Deep in the Heart Film Festival

Waco’s Deep in the Heart FF 2023 announces filmmaker award winners and a new indie name going forward

By John Wildman 3 years ago

Regarding the festival’s name change, Co-Founders and Co-Directors Louis Hunter and Samuel Thomas, said, “For seven years, this film festival, our filmmakers, and this city exemplify the spirit of independence by every definition of the word. Calling ourselves, The Waco Independent Film Festival simply puts an emphatic stamp on what we are, what we celebrate, and how our filmmakers approach making their films.” Hunter and Thomas added, “Our award-winning films this year could not have been better examples of that spirit, that energy, and the specific exuberant joy that comes from creating and making film independently, then sharing it with an audience that fully appreciates it.”

Waco’s Deep in the Heart FF celebrates DAZED AND CONFUSED and honors Jason London

By John Wildman 3 years ago

Deep in the Heart FF co-founders and directors Samuel Thomas and Louis Hunter, said, “We could not be more thrilled to add this weekend-long celebration of such an influential film shot here in Texas to what was already a jam-packed festival of great films and events. Having Jason London here to accept our Chisholm Trailblazer Award, headline our Opening Night Red Carpet and participate in what is sure to be a very entertaining conversation about the making of the film and his career is just so much icing on the cake. Each year, we have tried to add something new and special for our film fans to enjoy, and what could be better than this?”

Waco’s Deep in the Heart FF 2023 grows, expands indie features lineup for this month’s fest

By John Wildman 3 years ago

The Deep in the Heart Film Festival announced the film and events lineup for its 7th edition, which will combine in-theater screenings July 20-23, followed by an online encore July 24-30. Deep in the Heart FF will kick things off with an Opening Night presentation of Dawn Mikkelson and Keri Pickett’s film festival sensation Finding Her Beat, and Anna Baumgarten’s decorated drama Disfluency will be the Closing Night selection. The festival will also present a special multi-media screening and performance of Greg Brownderville and Bart Weiss’ critically acclaimed Southern Gothic shaggy dog story Fire Bones, and a Friday Night Spotlight screening of Thaddeus D. Matula’s inspiring documentary Into the Spotlight.

“Waco is Made for Movies” : Deep in the Heart Film Festival 2022 proves Waco is Made for Red Carpets

By John Wildman 4 years ago

Waco’s Deep in the Heart Film Festival kicked off it’s 6th edition with a blowout pre-screening reception at Anthem Stories with filmmakers representing more than 40 of the films screening that weekend in attendance. Deep in the Heart doubled down on its commitment to the art and importance of short films by dedicating its Opening Night slot to a curated collection of shorts, and immediately offered up evidence as to why MovieMaker Magazine included it in his year’s list of Best Film Festivals for First-time Filmmakers. This year’s theme was “Waco is Made for Movies” and the Opening Night Red Carpet entrances which included two network affiliates on the press line certainly put the spotlight on that idea.

Justin Wang Powell’s FALLING SPARROW is an indie-budgeted debut film short that also happens to be a martial arts epic

By Luke Y. Thompson 5 years ago

Justin Wang Powell’s “Falling Sparrow”, which recently won a Special Jury Award at Waco’s Deep in the Heart Film Festival, offers something one doesn’t expect to see in a film festival short. Elaborately choreographed martial arts…to the death. And that’s not the only unexpected aspect. It begins in what could easily be the Old West, albeit one where a menacing man in samurai shoulder armor shows up to retrieve a family sword and is rebuffed. Years pass, but at first it seems like centuries, as the action cuts to a modern MMA gym. But no…the time period was always modern, and the man now has the sword, and runs the gym. But his niece is grown up, and she has no qualms about bloody vengeance for all that has transpired in the meantime.

Paolo Mancini and Daniel Watchorn’s Bloodshed Deliver Scares for 2021 Deep in the Heart FF’s Horror Shorts Program with scares, dread, and some fresh talent

By Luke Y. Thompson 5 years ago

Ever since the likes of Saw, Mama, and Lights Out went from being short films to high-profile features, filmmakers and fans have increasingly seen the potential for horror shorts to create interest in longer versions. Who knows when Guillermo del Toro will next be on YouTube, deciding he wants to pay for 80 more minutes of the nifty, scary video he just watched? Numerous horror shorts in the Deep in the Heart film festival appear to have this in mind, leaving the viewer either wanting further explanation, or just more time with the same great premise. Indeed, when the entire shorts program ended, I was not ready, and wanted it to keep going. Considering that so much studio horror feels lethargic at present, it’s a blast to be energized by the scares of the likely next generation.

Chris White’s Electric Jesus leads Deep in the Heart FF 2021 — wraps banner edition of fest and celebrates with filmmaker awards presentations

By John Wildman 5 years ago

“We like to say that we bring the world to Waco, but with the Deep in the Heart online encore, Waco reaches out to the world,” said, Thomas. “For us, the combination of in-person and online events is so important to the success of the festival. Not only are we able to meet our communities where they are, it enables us to enlarge our footprint in the festival landscape,” added Hunter.

Chris White’s Electric Jesus Opens Waco’s Deep in the Heart Film Festival 2021 returns to theaters in July with VINYL NATION and its special themed shorts programs

By John Wildman 5 years ago

Deep in the Heart FF co-founders and directors Samuel Thomas and Louis Hunter, said, “Last year was an important step in our film festival’s continued growth as this city and area’s primary presentation of new film discoveries, but it will be incredibly exciting and fulfilling to welcome film fans back into the theater and give our filmmakers that interaction with audiences that is so vital to their development as artists.

Maverick Moore’s MY DINNER WITH WERNER knowingly, and lovingly spoofs Werner Herzog and Klaus Kinski

By Luke Y. Thompson 5 years ago

Our goal from the beginning was for the film to be a good time at the movies – whether or not you catch the references. We wanted it to be fun for everyone – both for folks familiar with Herzog and Kinski, and for folks that have no clue who they are. So, it was very important that the movie would be understandable to all audiences.