Austin Film Society Announces Celeste and Adrian Quesada as Chairs for The 2026 Texas Film Awards
November 20, 2025, AUSTIN, TX— The Austin Film Society announces that Celeste and Adrian Quesada will serve as chairs for the 2026 Texas Film Awards. Pillars of the Austin creative community, the Quesadas are longtime supporters of Austin Film Society, with Celeste currently serving on the AFS Board of Directors. With over 25 years of crossover experience in cultural arts, social impact and real estate, Celeste Quesada creates meaningful connections that transcend traditional boundaries. Adrian is an Oscar®-nominated (“Like A Bird,” 2024) and two-time GRAMMY winner, 10-time nominee as well as co-founder of the Black Pumas. Both Celeste and Adrian have a history with the Texas Film Awards: Celeste produced the event for seven years, and Adrian served as musical director and performed at the event for many years.
Each year, the Austin Film Society hosts the Texas Film Awards — an annual fundraising gala celebrating the artists and industry icons who represent the Lone Star State. The Texas Film Awards brings together artists, patrons and film lovers who share a commitment to supporting film and the Austin Film Society. The festivities kick off with a red carpet and cocktail reception, followed by dinner, a lively auction, an awards ceremony to induct new honorees into the Texas Film Hall of Fame and a nightcap to close the evening.
The 2026 Texas Film Awards will take place on Thursday, March 5, 2026. Tables are currently on sale, and individual tickets will be available in January 2026.
To purchase a table at the 2026 Texas Film Awards, click here.
Individual tickets will go on sale in January 2026.
Established in 2001, past honorees inducted into the Texas Film Hall of Fame include Sissy Spacek, Renée Zellweger, Shirley MacLaine, Forest Whitaker, Guillermo Del Toro, Carol Burnett, Matthew McConaughey, Willie Nelson, Ethan Hawke and Luke Wilson, among so many others.
About Celeste Quesada
Celeste Quesada is a community builder, artist and real estate professional specializing in unique, historic and affordable homes. Quesada is a proud first-generation immigrant born and raised in Austin, Texas. Known for creating community by weaving together her 25+ years of working within the cultural arts, social impact and home-building worlds, she loves to inspire, educate and share her expertise with others. She was the co-founder of Cine Las Americas and has worked with numerous nonprofits, including the Austin Film Society, SIMS Foundation, HAAM, American Gateways, Planned Parenthood, El Buen Samaritano, Forklift Danceworks, Creative Action, Austin Chronicle and the Austin Music Industry Awards and Austin Music Awards. She currently serves on the Leadership Council for American Gateways and is a Music Commissioner, appointed by Mayor Kirk Watson. She also owns a second residence in Lockhart, Texas, with her husband, Grammy-winning producer and musician Adrian Quesada; their daughters, Amelie and Marcelle; and their toddler canine, Itzá.
About Adrian Quesada
Guitarist, songwriter and Grammy-winning producer Adrian Quesada is an adventurous musician best known as the co-founder of the Grammy-nominated psychedelic soul band Black Pumas. He has also performed with greats such as Prince, GZA, Daniel Johnston and more. A lifelong Texan, Quesada’s deep musical history has seen him produce and perform on projects spanning funk, soul, psychedelia and diverse strands of Latin music. His most recent projects include Boleros Psicodélicos, a collaborative album that recaptures the sound and feel of romantic Latin ballads from the ’60s and ’70s, featuring vocals by Gaby Moreno, iLe, Girl Ultra and more, and Jaguar Sound, an instrumental album that honors his foundational inspirations in hip-hop and cinematic scores. No matter the band or the style, Quesada’s guitar playing and production styles have a distinctive sound and collaborative spirit that have led to awards and respect from fellow artists, who line up eagerly to take part in his projects.
About Austin Film Society
Founded in 1985 by filmmaker Richard Linklater, AFS creates life-changing opportunities for filmmakers, catalyzes Austin and Texas as a creative hub, and brings the community together around great film. AFS supports filmmakers from all backgrounds towards career leaps, encouraging exceptional artistic projects with grants and support services. AFS operates Austin Studios, a 20-acre production facility, to attract and grow the creative media ecosystem. Austin Public, a space for our city’s diverse mediamakers to train and collaborate, provides many points of access to filmmaking and film careers. The AFS Cinema is an ambitiously programmed repertory and first run arthouse with broad community engagement. By hosting premieres, local and international industry events, and the Texas Film Awards, AFS shines the national spotlight on Texas filmmakers while connecting Austin and Texas to the wider film community. AFS is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Will Stefanski
Will@austinfilm.org
