• Red Wasp Best Screenplay Award: Hotel School by Robert Kirschten.
• Red Wasp Best Film Award: The Christmas Conspiracy by Jennifer Clary and Kevin Haberer.
• Red Wasp Audience Favorite Award: Forgotten Lives by Jeff Garrison-Tate and Josh Tate.
• Red Wasp One to Watch Award: Bad Timing by Keller Davis.
• Red Wasp Most Entertaining Award: Do You by Gordon S. Williams.
• Red Wasp Social Awareness Award: Forgotten Lives by Jeff Garrison-Tate and Josh Tate.

Artist Theodora Saladino Krc created the Red Wasp Best Film trophy presented to Jennifer Clary and Kevin Haberer, and Square One, Art979, and Caffe Capri donated bottles of wine and gift certificates for the other prizes. The festival, which was attended by over 180 people, screened fourteen films that were entered in a competition for festival prizes. The Brazos Valley Rak Ensemble opened the festival on Friday with two dances. After the awards were presented on Saturday evening, Austin-based Ovnio Films closed the festival with “The Making of Unsmokin’ Drake,” a presentation that included clips and a discussion about Unsmokin’ Drake, a work-in-progress that was filmed on location in Bryan, TX.

Carol and Craig Conlee started the Red Wasp Film Festival in 2003 at the 7F Lodge in Wellborn. After battling the red wasps at 7F Lodge, Carol decided to make peace with the insects by naming the independent film festival after them, thus transforming the familiar insect into the festival’s namesake. In 2006, Brazos Progressives began helping the Conlees organize the Red Wasp Film Festival so that the festival could continue after they moved to Mason, TX. That same year, the festival moved to Conlee Auctions in downtown Bryan, where it was held for two years. This is the second year that the festival was held at StageCenter.

The 7^th Annual Red Wasp Film Festival was sponsored by Revolution Cafe & Bar; the Texas Film Commission; Texas State Optical of Bryan, G.D. Phillips, O.D.; Third Eye Productions; Stearns Design-Build; Caffe Capri; As You Wish; Captured Moments Portraitart & Photography; Daniela Weaver Photography; K. Norwood Portraiture; Essence Photography; Lancaster Capital; Web Unlimited; The Creative Space; The Internal Medicine Center, Elizabeth C. Berigan, M.D.; All Things Spiritual, Teri A. Massengale, M.-Div.; Brazos Natural Foods; Earth Art; Square One Bistro; Madden’s Casual Gourmet; Art979; Village Cafe; Jenn Atkins, Certified Nutritional Consultant; KEOS; and the Arts Council of Brazos Valley.

Brazos Progressives looks forward to future film festivals, as the organization continues to promote art and independent film as an integral part our community. For a complete list of films screened at this year’s Red Wasp Film festival, visit redwasp.org. For more about Brazos Progressives, visit brazosprogressives.org.

For a PDF of this press release, click here.

You can download a PDF of the festival program 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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!