The 2019 Red Wasp Film Festival is set to take place on Sunday, May 5, 3:00-6:00 p.m., at the Queen Theater in Downtown Bryan. This will be the 17th edition of the festival.
The festival seeks to provide an avenue that not only brings quality short films to the Brazos Valley but builds awareness and appreciation of films and filmmaking, and this year more than 100 visitors are expected at the festival.
Each year, filmmakers from around the world submit their independent short films, which are then vetted by a committee. Categories for submission include Narrative Short, Documentary Short and Animated Short. All films must be original and less than 30 minutes.
Last year’s festival drew in more than 130 people as filmmakers and screenwriters shared their work with Brazos Valley. “Cuerdas,” a film by Pedro Solis Garcia of Spain, took home Audience Favorite and Best of Festival in 2018. “Guest Room,” an entry by Joshua Tate of California, was chosen as One to Watch.
The festival was founded in 2003 by Carol and Craig Conlee. The first few festivals took place at the 7F Lodge in Wellborn. By 2006, it had grown enough to feature a partnership with Brazos Progressives, moving the event to Downtown Bryan. In 2014, the Arts Council of Brazos Valley took over management, bringing in another new era for the festival.
The unique name for the festival came from the healthy red wasp attendance at the original outdoor festival. The Conlees chose to name the festival after them in true Texas dry humor.
The Red Wasp Film Festival returns to the historic Queen Theater for the second consecutive year. Originally built in the late 1800s as a hotel, it began showing films in the early 1900s before becoming a fully operational movie theater in 1939. Following a renovation project, the theater reopened on May 4, 2018, just two days before the 2018 Red Wasp Film Festival took place.
Admission to the festival is free, but seating is limited. Reseravations can be made online at http://www.acbv.org/events/2019/red-wasp-film-festival-2019.
