. The short film premiering this fall could become the feature production that calls Fort Worth home next year.
“When we launched this program, we set out to showcase why Fort Worth belongs in conversations about serious independent film. With applications doubling since last year, this tells us that the film community agrees,” said Taylor Hardy, Fort Worth film commissioner. “Every filmmaker who visits represents a potential production and every production means more economic impact and jobs created in Fort Worth. Our goal isn’t just a screening, it’s building new relationships and a pipeline for future projects.”
Oscar-qualifying screenings for each film will be held at Texas Movie Bistro, 3960 Boat Club Rd, throughout August and September. Tickets can be purchased on their website. More information about the red carpet celebration will be announced soon.
For more details, please visit FortWorth.com/film/premierepackage/.
ABOUT FORT WORTH FILM COMMISSION The Fort Worth Film Commission, a division of Visit Fort Worth, was established in 2015 to promote Fort Worth as an ideal place to produce film and television. Through location services, preproduction and postproduction, the Film Commission has worked with hundreds of projects, driven $1 billion in economic impact and created more than 50,000 jobs, raising awareness of Fort Worth as a city for creative industries and a tourist destination. For more information, visit FilmFortWorth.com.
