In its second year, the Hill Country Film Festival in Fredericksburg is already causing a stir. With over 40 submissions, the HCFF is guaranteed to be a good time not only for film industry professionals, but also for those who love great films.

The brain-child of Texas native Chad Mathews, the film festival brought together the great city and visitor haven of Fredericksburg and talented and creative Texas actors, directors, and producers.

Mathews has experience both on screen and behind the scenes. He has starred as an actor in such notable projects as The Wanda Sykes Show, Profiler, Fight or Die, and General Hospital, as well as films like Deadland, Cowboy Smoke, The Hiding, and the Beast and Wesley Cash.

Behind the scenes, he has produced short films and written numerous feature-length scripts. His most recent is an animated story, Bobby the Bull, and he’s done a short film called Clones Gone Wild, which received a number of accolades and awards on the film festival circuit in 2009.

Mathews saw the opportunity to bring two things he loved together by hosting a film festival in a place he calls home. Fredericksburg offers a venue that is well-known, has a state of the art theater for viewing, as well as several top restaurants and hotels.

Film festivals are an opportunity for up-and-coming actors, producers, and writers to show their work to an audience and network with others who are in the industry. Attendees will have the opportunity to talk to and ask questions of the directors.

Screenings will be held at the Stagecoach Theater, and the Hampton Inn will be the location for exclusive before and after parties for film makers, actors, and guests who purchase an All-Access Badge.

Films showcased during the festival will include short films, documentaries, music videos, animated films, dramas, comedies, thrillers/horrors, art films, and musicals.

The Hill Country Film Festival will begin Thursday, April 28 with the Filmmaker’s Welcome and Opening Night ...

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