The Reel Stories 2023 event presented by Art Center Waco, Creative Waco and Waco Independent Film Festival kicks off tonight at the Hurd Welcome Center at 6:30.
The free, four-night event features four documentaries, art exhibits, live performances and guided conversations with professors, historians, and storytellers.
LOUIS HUNTER: “The purpose of Reel Stories for us is to find stories that we feel like will inspire our community and inspire change. So each of these films have a different message. These messages go from getting involved into groups, activities and clubs, all the way to finding out more about the life and legacy of people that have lived in Waco.”
Louis Hunter, the Operations Director for the Waco Independent Film Festival, is the curator of the event. He tells me that events like Reel Stories are essential to a healthy, thriving community.
LOUIS: “Having an event like this is important to our community because it helps build that community, right? Good, healthy, strong communities have events that bring people together and that offer opportunities to celebrate. But not only that, they offer opportunities to understand each other better.”
The documentaries shown will cover a range of topics including wildlife conservation, social justice, racism, and human connection.
LOUIS: “These things that are happening in this film, not only happen in this film but they happen next door, they happen in our backyard. How can we work together to make our neighborhood better?”
After tonight's showing, the remainder of the event will be hosted at Art Center Waco, Thursday through Saturday.
The center is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and will have special exhibits on display for the public, showcasing artists like Greg Davis, Ty Nathan Clark, Kermit Oliver and Flip Kimmel.
LOUIS: “It is so rewarding to be a part of that. To be part of the people that get to bring folks together, to get to know each other, to learn about each other, to talk and collaborate. It’s an exciting time to be in Waco.”
To RSVP you can visit reelstorieswaco23.eventive.org.
For 103.3 Waco Public Radio, I’m Autumn Jones.