[SXSW ’22] Texas Shorts program review: Short films from the Lone Star State

SXSW’s Texas Shorts collection features films that are related to Texas. These films are shot in or about the second largest state in the U.S.  This year’s collection takes the audience to the mountainous reaches of West Texas to the 5th Ward in Houston. Ranging in genres, these shorts all promote the distinct and individual voices that make up the Texas experience. 

Far West is a gothic short by Grace Potter and Emily Potter. Far West is about two friends who trek into the mountains to search for treasure. The film features gorgeous shots of the mountains and the desert as the day passes. Far West makes excellent use of the desolate scenery to tell an eerie story about friendship and the cost of easy money. 

Folk Frontera sets itself on the border of two worlds. Gabriela Carballo identifies as a fronteriza, someone who can occupy two countries. The spirit of the fronteriza is embodied in Gabriella who grew up in Juarez, Mexico then attended college in El Paso, Texas. She resides in Marfa where she annually renews her visa to stay. A bit further south is Molly, a white woman who is in a Mariachi band in Presidio, Texas. While her life is in Presidio, her husband lives in Ojinaga, Mexico. Folk Frontera shows life in border towns and how cultures are intertwined. Alejandra Vasquez and Sam Osborn’s film raises the question, what is a border anyway? 

Gay Haircut revolves around a comedian’s experience with coming to terms with her homosexuality. Can she still tell dick jokes? She has decided that the only solution is to get a gay haircut. Jude Harris’s film is funny and tells a clever story about identity and pride.

Memory Builds the Moment is one of the most dynamic short films at the festival. Directed by Isaac Yowman, this documentary tells the story of the cultural relevance of Houston’s 5th Ward. From Club Matinee to the De Luxe Theater, these locations shape the district that Archie Bell calls “the Harlem of Texas.”

These are just a few of the shorts available at SXSW. There are many more that capture the spirit of indie filmmaking and the different kinds of Texas one can find in this state. These films highlight that Texas can’t be painted with just one brush. 

SXSW takes place from March 11-March 20. Tickets can be purchased here.