A Festival in Downtown Bryan

Red Wasp 2009 is proud to announce the sponsors for this year’s festival.  Thanks to all of the local businesses that sustain the festival over the years and make this event possible!

The screening schedule for Red Wasp 2009 is now posted! Click here for the schedule and short descriptions of each film.

(To download a PDF of this press release, click here.)

BRYAN, TX—It’s time once again to celebrate independent film in the Brazos Valley! Brazos Progressives is proud to announce the 7th Annual Red Wasp Film Festival in downtown Bryan at Stage Center (201-B W 26th St.), November 6 and 7, 2009, from 7:30 until 11:30 pm. Tickets are available at the door: $15 for one night or $25 for both nights. There is also a special student rate of $10 for one night and $15 for both nights. Concessions will be available for purchase, and there will be a cash bar staffed by Revolution.

If you’re tired of the most recent corporate offerings from big Hollywood studios, then this is an event that you don’t want to miss. The Red Wasp Film Festival attracts local filmmakers as well as artists throughout the state and the nation, and organizers expect this year’s Red Wasp to be a great success. “There is so much talent out there and too few venues,” said RWFF founder Carol Conlee. “If you make film as an artist or director or photographer, it’s hard to find a place to show your work. Festivals provide that format, and their popularity is gaining in great numbers across the country. We simply want to assist artists’ interface with the public. It’s like having a temporary electronic art gallery.”

The Red Wasp Film Festival is currently accepting submissions of independent films. Additionally, Red Wasp is accepting unproduced screenplays this year, which will be considered for the “Best Screenplay” award.

The Red Wasp Film Festival encourages viewers to interact with the filmmakers and to participate in the judging process. Audience members will be able to discuss the films with the filmmakers during “question and answer” sessions. Also, the audience will have an opportunity to vote for their favorite film, as they determine the winner of the “Audience Favorite” award.

In addition to the “Audience Favorite” and “Best Screenplay” awards, festival judges will select a “Red Wasp Best” winner for the best film overall. Local artist Theodora Saladino Krc is sculpting this year’s Red Wasp trophy, which will be presented at the festival late Saturday night.

Local Brazos Valley residents have teamed up with Brazos Progressives to ensure the RWFF’s future successes, and we encourage anyone in our community who would like to help with this event (volunteers to take tickets and help with set-up during the festival, anyone willing to help with publicity, etc.) to contact Krista May at kristamay@earthlink.net.

For more information about the Red Wasp Film Festival, including lists of past winners and sponsors, submission guidelines, and updates about the Red Wasp monthly independent film series at Village Café and Art979, visit http://redwasp.org.

Please join us as we celebrate independent film on November 6 and 7 at Stage Center. Doors will open at 7 pm both evenings. See you there!

The next monthly installment (Part 6) of Red Wasp’s Independent Film Series will be Sunday, August 23, 2009, 4-5 pm, at Village Cafe and Art979 (210 W. 26th St., across from Mr. G.’s, downtown Bryan–note the earlier time). We’ll be showing Robert Mandelberg’s “Death Row” and Zahik Rizvi’s “The River on Randolph Street.” Both of these films have some interesting twists and turns and are just under 30 minutes each.

As usual, Village Cafe will have tasty menu items available for purchase, along with coffees, teas, and lemonade. Join us for good food, drinks, and independent film!

The next monthly installment (Part 5) of Red Wasp’s Independent Film Series will be Sunday, July 26, 2009, 5-6 pm, at Village Cafe and Art979 (210 W. 26th St., across from Mr. G.’s, downtown Bryan). We’ll be showing Patrick Phillips’ “The Cost of War,” a documentary that features the stories of several local veterans. “The Cost of War” won the Red Wasp Best of Show award in 2005.

In addition to the menu items, Texas beers and wines will also be available for purchase at the bar. Join us for good food, drinks, and independent film!

The Red Wasp Film Festival committee will be meeting at Revolution (211B South Main St. in Carnegie Alley, Bryan) at 7 pm on Wed., July 15. This is a planning meeting for Red Wasp 2009. All are welcome! If you have any questions or can’t make it but would like to help with Red Wasp, please e-mail Krista.

The Red Wasp Film Festival is now seeking sponsorships for 2009. This year’s festival will be held at StageCenter on November 6 and 7, 2009. For more information about sponsoring this year, click here.

Thanks to all of the B/CS businesses that have sponsored past Red Wasp Film Festivals, and thanks to the Arts Council of Brazos Valley. Let’s make Red Wasp 2009 a success!

The next monthly installment (Part 4) of Red Wasp’s Independent Film Series will be Sunday, June 28, 5-6 pm, at Village Cafe and Art979 (210 W. 26th St., across from Mr. G.’s, downtown Bryan). We’ll be showing “selected shorts” from past festivals. Watch this space for more details about the selections.

In addition to the menu items, Texas beers and wines will also be available for purchase at the bar. Join us for good food, drinks, and independent film!

The next monthly installment of Red Wasp’s Independent Film Series will be Sunday, May 31, 3-4 pm, at Village Cafe and Art979 (210 W. 26th St., across from Mr. G.’s, downtown Bryan). We’ll be showing “Hill Country,” a documentary by Antony Cherian.

In 2006, “Hill Country” won the “One to Watch” award at the Red Wasp Film Festival. This is an interesting film that showcases the stories of families who have lived in the Hill Country for generations.

Join us for for independent film and tasty menu items from Village Cafe!