Three films earn inaugural 2026 awards; filmmakers invited to enter the 2027 competition
AUSTIN, Texas — A family dispute over ketchup, the enduring drive of a San Antonio rock band, and a sobering story of human trafficking are the subjects of the three films receiving top honors in the inaugural Reel Texas StoryFest awards.
The 2026 winners are Ketchup on Tamales, receiving the Best Short Film Award; The Sons of Hercules: Three Decades of Spittin’ Fire, receiving the Best Film Non-Fiction Documentary Award; and The Gift, receiving the Best Film Fiction Award.
Together, the winning films demonstrate the range of independent storytelling—from the humor found around a family table to the preservation of musical history and the examination of urgent social concerns.
Best Short Film Award — Ketchup on Tamales
Young Tonito’s request for ketchup at a Mexican family gathering becomes a spirited confrontation with his traditional uncles, who insist that tamales belong with hot sauce. A fiery challenge raises the stakes, turning a difference in taste into a comic contest of family pride, tradition and determination. The film finds its humor in a familiar question: What happens when the next generation wants to do things differently?
Best Film Non-Fiction Documentary Award — The Sons of Hercules: Three Decades of Spittin’ Fire
Filmmaker Geno Garza documents the longevity and restless energy of San Antonio’s garage-rock band the Sons of Hercules. Through music and personal history, the documentary explores the friendships, changes and commitment behind a band that has continued performing for more than three decades. It preserves a chapter of Texas music history while revealing the people who keep that history alive.
Best Film Fiction Award — The Gift
The Gift follows a group of women abducted and delivered to a trafficking leader for criminal exploitation. Addressing the realities of human trafficking through fiction, the film seeks to increase awareness and encourage greater vigilance within communities. Its subject underscores the role storytelling can play in bringing difficult issues into public conversation.
The Next Chapter: Reel Texas StoryFest 2027
Filmmakers are invited to enter the 2027 Reel Texas StoryFest, scheduled for September 25–26, 2027, at the Austin Southpark Hotel, as part of the Lone Star Festival.
The juried festival welcomes films made in Texas or based on books written by Texas authors. Filmmakers from outside Texas are eligible when their projects meet either requirement.
For submission information and access to the official FilmFreeway entry portal, visit LoneStarFestival.net/#film-details. Official submission rules, categories, deadlines and fees are provided through FilmFreeway.
About Reel Texas StoryFest
Reel Texas StoryFest is the official film program of the Lone Star Festival, presented by the Texas Authors Museum & Institute of History, Inc. With a grassroots spirit and a story-first mission, the program celebrates Texas and independent filmmaking while connecting filmmakers, authors and audiences.
