Award-winning film critic and journalist Stewart Smith will return as the emcee for the 2024 Tyler Film Festival, marking his fourth time hosting the event. (Contributed Photo)

Lights, camera, action! The City of Tyler is set to welcome film enthusiasts and creators for the 12th annual Tyler Film Festival this weekend.

Thursday through Saturday, this year’s event will be a celebration of global talent, showcasing a diverse array of films from around the world.

“We are thrilled to have 26 incredibly talented filmmakers participating in this year’s Tyler Film Fest,” said Sheridan Smith, Vice President of Marketing & Communications for Visit Tyler.

With entries from 12 filmmakers in Texas, three from across the U.S., and 11 international submissions from countries such as Serbia, Turkey, and the United Kingdom, the festival showcases a truly remarkable diversity of stories and perspectives.

“We’re excited to welcome some of these filmmakers into the Tyler community and share this special weekend of creativity, storytelling and connection,” Smith said. “It’s going to be a memorable celebration of film that bridges cultures and showcases global talent.”

Since the 2011 reopening of its home venue, Liberty Hall theater, the Tyler Film Festival is renowned for its commitment to showcasing independent films that might otherwise go unnoticed. From gripping dramas to innovative shorts, the festival promises a diverse array of films that showcase emerging talent and celebrate the art of storytelling.

“I believe it is important to keep an event like this in Tyler,” said Craig O’Daniel, Director of the Tyler Film Festival, as well as Multimedia Producer for the City of Tyler and Film Friendly Liaison. “It’s a show of support to our local filmmakers and provides a space for the audience to come and experience films from around the world. It also offers a theater-going experience that you can’t get from the larger theaters in town.”

This year’s entries span a broad spectrum, including dramas, comedies, documentaries, animated shorts, thrillers, and experimental films. The festival’s enhanced online presence through the submission platform Filmfreeway has significantly expanded its reach, allowing it to attract a greater number of global submissions.

“While we continue to proudly exhibit films from East Texas and support our local filmmakers,” O’Daniel says, “they will now have the opportunity to screen their work alongside award-winning international films as our festival continues to grow.”

Award-winning film critic and journalist Stewart Smith will return as the emcee for the 2024 Tyler Film Festival, marking his fourth time hosting the event.

This year, the festival is introducing some new elements to enrich the experience for both filmmakers and attendees. For the first time, the festival will present awards in new categories such as “Best Cinematography,” “Best Actor,” and “Best Actress,” alongside awards for the funniest film and the film with the most heart.

“It’s important to remember that filmmaking is a collaborative art form, and the director serves as the captain of a ship with many talented individuals on board,” O’Daniel said. “We believe that presenting these additional awards will make for a more inclusive awards ceremony this year.”

The festival is supported by a committee of three judges, each with extensive backgrounds in filmmaking and industry knowledge, ensuring fair and informed representation. The judges conduct a thorough screening process to select the top films and determine the awards they will receive. Following this, the panel engages in a discussion to deliberate on the top awards, further enhancing the selection process.

“Our event is significant for the arts community in Tyler. I think that showcasing these films in Tyler demonstrates to local aspiring filmmakers that you can create something that large audiences can come and enjoy on the big screen. You don’t need to be from L.A. or New York to be a filmmaker, and showing films locally illustrates that to aspiring filmmakers,” O’Daniel said.

This year, the festival’s community event will also feature a Movie Trivia game at the Liberty Hall theater, taking place during the Tyler Arts Festival on the downtown Tyler square on Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. According to O’Daniel, the festival is working on expanding to include workshops and panels in the future; however, these activities will not be available this year.

“The festival itself is a valuable networking opportunity for local filmmakers looking to connect with others in East Texas,” he said. “I recall hearing about collaborations on local projects during our reception at last year’s festival, and it was fulfilling to play a role in bringing those filmmakers together.”

The festival is not just a celebration of film but also a testament to Tyler’s growing cultural landscape. Local businesses and organizations have rallied to support the event, creating a vibrant atmosphere that extends beyond the theater. This sense of community support is further exemplified by this year’s generous donation from City of Tyler councilmember James Wynne and his wife Sharon. Their contribution has been acknowledged in all sponsor materials.

Additionally, there are opportunities for others to get involved by volunteering and supporting both the festival and the Liberty Hall theater.

“Small-town theaters are the backbone of a local arts scene,” O’Daniel said. “We are always pleased to see our community rally support behind that.”

As for any long-term goals, the film festival committee hopes to establish a film society in Tyler with the aim of organizing events such as the Tyler Film Festival and contributing to the development of film culture in East Texas. The plan includes enhancing community accessibility and engagement by increasing the number of screening times and expanding to multiple screening locations.

“Our team is dedicated to nurturing a thriving community that serves as a valuable resource for local filmmakers to showcase their work and facilitate collaboration on future projects,” O’Daniel said.

The event will take place at Liberty Hall Theatre located at  110 W. Erwin St. in Tyler. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.tylerfilmfest.com. 

Passes for individual nights cost $10, or a three-day pass costs $25. Students get in for free. College students are asked to show their student ID each night they attend the festival.

The 2024 Tyler Film Festival is sponsored by Dobbs & Porter, Sharon and James Wynne, True Vine Brewing, CBS19, Heart of Tyler, Visit Tyler and the Texas Film Commission.

True Vine Brewing is providing a special raspberry blonde ale, Reel Independent, inspired by the Tyler Film Festival. The brew will only be available at the three-day event.

Night 1

My Pencils Death – Director Diego Rotmistrovsky

THE SPRAYER – Director Farnoosh Abedi

Ofrenda – Director Tyler Garcia

HOPE – Director Volkan Girgin

Queen of Death – Directors Elise and Emily Holder

Curiosity – Director Tito Contreras

Larry McMurtry’s All My Friends Are Going to Be Strangers – Chapter 1 – Director Stephen Purvis

Pitage – Director Ali Khaledi

From Stone to Stone – Director Louie Clive Norman

Night 2

The Word – Director Rob M. Neilson

Take me to Hawkins, Texas – Director Ben Fenton

Not According to Plan – Director Anna Makeeva

I Used to Play Piano – Director Grayson Lackey

Life is Like a Play – Director Olivia Carter

Duvar Duvar / Wall, the Wall – Director Yusuf Ölmez

5/3/0 – Director Danilo Stanimirović

Bed Bugs – Directors Christopher Greening and Conner Baudier

Audience Favorite from Night 1

Night 3

A Summer’s End Poem – Director Lam Can-zhao

5:01 – Director Seth Sonnier

The Sunset of Green Snails – Director Mohammad Hasani

Victim – Director Sina Abhari

Ink – Director Ashley Worley

Titty Boy – Director Austin Ford Franklin Culp

Almost Perfect: The 99th Pitch – Director John Benjamin Terrell

First and Last – Director DeAnda Mechelle Frost

Audience Favorites from Night 2