Water, Texas Film Festival Highlights River Culture and Memory
The 11th edition of the Water, Texas Film Festival took place on May 12, 2026, at the IMAX Theatre of the Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin. Organized by the Texas Water Foundation, the festival highlighted films addressing water issues, with Richard Linklater curating the finalists. Among the winners, 'A Portrait of Preservation' by Millicent Olivarez and Rick Velásquez received the Best Documentary award, showcasing artist Luis Corpus and his charcoal creations inspired by the Rio Grande. Additionally, Katy McCarthy's short film 'Neches' captured a woman's kayaking journey on the Neches River, interweaving her recollections of her mother with the region's scenery.
Key facts
- The 11th annual Water, Texas Film Festival was held on May 12, 2026.
- The festival took place at the Bullock Texas State History Museum IMAX Theatre in Austin.
- The Texas Water Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, organizes the festival.
- Finalists were chosen by Texas filmmaker Richard Linklater.
- 'A Portrait of Preservation' won Best Documentary at the festival.
- The film profiles artist Luis Corpus, who creates charcoal portraits of former DACA students.
- Corpus makes his own charcoal from brush collected along the Rio Grande and uses river water as a wash.
- 'Neches' is a narrative short film by Katy McCarthy about a woman kayaking the Neches River.
- McCarthy chose fiction over documentary to emphasize memory and experience.
- The Neches River is largely untamed until it reaches north of Beaumont.
Entities
Artists
- Millicent Olivarez
- Rick Velásquez
- Luis Corpus
- Katy McCarthy
- Richard Linklater
Institutions
- Texas Water Foundation
- Water, Texas Film Festival
- Bullock Texas State History Museum
- Glasstire
Locations
- San Antonio
- Austin
- Texas
- Rio Grande
- Neches River
- East Texas
- Big Thicket
- Beaumont