The Arts Council held the annual Red Wasp Film Festival on Sunday, May 6, from 3 to 6pm at the Historic Queen Theatre in Downtown Bryan. More than 130 visitors were the first to experience the newly renovated Queen Theatre as they attended the festival for a special viewing of ten independent short narrative films. The event was free to attend and included door prizes graciously donated by Tiff’s Treats, Cinemark 18, The Stella Hotel, POV Coffee, and Friends of the Arts Council.
Each year, filmmakers and screenwriters from around the world are invited to submit their films for the festival, and a committee makes the selection for the festival lineup. This year’s showings included films by Spanish and Iranian filmmakers, as well as a submission from students at Texas A&M University.
Guests had the opportunity to meet several of the Texan filmmakers and actors who were able to attend and also gained a deeper understanding of the art as the filmmakers helped to introduce their film. One of the selected films, No Control created by Texas A&M students, was created after the student filmmakers were inspired by their attendance at Red Wasp Film Festival a couple years ago. The films shown included animated and short narrative films with themes of inclusion, friendship, lost love, breaking stereotypes, responsibility, and much more. The festival concluded with an awards ceremony highlighting winners for Best of Festival, One to Watch, and Audience Favorite, and featuring a trophy created by local metal artist John McGee. This year’s 2018 Red Wasp Film Festival winners are:
- AUDIENCE FAVORITE: Cuerdas by Pedro Solis Garcia of Spain
- ONE TO WATCH: Guest Room by Joshua Tate of California
- BEST OF FESTIVAL: Cuerdas by Pedro Solis Garcia of Spain
The Arts Council thanks the Nina Astin Winkler Trust, Downtown Bryan Association, City of Bryan, Texas Film Commission, David Gilbert, McKesson Foundation, Conlee & Conlee LLC, and Community Now for their generous support of the festival. The Arts Council looks forward to seeing you at the 2019 Red Wasp Film Festival, date to be announced. For more information about the festival or to view event photos, visit The Arts Council website at www.acbv.org.
