What It's About
Touted as “Best in Show” meets “Hands on a Hardbody,” this film is a documentary exploring the deep complexities and dynamics of the annual Wiener Dog (aka Dachshund) Races in Buda, TX. It takes a look at the love and interactions of people and their pets and the various kinds of families they make up, and small town America having good, clean, competitive fun – all while raising money for non-profit. It’s funny and touching entertainment appropriate for all ages and types, and the real stars of the film, the Wiens, of course, steal the show!
The 25 minute film covers the history of the Buda Wiener Dog Races, with interviews with the founder and major players that make it happen every year. The costume parade starts off the weekend’s festivities and highlights the hilarious Dog Costume Contest (sometimes with owners participating), culminating with the winners and their parents. Then we go into the races and follow different participants and their dogs and all their special stories as the weekend progresses.
You’ll see scenes from the Country Fair that takes place over the whole weekend during the races and all the races that lead up to the exciting finals. This was the year the title-holding champion dogs, Simba and Copper (who are cousins, by the way – their human dads are brothers), didn’t come so there was an even playing field…it was one of the first years no reigning champion was there so the competition and tensions were intense! Who will win the huge trophy and $500 Grand Prize? (2nd prize gets $100 and 3rd gets $50).
Two-time Grammy Award Winner and Buda citizen, Danny Levin’s music and Blake Harrison and Kelly Korzan’s editing elevated our little film which was shot completely guerilla, to being the little film with wide appeal that it is and captures and creates the perfect feel to the events and stories throughout.
It’s a nail-biting and side-splitting ride! And if you’re not already, you’re almost guaranteed to become a fellow Wiens fan…you might even be tempted to go out and become an owner of one – it’s happened to several people so far! The temptation to check out the Buda Wiener Dog Races or any Wiener Dog Races in your area could be overwhelming as well – be forewarned…and enjoy!
Where It Came From
The Buda chapter of the non-profit Lions Club International hosts the Buda Wiener Dog Races and Country Fair as their annual fundraiser the last full weekend in April every year. Their charitable works focus on aiding children and adults with all vision related health problems and diabetes, awarding numerous scholarships throughout the year, and sending disabled kids to the Lions Camp every summer, amongst other things. Because of the attention the film has garnished and the incredible hard work and dedication of its members, the Buda Lions Club has raised thousands of dollars through corporate sponsorships and the sales of their Wiener Dog Race merchandise that they are now selling on their website. The event in 2005 had 4 times the attendance and participants than in years past, raising that much more money and awareness for the Lions Club and its charitable works, and we hope and expect it to continue to grow!
A portion of all proceeds from the sales of the DVD will be donated to the Buda Lions Club, animal rescues and various other charitable organizations.
For more information on the Buda Lions Club, the Buda Wiener Dog Races and Country Fair and Wiener Dog Race T-shirts, posters and other paraphernalia, please visit www.budalionsclub.com. For Lions Club International, go to www.lions.org.
Where It's Gone
Lord of the Wiens debuted at the South By Southwest Film Festival in 2004, and we’ve since screened at several other festivals and have other screenings coming up. The City of Buda sent this film to CBS and consequently, the national show, CBS Sunday Morning, did a similar story on the Buda Wiener Dog Races that aired in May 2004, and an updated version ran in June 2005.
Other news coverage has included features on Austin Now and News 8 Austin on KLRU (PBS), KXAN’s (NBC) On the Porch with Jim Swift, the Austin American Statesman and the Austin Chronicle – they recommended it as one of the Best DVD gifts! The City of Buda uses the film as a promotion tool, the Governor of Texas’ Office of Economic Development requested copies of the film to put in presentation packages for the state, and a Resolution was passed in the State of Texas recognizing Buda as the “Wiener Dog Capital of Texas” mentioning this “dachumentary” as being instrumental in Buda receiving that honor (an example of our Texan humor!). It has also been part of Continental Airlines’ in-flight programming.
Because of the popularity of the film, we re-edited it with more race footage, new artwork and 23 more minutes of Bonus Features and released the Special Edition DVD, making it twice as long and twice the fun!
We hope you enjoy the film as much as we have enjoyed making it and meeting all of the wonderful people who are fans and parents of Wiens! It has been and continues to be incredibly rewarding and fun for us.
THANK YOU!!
For more information, questions or media inquiries, please contact us.
