WACO, Texas - TelAve -- Earlier this month, the 7^th Annual Waco Family & Faith International Film Festival, presented by the GB Lindsey Family Charitable Fund, successfully brought its new theme of being "A Celebration of Music in Movies" to the Central Texas community. "Dedicated to EMPOWERING the creative spirit, SERVING with heart, and CELEBRATING all," this year's film festival featured an international competition of short, student, animation, and feature films, a 4^th  Annual "Pitchfest" with Hollywood executives, like Producer, Courtney Parker, and the 7^th annual celebration of "Champions Award" recipients, all with music being the driving force.

"This year, we magnificently succeeded in celebrating music in movies. From hosting GRAMMY Award winning producer, Teddy Riley, and Atlantic Records Music Executive, Tara "Brooke" St. James, to screening wonderful independent movies, like "Be the Light" and "Blood, Sweat, and Beats: The Waco Hip Hop Story" in the fabulous Listening Room at the Texas Music Café, we illuminated to our audiences how powerful music is when it comes to great storytelling," states Dr. Tyrha M. Lindsey-Warren, Founder and Lead Producer of the Waco Family & Faith International Film Festival.

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The winners of the 2026 Waco Family & Faith International Film Festival film competition included:

Grand Jury Prize for Best Feature Film: "The Kiln" (China) directed by Hai Zhang

Grand Jury Prize for Best Short Film: "If He Listened," (USA) directed by Tanzania Black

Grand Jury Prize for Best Animation Film: "Yungay" (Spain) directed by Marisa Bedoya

Grand Jury Prize for Best Student Film: "Ghost" (Russia) directed by Sasha Gromova

The 2026 Waco Family & Faith International Film Festival also continued to recognize its "Champions Award" recipients. This award is dedicated to honoring individuals and organizations who are exemplars of innovation as well as "good disruption" in the film, performing arts, media, music, sports, and entertainment industries. The 2026 Class of "Champions Awards" recipients were Chris Ermoian, Executive Director for Texas Music Cafe, Endyia Kinney-Sterns, CEO of All Things Media and Head of Audience Development for KERA, and GRAMMY Award winning Producer, Musician, and Author, Teddy Riley.

The sponsors for the 2026 Waco Family & Faith International Film Festival include the festival's Founding Partner, TFNB Bank Your Bank for Life. The Gold Star Sponsor is Creative Waco. The Silver Star sponsor is the Afshar Law Film. Bronze Star sponsors are Extraco Banks and Lost-n-Thought Productions. Community Sponsors include Walker Partners, Texas State Technical College, and the Texas Media Production Alliance. The Awards Sponsor is MARIE'S Wine Bar. The Host Hotel is the AC Hotel Waco. The Media Partners are Tap in Texas with DJ Precyse, KWTX-TV, The CW, and Telemundo as well as Prophecy Media Group, which includes radio stations LEY 104.1, Latino 93.5, POWER 108FM, Classic Rock 106.7.

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For more information on the 2026 Waco Family & Faith International Film Festival, visit www.wacofilmfest.org.