Jacksonville native and Justified star Margo Martindale has just been announced as the fourth honoree at this year’s Texas Film Awards, alongside Creed III star Jonathan Majors, indie cinema’s patron saints Janet and John Pierson, and Hollywood producer Michael de Luca.

And then there were five. Margo Martindale, star of The Americans, and Justified, and the upcoming Cocaine Bear, will join Creed III star Jonathan Majors, indie cinema’s patron saints Janet and John Pierson, and Hollywood mega-producer Michael de Luca, as an honoree at this year’s Texas Film Awards on March 3.

Since its foundation in 2001, the awards have lauded such Lone Star luminaries as Sissy Spacek, Rip Torn, Guillermo Del Toro, Jeff Nichols, Renée Zellweger, and more. Now it’s the turn of the Jacksonville-born Texas native Martindale – but she’s not the only big name added today.

Joining a log line of inductors as famous as the inductees, the awards organizers just announced that Clerks director Kevin Smith will be on hand to usher the Piersons into Texas’ movie history (not that they haven’t ensured their place their anyway). It’s a fitting tribute from a director like so many who owe their careers in no small part to the Piersons’ decades of dedication to promoting and supporting indie filmmakers.

This year’s TFA will take place for the first time at Willie Nelson’s Luck ranch, and its’ not just a ceremony but a whole party, with Black Puma’s Adrian Quesada as musical director. Special guests for the evening will be honorary co-chairs and prior inductees, Texas Tribune founder Evan Smith (class of ’22) and producer and Troublemaker Studios cofounder Elizabeth Avellan (’17).

And, best of al, the night is all for a good cause. The Texas Film Awards are the single biggest fundraising event for the Austin Film Society and its grant programs for Texas filmmakers. Buying a seat at the ceremony could be the difference-maker that changes an artist’s career.

The 21st annual Texas Film Awards takes place March 3 at Luck Ranch. Tickets and info available now at austinfilm.org.

This article appears in February 10 • 2023.

A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.

SUPPORT US

The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.