Willie Nelson: King of the Roadies is just one of the headliners that debuted at this year’s Dallas International Film Festival (DIFF).

Highlighting the world’s oldest roadie (a person who sets up equipment for a band), the film is creative and quirky in a way that only Texas and U.S. music legends could showcase. Willie Nelson himself produces and stars in the documentary, which honors the late Ben Dorcy, who passed away at age 91 in 2017. A loyal colleague and friend, Dorcy is described as “always there for all the country music stars” including John Wayne, Ray Price, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Tanya Tucker, and more – even running unofficial security at times.

Nelson’s daughter, Amy Nelson, was inspired to direct the documentary after growing up seeing Dorcy constantly in action.

“Dad was a really big part of it. It was really great to have a project with him and to see him and Ben AKA ‘Lovey’ together. They would both just light up each other and that would just light up the room,” said Amy.

“The thing about Ben is he would do anything my dad would say. He was also an actor in his own right. Dad would be like, ‘show them your stunt’ and Ben would just throw himself,” laughed Amy. “He was an 85-year-old man the last time I saw him do it. He would just drop and throw himself on the wood floor, and that was his stunt. He would stop at nothing to make them happy.”

Dorcy was also a U.S. Navy veteran who served in the mid 1940s, and he participated in ice skating competitions following his military service. In 1950, he started going on the road with country musicians.

Willie Nelson: King of the Roadies officially premiered on Sunday, April 27 at historic venue, The Texas Theatre, in Dallas. You can watch it via Paramount+ streaming services.

Luv Ya, Bum!

Now described as the “original Ted Lasso,” Luv Ya, Bum! centers around former Houston Oilers coach, Bum Phillips (before the Oilers relocated to Nashville and Houston received the Houston Texans). The Orange, Texas, native was hired to coach the Oilers in 1975 and drafted the famed Heisman Trophy winner and former Texas Longhorns player, Earl Campbell, to the team in 1978. The documentary shows actual footage from games and behind the scenes.

 “I was there seven years, and it was the happiest seven years of my life. Not because we won but because of the way we won, and the way the kids acted, and the way the players and the fans reacted,” said the late Bum Phillips, at the start of the film.

Described as an icon and an authoritative figure that his football players loved and respected, Bum is said to have had an ability to relate with people in a unique and remarkable way. Bum, who passed away in 2013 at age 90, is credited with doing things differently than other teams in the NFL.

“We had a bunch of misfits. He made a difference on the field and off the field,” said Elvin Bethea, former Houston Oilers defensive end and now pro football hall-of-famer.

The hour and 20 minutes long Blue Suitcase film (originally unveiled at the 2025 SXSW festival) is an interesting and uplifting watch, allowing for a glimpse back in Houston’s past, with a specific focus on the pop cultural movement surrounding Bum’s team and a story with a fun reminder that “winning is only half of it.”

Night in West Texas

A documentary based on a true story out of Odessa, Texas, Night in West Texas tells the story of an innocent man who despite being out of town at the time of murder was framed for the death of a Catholic priest in 1981.

Determined to clear his name, James Harry Reyos fought for exoneration longer than any other inmate in Texas history. For 40 years, he hoped to be released so he could return to his original home at Apache Reservation in New Mexico.

“This is a legendary case. There have been generations of prosecutors who have gone through this office who understand we have convicted an innocent man,” said Allison Clayton, Deputy Director of the Innocence Project Texas.

Night in West Texas showcases how the Innocence Project worked to help Reyos (who was exonerated officially in 2023) and is an excellent watch for anyone wanting to learn more about the process to try to free those who were wrongly framed – and details the complexities of exonerating those who are wrongly convicted.  

Overall

The Dallas International Film Festival will be in its 20th year next year. A complete list of the 2025 featured films is available here. Tickets typically go on sale a few months prior to the festival.

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Britni Rachal is a full-time marketer and a former television news producer with a life-long passion for written and visual storytelling. In her free time, she enjoys live country music, tennis, fitness, all things travel, and trying new restaurants with friends and family. In addition to journalism, she also has a love for shoes and coffee. Britni is a fifth generation Texan and a proud LSU Tiger. She currently lives in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.