Hollywood in Cowtown

Yellowstone's Taylor Sheridan to receive Lone Star Film Festival's highest honor at 2022 gala

Taylor and Nicole Sheridan at the 1883 premiere.

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Yellowstone and 1883 may have gotten snubbed by the Emmys, but creator Taylor Sheridan will receive one of Fort Worth's biggest creative awards in his hometown this fall. Sheridan will be the 2022 Larry McMurtry Award recipient at the Lone Star Film Festival Gala, taking place November 11 at Hotel Drover.

The award, presented by the Lone Star Film Festival and the Fort Worth Film Commission, honors native Texans who have made great contributions to the film, television, and creative industries. It is, of course, named after the iconic Texas novelist and screenwriter Larry McMurtry, who died last year. The 2021 honorees were Ethan Hawke and Richard Linklater; past recipients have included Jane Seymour, Billy Bob Thornton, and Jeff Bridges.

"It's an honor to be getting the Larry McMurtry Award in my hometown,” Sheridan says in a release. “I was such a fan of his work and being recognized in this way is for sure a thrill. I feel lucky to be able to tell the stories I love while also giving back to the community that has meant so much to me."

Sheridan is the brains behind the TV sensationYellowstone and its acclaimed prequel 1883 (plus forthcoming spinoffs 6666, 1923, and 1883: The Bass Reeves Story). He's also creator of the hit series of Mayor of Kingstown and Oscar-nominated writer of the film Hell or High Water.

Paramount Plus' highly rated 1883 was filmed in and around Fort Worth last year. It was a sensible choice for Sheridan, who went to Fort Worth's Paschal High School and lives with his wife, Nicole (a board member of the National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame), on a Bosque Ranch in Weatherford. A couple of 1883 episodes were set in Fort Worth.

Sheridan also owns and operates the legendary 6666 Ranch, headquartered in Guthrie, Texas, which he purchased last year. The 6666 — previously owned by Fort Worth rancher, art collector, arts patron, and philanthropist Anne Marion — was featured in the last season of Yellowstone several times. Sheridan reportedly is working on another spinoff with the working title 6666.

Powered by the success of 1883 and Yellowstone, Fort Worth recently shot onto a prestigious list of top filmmaking cities for first time; the city landed at No. 25 on Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker, an annual list compiled by Los Angeles-based publication MovieMaker.

“Taylor is changing the landscape of television and his contributions to the film industry in Texas will only continue to grow," says Jessica Christopherson, vice president of marketing and film commissioner for the Visit Fort Worth and the FWFC, in the release. “1883 employed hundreds of locals and contributed greatly to the local economy; we are so excited to honor Taylor at this year’s gala.”

The 2022 LSFF gala and festival are presented by Visit Fort Worth and the Fort Worth Film Commission. Community leader and board chair of the National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame, Kit Moncrief, serves as chair of this year's gala.

“I am grateful to be a part of the Lone Star Film Festival Gala this year, especially as my dear friend, Taylor Sheridan, is being awarded with the Larry McMurtry Award," she says. "The festival provides a great opportunity to celebrate films and filmmakers from around the world and showcase all that Fort Worth has to offer.”

Gala tickets ($750) are on sale now, and tables start at $10,000. Proceeds of all sales go to the Johnny Langdon Film Education Initiative, which provides film education programs in greater Fort Worth.

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Hot-to-trot party

Former Fort Worth mayor helps corral big bucks at New Hope Equine gala

Photo by Savanna Romano

Betsy Price, Scott Murray

As the sun set over expansive pastures north of Fort Worth, hundreds of city slickers headed up to the country, to Lucky Spur Ranch Retreat in Justin for the 2024 Hope Gala.

Benefiting New Hope Equine Assisted Therapy, the October 25 fundraising party went all in on the horse theme, offering guests "A Night at the Races."

About 220 attendees arrived donning Derby hats and fascinators, bowties, fedoras, and cowboy boots - it was on a ranch after all, and not Churchill Downs. They mingled and posed with New Hope horses, browsed an impressive array of silent auction items, tossed horseshoes at whiskey bottles, and wet their whistles at an open bar alfresco.

When the dinner bell rang, folks moseyed inside and filled up on a buffet of Southwestern favorites, including beef skirt steak, grilled chicken, street corn, and Yukon Gold mashed potatoes. Nothing Bundt Cakes provided enough cake bites to satisfy any sweet tooth.

Master of ceremonies, former NBC5 sports anchor Scott Murray, welcomed guests and acknowledged New Hope leadership, including gala event chair Jason Hodson.

New Hope Equine Hope Gala 2024 Claire Messerle, Betsy Price, Katie MesserlePhoto by Savanna Romano

Moments later came a rousing "Howdy, y'all!" - the familiar greeting from former Fort Worth mayor Betsy Price, who served as the event's honorary chair. She underscored the importance of the organization's mission.

"New Hope isn't just a service, but it opens doors for those who think they don't have the strength, they don't have the courage or the connections to regain their sense of independence," she told the crowd.

Photo by Savanna Romano

Hope Gala honorary chair Betsy Price with emcee Scott Murray.

Since 2012, New Hope has been healing through therapeutic horsemanship for people of all ages with physical, intellectual, or developmental special needs. In 2022, they debuted the Natural Horsemanship program for veterans and first responders grappling with post-traumatic stress.

Funds raised at the gala support the “New Hope” that riders need for a better quality of life.

But the horses benefit, too. The majority of New Hope horses enjoy a second life with the organization; some were even on local kill lists.

"This is Texas, folks! We ride horses in Texas," Price concluded. "And every dollar that you give tonight or that you invest somewhere along the way will be doubled or tripled in the returns to these folks who need the therapy and the ones who work in the barns and help us."

New Hope Equine Hope Gala 2024 Guests bid in the live auction.Photo by Savanna Romano

Auctioneer Mike Trent got bidding going fast and furiously in a live auction for one-of-a-kind trips and experiences, including a vacation to Hilton Head (sold for $2,600), a dinner with several Dallas Cowboys legends (sold for $7,000), and a luxury suite concert experience at Dickies Arena (sold for more than $10,000).

In total, the gala raised $95,000 for New Hope programs.

"The annual cost to care for one horse runs about $6,000, so your generosity will help us care for our horses that provide vital therapy to our over 40 participants," organizers said afterwards.

New Hope Equine Hope Gala 2024 Champagne Yacht Club Band kept the dance floor lively.Photo by Savanna Romano

As some guests wandered outside to enjoy the fresh nighttime air, others got moving and grooving on the dance floor to the sounds of the Champagne Yacht Club Band.

Spotted in the crowd, enjoying the night were New Hope patrons, staff, board members, volunteers, and supporters, including Hamilton Sneed, Jennifer Kiedrowski, Nicole Matwijiw, Jennifer Morris, Pat Fultz, Red Fultz, Devan Peplow, Kathleen Beisly, Emily Rogers-Hicks, Susan Altshuler, Lauren Cobb, Ashley Cox, Mikenley Johnson, Blake Johnson, Kathleen Alexander, Melissa Howard, Claire Messerle, Katie Messerle, Sharla Kershen, Dave Kershen, Jason Hodson, Aaron Sturman, Jennifer Kiedrowski, Neal Bondy, Paul Barstad, Melanie Barstad, Mark Powers, DeAnna Powers, Kim Martin, Darlene Jacobs, Jim Jacobs, Debbie Thayer, and hundreds more.