New Independent Film Festival in Central Texas That is Dedicated to Empowering the Creative Spirit and Celebrating the Community Will Kick-Off its 5th Anniversary With An All-Star Celebration Honoring Entertainment Industry Notables and Community Heroes with its "Champions Award Celebration Gala" on February 15, 2024

WACO, Texas - May 22, 2023 - PRLog -- The Waco Family & Faith International Film Festival announces today that it will celebrate its 5^th Anniversary in 2024 by honoring all of its "Champions Award" recipients from the past 5 years. With its mission of being "dedicated to EMPOWERING the creative spirit, SERVING with heart, and CELEBRATING all," every year, the Waco Family & Faith International Film Festival recognizes a class of "Champions Award" recipients who are exemplars of innovation and "good" disruption in TV, film, the performing arts, music, media, and entertainment industries. Next year during the 5^th Anniversary film festival taking place February 15-17, 2024, TV's the "Legends of Hercules" Star, Kevin Sorbo, a 2020 inaugural recipient, will lead a black-tie gala celebration of five years of honorees and include the following-

2024 "Champions Award Celebration Gala"
2020 Inaugural Recipients-
-Gina Neely, TV Personality, The Food Network's "Down Home with the Neelys" and Author
-Sam Sorbo, Acclaimed Actor and Model
-David Littlewood, President, TFNB Bank Your Bank for Life
-Kevin Sorbo, Acclaimed Actor and Director, Best known for starring as "Hercules" in the acclaimed "Legends of Hercules" TV series

2021 Recipients-
-Courtney Parker, Hollywood Producer and Executive for A&E Networks as well as an Acclaimed Best-Selling Author
-Eric Shepard, Executive Director, Waco Civic Theater
-Victor Hawks, TV/Film Producer and Director, Co-Founder of Vision Vehicle Studios
-Malcolm Goodwin, Award-winning Actor, Film Director, and Co-Founder of Vision Vehicle Studios

2022 Recipients-
-Ann Harder, Veteran Waco TV Anchor and Host of "Central Texas Living" Podcast
-Deborah Koenigsberger, NYC Celebrity Fashion Stylist and Founder of Hearts of Gold
-Vivian Scott Chew, Famed Music Executive and Film Producer
-Ray Chew, Music Director for ABC's "Dancing with the Stars"
-John Schneider, Actor, Producer, and Best known for his roles in the hit TV series, "Dukes of Hazzard," and Tyler Perry's "The Haves and Have Nots"

2023 Recipients-
-Ralph Farquhar, Legendary TV Producer of HAPPY DAYS, MARRIED WITH CHILDREN
-Bruce Smith, Award-winning Disney Animator and Director
-Ke'Sha Lopez, Waco TV Anchor, KWTX-TV (CBS Affiliate)
-Pete Sousa, Waco TV Anchor, KWTX-TV (CBS Affiliate)
-OZOMATLI, GRAMMY Award Winning Band

2024 Newest Recipients-
-Geena Davis, Academy Award Winning Actress
-Alton Fitzgerald White, Broadway Star of MISS SAIGON, THE LION KING, etc.
-Jawn Murray, Executive Producer, The Sherri Shepard Show (national syndicated talk show)
-Rev. Carl Stimpson, Waco Radio Host, 94.5FM/THE BEAT
-Jason Lavender, SVP, TFNB Bank Your Bank for Life

The 2024 "Champions Award Celebration Gala" Honorary Co-Chairs are
-David Littlewood, President, TFNB Bank Your Bank for Life
-Lenny Cabellero, Professor at the University of Pisa (Italy)
-Sheila Eldridge, President & CEO, Miles Ahead Entertainment
-Matthew Faraci, Producer, DOVE Channel
-Ann Harder, Veteran Waco TV Anchor and Host of "Central Texas Living" Podcast
-Jocelyn Williams, Director of the Center of Business Excellence, Cen-Tex African American Chamber of Commerce

The dates for the 5^th Anniversary of the Waco Family & Faith International Film Festival are February 15-17, 2024. GRAMMY Award winning band, OZOMATLI, has also been confirmed to perform at the Closing Night Party.

"I am over the moon with anticipation to see all of our 'Champions Award' recipients in one room next year," states Dr. Tyrha M. Lindsey-Warren, Founder and Lead Producer of the Waco Family & Faith International Film Festival. "The festival team has worked so hard over the past four years to deliver a high-quality film festival that celebrates our community as well as opens hearts and minds. Next year, we will celebrate our 5th Anniversary in grand style!"

The sponsors for the 5^th Annual Waco Family & Faith International Film Festival include the festival's Founding Partner, TFNB Bank Your Bank for Life. Gold Star Sponsor, Creative Waco. The 4^th Annual Celebrity Golf Classic sponsor is Greg May Honda. The 3^rd Annual H.O.T. Style & Fashion Show sponsor is the Waco Convention & Visitors Bureau. The Media Partners are KWTX-TV Ch10/CBS, CW12, Telemundo and Prophecy Media Group, which owns radio stations, Power 108 FM, and La Ley 104.1 FM.

For more information on the film festival, visit WacoFilmFest.org.

ABOUT THE WACO FAMILY & FAITH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
The Waco Family & Faith International Film Festival is presented by the GB Lindsey Family Charitable Fund, which 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 cultural 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, the 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, educational workshops, and more, that open hearts and minds as well as feeds the soul.

For more information on the Waco Family & Faith International Film Festival, visit www.WacoFilmFest.org as well as on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.