HOUSTON — It's a mini-reunion for one of Houston's most important football teams.
Members of the Houston Herricanes from the late 1970s, who played in the first women's tackle football league, were among those at a special showing of "The Herricanes" during the kickoff of this year's Houston Asian American Pacific Islander Film Festival at Axelrad Beer Garden.
"The Herricanes," a six-time award-winning documentary about Houston's team and, in general, women's football, was recently acquired by Blue Harbor Entertainment, according to Variety Magazine.
"I just didn't think anybody would be interested in any more than the audience was when we were playing," said Basia Haszlakiewicz, a player on the Herricanes. "We really struggled to get an audience (in the 1970s)."
Haszlakiewicz's daughter, Olivia Kuan, is the filmmaker.
"To have (the film's positive reaction) go this long, this strong and for us to be sold, it's amazing," said former Herricanes player Billie Cooper. "It gives you the chills."
The film premiered in 2023 at the SXSW Film Festival.
"We are pioneering an innovative, filmmaker-friendly business model, and we are thrilled to work with Olivia and the rest of the team behind 'The Herricanes' to bring this little-known story of grit, determination and perseverance by a remarkable group of female athletes to U.S. audiences this summer," Blue Harbor Entertainment said in a statement to Variety.
A few players from the Houston Energy women's team also attended. The Energy was also involved in the making of the film, as well, according to team owner Brian Wiggins.
The Houston Asian American Pacific Islander Film Festival (HAAPIFEST), now in its 20th year, runs through Friday, June 14. It includes more than 100 movies, "ranging from three-minute shorts to full-length features, that celebrate stories from all parts of the AAPI community," according to OCA-Greater Houston.