July 17, 2026 Friday Forum: Waco Indie Special

By Molly-Jo Tilton,

Published July 17, 2026 at 12:01 PM CDT

Here’s what’s coming up on Friday Forum for the week of July 17, 2026. Check back later today for updated story links and audio.

This weekend, Waco Independent Film Festival – or Waco Indie – is celebrating its tenth year running with its biggest festival yet! The festival is taking over downtown Waco, with four film venues, nightly parties and almost 140 short and feature length films. The celebrations kicked off Thursday night with the red carpet and continue through Sunday.

As media partners for the festival, we’re celebrating by bringing you a taste of some of the films you might get to see this weekend. You can find a schedule of events and buy tickets to film blocks here.

Handmade Future makes its Texas debut, a homecoming for filmmakers Kirsten and Brandon Dickerson.

Handmade Future, a film documenting artisan craft in six countries, debuts Saturday at 5:30 pm at the Waco Civic Theatre. Kirsten and Brandon Dickerson joined Friday Forum to talk about the film.

College Shorts 101 features everything from Scooby-Doo inspired music videos to dramas to family comedies.

This year, eight music videos were selected to be shown at Waco Indie, and they have their own awards category. One of the music videos nominated, Molly Drove my Car, is featured in the College Shorts 101 block.

Molly Drove my Car music video draws inspiration from Scooby-Doo, filmmaker said.

Also featured in the College Shorts 101 block, which plays Saturday at 11 am at the Performing Arts Community Center, is Yer Smackin. Filmmaker John Field Brown shared some of his inspiration for the. family comedy.

'Yer Smackin pays homage to sibling relationships, despite distance.

Filmmakers return to produce film in Waco after winning Film Production Grant.

Waco Indie doesn't just highlight completed films - they also host an annual screenplay competition and the winners receive a production grant to return to Waco. This allows them to film and produce their work right here in town.

Last year, the grant went to Keaton Morris-Stan for the script "Gorgeous as you Are." Keaton and her director, Nancy Nagrant, joined Friday Forum to talk about their film which will be shot in Waco this September.

Hip Hop Architecture Camp makes first Waco stop

This week, dozens of middle school students in Waco are spending their summer designing buildings, creating 3D models and eventually writing rap lyrics about them.

Our team was there Tuesday.

Hip Hop Architecture Camp Makes first Waco stop

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