2nd Annual Waco Family & Faith International Film Festival Returns With the Goals to Empower the Creative Spirit and Celebrate All

WACO, Texas - Dec. 7, 2020 - PRLog -- The GB Lindsey Family Charitable Fund announces today the launch of its 2^nd Annual Waco Family & Faith International Film Festival, which will be held in the Central Texas town on February 4-6, 2021. The film festival leverages the power of storytelling to inspire its community and is "dedicated to EMPOWERING the creative spirit, SERVING with heart, and CELEBRATING all!" Given the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic, the 2021 film festival will be a hybrid event showcasing films by way of an online platform and in pop-up drive-in movie theater experiences at area churches all in support of honoring the universal themes of family and faith.

"We are thrilled and so blessed to be able to present the film festival for a second year given what has been going on in world, from a global pandemic to the Black Lives Matter movement," states Dr. Tyrha M. Lindsey-Warren, Founder and Lead Producer of the Waco Family & Faith International Film Festival. "Storytelling and imagery through movies truly matter in our society. Now more than ever, we need the power of storytelling to open hearts and minds, especially when it comes to positively changing the perspectives and behaviors of how we all view each other as fellow human beings on this planet."

According to Variety.com, there are 200 million consumers within the family and faith-based community in the U.S. This consumer market is valued at $2.1 trillion. Moreover, since the beginning of this genre, faith-based movies have amassed over $2 billion dollars. The Waco Family & Faith International Film Festival continues to contribute to this genre by showcasing the voices of cinematic storytellers from around the globe. In 2020, the Waco Family & Faith International Film Festival received 1,688 film entries from 109 countries and across five continents and presented 72 films. In 2021, the film festival will present over 60 films from such countries as Spain, Vietnam, Israel, UK, and the Bahamas, to name a few.

"We continue to be blown away by the amazing support of the festival from filmmakers all around the world as well as impressed with the high quality films that have been submitted under the themes of family, faith, freedom, military, veterans and DIY," states Lindsey-Warren.

The 2021 Waco Family & Faith International Film Festival will also continue honoring individuals and organizations who are exemplars of innovation as well as good disruption in the film, entertainment industry, and the performing arts with its "Champions Award."  The 2021 class of "Champions Award" recipients will be Malcolm Goodwin, Victor Hawks, Courtney Parker and Eric Shepard.  Known for his role as "Clive Babineaux" in iZombie, Malcolm Goodwin is a highly sought after actor and film director. Mr. Goodwin has appeared in numerous television shows including – Law and Order, CSI, Bull, House of Cards, and Blue Bloods as well as such films as The American Dream, Miracle at St. Anna, and American Gangster. His business partner is Victor Hawks, a writer, producer, and co-founder of Vision Vehicle Productions. Mr. Hawks began his career as an actor and appeared on Broadway in such productions of South Pacific, Les Misérables, and Urinetown the Musical. As a writer and producer, Mr. Hawks has written and produced the movies, Pass the Light and Be the Light under the umbrella of Vision Vehicle Productions as well as has number films and TV pilots in development. Together, Mr. Goodwin and Mr. Hawks received the 2020 Grand Jury Prize for Best Feature Film by the Waco Family & Faith International Film Festival for the movie, Be the Light.

As the CEO of LostNThought Productions, Courtney Parker is a television executive and producer as well as a Hollywood writer and author. Ms. Parker's love for good storytelling has shined in the numerous productions and projects she has developed and produced, which include- Behind Every Man on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN), the Oxygen Network's Three Days To Live, TV One's Hollywood Divas, and VH1's top-rated franchise, Love & Hip Hop. As a television writer, Ms. Parker has also worked on Law & Order and Chicago Fire. As an author, she has penned over a dozen titles in the self-help, inspirational, children, and fiction categories.

Eric Shephard is the executive director of the Waco Civic Theatre (WCT). He came to WCT in 2013 after serving 13 years as artistic director of Vive Les Arts (VLA) Theatre in Killeen, Texas. Mr. Shephard had a strong track record in budget growth and increasing corporate support at VLA Theatre. At WCT, Mr. Shephard continues this work as well as brings innovative theatrical productions to the Waco community.

The sponsors for the 2021 Waco Family & Faith International Film Festival include the festival's Founding Partner, TFNB Bank Your Bank for Life. The Awards Sponsor is the
Magnolia Foundation. The 1^st Annual Celebrity Golf Classic sponsor is Greg May Honda. The Tennis Mixer sponsor is Jeff Hunter Toyota. The Gold Sponsor is Z's at the Curry. The Silver Sponsors are Pruit Memorial Symposium at Baylor University and Hat Creek Burger Co. The Bronze Star sponsors are Extraco Banks, Brazos Masonry, AARP Texas, Tru Jamaica, Marie's, and the Hilton Waco. The Media Partners are M&M Broadcasters, LTD. and KWTX-TV Ch10, CW12, and Telemundo.

The full festival schedule will be announced at the beginning of January. For additional information on how to get involved with the 2021 Waco Family & Faith International Film Festival as a sponsor, volunteer, and/or to purchase tickets, visit www.wacofilmfest.org.

ABOUT THE WACO FAMILY & FAITH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Presented by the GB Lindsey Family Charitable Fund, the Waco Family & Faith International Film Festival is a 501 (c) (3) charitable organization that honors the memory of Gloria J. Lindsey. Mrs. Lindsey was an elementary school educator for over 40 years. In her honor, the Waco Family & Faith International Film Festival passionately supports educational and artistic programs for children and young adults.

The mission for the Waco Family & Faith International Film Festival is that it is "dedicated to EMPOWERING the creative spirit, SERVING with heart, and CELEBRATING all!" Ultimately, Waco Family & Faith International Film Festival works to be able to make a global impact and change the face of storytelling and the storytellers in the film and entertainment industry. It is also the work of this festival to bring people together from all walks of life and serve them with narratives, community performances and events, educational workshops, and more, that provoke thought and feed the soul.

For more information on the Waco Family & Faith International Film Festival, visit www.wacofilmfest.org or follow @WacoFilmFest on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.