‘Yellow Rose,’ ‘Vast of Night’ honored by Houston film critics
The drama “Yellow Rose,” set amid Austin’s roots-music scene, and the retro science fiction mystery “The Vast of Night” were honored Sunday with Houston Film Critics’ Society’s two awards reserved for indie films made in Texas.
“Yellow Rose” won the group’s Texas Independent Film Award while “The Vast of Night” director Andrew Patterson won the Texas Independent Film Visionary Award. They were competing against “Miss Juneteenth,” “Boys State” and “Ready or Not.”
“The Vast of Night,” though filmed in northcentral Texas, is set in 1950s New Mexico on the night of what the two main characters — a radio DJ and a phone operator — think might be an alien invasion. Diane Paragas’ “Yellow Rose” follows the life of a young Asian American singer who wants to make it in the world of country music.
The honors were given during the Society’s first-ever, hourlong telecast on KUBE-TV (Channel 57), which included clips from the five nominees and interviews with some of the filmmakers. In previous years, the HFCS staged an awards ceremony at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, but that production was canceled this year because of the pandemic.
The Houston Films Critics Society announced the winners in its other, non-Texas categories on Jan 18. Chloé Zhao’s “Nomadland,” starring Frances McDormand, took the bestpicture and best-director honors. Other winners in major categories include: “Soul” (animated film); Riz Ahmed (best actor, “Sound of Metal”), Carey Mulligan (best actress, “Promising Young Woman”), Maria Bakalova (best supporting actress, “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm”) and Leslie Odom Jr. (best supporting actor, “One Night in Miami”). For the complete list, go to houstonfilmcritics.com.