April Maxey
TEXAS DAUGHTER

NICE SHOES Post-production (color) Grant for TEXAS DAUGHTER

ABOUT THE FILM: A Chinese actress retreats to a Texas ranch to prepare for a role in a neo-Western, but when feelings begin to surface between her and her tough Tejane horse trainer, they're both forced to confront the fears that hold them back.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: A narrative queer Western romance set on a horse ranch in Texas. A film about belonging and fleeting connection, supported by the NALIP x Netflix Director's Incubator program.

ABOUT THE FILMMAKER: April Maxey is a writer/director from San Antonio, Texas, based in Los Angeles. Her short film, WORK, was made in AFI’s DWW+ program and played at Sundance, Tribeca, Palm Springs Shortfest, Inside Out, and Outfest, where it won the Grand Jury Prize. Her feature screenplay for WORK was selected for the WIF x Sundance Financing Intensive and in 2024 it was selected for the NALIP Feature Media Accelerator, Film Independent’s Fast Track, and was awarded a development grant from One House x Sundance. April is an alumna of Berlinale Talents, the Sundance Uprise Fellowship, and the Adobe x Sundance Women to Watch Fellowship. Her short films have played at over 75 festivals across 18 countries and won 10 awards. Her short queer western romance TEXAS DAUGHTER was made in the NALIP x Netflix Director’s Incubator program. As a queer Tejana filmmaker, April is passionate about stories that center underrepresented perspectives and explore the complexities of intimacy, grief, and healing. April’s directing approach is informed by a decade of experience working as a director of photography and editor.

Instagram: @amaxey422, @zitabai_mdproductions, @summerxyang
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