It's Movie Time

Oak Cliff Film Festival reels out 15 Texas premieres for 2021 edition

The 10th annual Oak Cliff Film Festival is returning live, June 24-27, at various venues around Oak Cliff, including the historic Texas Theatre, Bishop Arts Theatre Center, Kessler Theater, and more.

This year’s movie lineup, announced May 24, will include 23 feature-length films, with 15 of them having their Texas premiere. The festival also includes 34 short films, opening and closing night parties, live streamed filmmaking workshops, and live music events with Austin’s Montopolis and Mexican Summer recording artist Hayden Pedigo.

Headlining the festival will be opening night film Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised), a documentary directed by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson of The Roots. Part music film, part historical record, Summer of Soul was created around an epic event that celebrated Black history, culture, and fashion in the summer of 1969 in Harlem. The screening will include a Q&A with the film's producers hosted by Grammy winning artist Shaun Martin and followed by an in-theater soul DJ set by DJ Jay Clipp.

Other notable films will include Mogul Mowgli, starring recent Oscar nominee Riz Ahmed; a silent film / live score drive-in of the 1916 western The Return of Draw Egan, with live score accompaniment by Austin’s Montopolis featuring the music of Ennio Morricone; the 4K restoration of the lost Dennis Hopper punk classic Out of the Blue; the Texas local election documentary, Kid Candidate; a free 35th anniversary screening of David Byrne's Texas-set True Stories; and more.

The festival will also once again partner with the Austin Film Society, filmmaker David Lowery, and Tim Headington’s Ley Line Entertainment to provide emerging North Texas filmmakers grant funds specifically to make feature films. That will include the North Texas Pioneer Film Grant of $30,000 that has the specific intention of promoting Dallas-Fort Worth area filmmakers with underrepresented perspectives.

Tickets for individual indoor screenings are $11.50 each; the festival also includes one free outdoor screening and one drive-in screening for $20 per carload. A VIP badge is $175, which allows entry to all screenings, music shows, and events, plus special access to the Filmmakers’ Lounge.

The full lineup for the festival can be found at 2021.oakclifffilmfestival.com.

David Byrne's True Stories will have a free 35th anniversary screening at the Oak Cliff Film Festival.

Photo courtesy of The Criterion Collection

David Byrne's True Stories will have a free 35th anniversary screening at the Oak Cliff Film Festival.

festivals movies

Music and Football

Miranda Lambert to perform at halftime for Cowboys' Thanksgiving game

Miranda Lambert at AT&T Stadium in Arlington

Photo courtesy of Dallas Cowboys.

Miranda Lambert will be the halftime performer for the Dallas Cowboys' 2026 Thanksgiving Day game.

Country music superstar and Texas native Miranda Lambert will be the halftime performer at the Dallas Cowboys' annual Thanksgiving Day game in 2026, according to a release from the NFL.

The Cowboys will play against the Philadelphia Eagles at AT&T Stadium in Arlington on November 26, scheduled to start at 3:30 pm.

This will be the 30th consecutive Salvation Army Red Kettle Kickoff halftime show, dating back to Reba McEntire's performance at the inaugural show in 1997. Other performers over the years have included Destiny’s Child, Carrie Underwood, the Jonas Brothers, Selena Gomez, Dolly Parton, Lainey Wilson, and Post Malone.

Charlotte Jones, chief brand officer and co-owner of the Cowboys, says she came up with the idea as a way to help launch The Salvation Army’s annual Red Kettle Campaign, which has existed since 1890.

“The Red Kettle Kickoff has become one of the Dallas Cowboys’ proudest traditions and one my family and our entire organization look forward to every Thanksgiving,” Jones says in the release. “For 30 years, incredible artists have appeared on our halftime stage to help The Salvation Army bring hope to millions of people in need. We’re grateful to Miranda Lambert for joining that legacy and helping us continue this meaningful tradition.”

Lambert has made local news repeatedly of late. She held her Crisco album release party at Billy Bob's Texas Billy Bob's Texas earlier in October. Her "Velvet Rodeo" residency wardrobe will be showcased beginning next month at the new Icons Gallery at the National Cowgirl Museum in Fort Worth.

“There’s something special about how music brings people together, especially when it’s to spread joy and hope to families who need it most,” Lambert said in a statement. “The Salvation Army and the Dallas Cowboys have built an incredible tradition with the Red Kettle Kickoff, and I can’t wait to be back home in Texas this Thanksgiving to help carry it forward.”

Every donation to The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign stays in the community in which it’s given to provide help and hope for those in need. To learn more, go to SalvationArmyUSA.org.

concerts fundraisers holidays dallas cowboys football thanksgiving salvation army music celebrities miranda lambert