WACO, Texas - eTradeWire -- The 4^th Annual Waco Family & Faith International Film Festival will be presented in the Central Texas town on February 1-4, 2023, and is "dedicated to EMPOWERING the creative spirit, SERVING with heart, and CELEBRATING all!" The four-day film festival will feature an international competition of over 30 films, a first-ever "Pitchfest" with executives from A&E Factual Studios, an inaugural Kick-Off Concert featuring the GRAMMY Award winning band, OZOMATLI, a celebrity golf classic, a fashion show, and a marathon screening of the Emmy-Award winning Disney+ Original series "The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder," featuring an appearance from series' creator and executive producer, Bruce W. Smith, and executive producer, Ralph Farquhar; all in support of honoring the universal themes of family and faith.

"Every year, the film festival team works to leverage the power of storytelling to open hearts and minds, while bringing the Waco community together. We also work diligently to do our part to positively impact the film industry by presenting diverse voices and storytellers from around the world," states Dr. Tyrha M. Lindsey-Warren, Founder and Lead Producer of the Waco Family & Faith International Film Festival. "This year, we are presenting an exciting film festival that has something for everyone. Plus, the 2023 film festival begins setting the stage for our 5^th Anniversary in 2024!"

According to Variety.com, there are 200 million consumers within the family and faith-based community in the U.S. This consumer market is valued at $2.1 trillion. Moreover, since the beginning of this genre, faith-based movies have amassed over $2 billion+ dollars. To date, the Waco Family & Faith International Film Festival has hosted over 2,500 guests at its film festivals as well as positively impacted the economic development in the City of Waco. Moreover, at the close of the submissions phase in 2022, the Waco Family & Faith International Film Festival had received over 1800 film entries in the past three years and from over 109 countries that include the United Kingdom, Italy, India, France, Canada, Argentina, Japan, Ukraine, and Brazil, to name a few.

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"Storytelling and imagery through movies truly matter in our society, especially when it comes to positively changing the attitudes and behaviors of how we all view each other as fellow human beings on this planet," states Dr. Lindsey-Warren. "We pride ourselves in producing an empowering film festival every year that celebrates our shared humanity."

The 2023 Waco Family & Faith International Film Festival will also continue recognizing its "Champions Award" recipients. This honor is dedicated to recognizing individuals and organizations who are exemplars of innovation as well as "good disruption" in the film, performing arts, media, music, and entertainment industries. The 2023 Class of "Champions Awards" recipients are multiple award-winning animation artist, director, and producer, Bruce W. Smith, creator and executive producer of the Disney+ Original series, "The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, " and legendary television producer, Ralph Farquhar, executive producer of "The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder," Latin GRAMMY Award winner, OZOMATLI, and award-winning TV journalists, Ke'Sha Lopez and Pete Sousa, who are Co-Anchors for the morning news show on KWTX-TV/Ch.10-CBS in Waco and Central Texas.

Additional highlights of the 2023 film festival include the Waco Premieres of the films, "Tomorrow's Game," starring Paul Rodriguez; "Moving Stories," featuring New York City's acclaimed Battery Dance Company, and "What Remains," which features the last performance by famed Hollywood actress, Anne Heche. The film festival's second annual "Fashion & Style Show" returns featuring celebrity stylist, Deborah Koegnisberger, and her French inspired fashions from Noir et. Blanc Boutique in New York City. The film festival's annual "Family Day," will feature a marathon screening of "The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder," along with a special film screening by students from Waco ISD. The 3^rd Annual Celebrity Golf Classic returns featuring former NFL players from the 2022 AFC Division Champion Cincinnati Bengals- Ickey Woods, Joe Kelly, James Francis, Santana Dotson, and former Cincinnati Reds Player, Eric Davis. Finally, the film festival will kick-off with a special performance on February 1,^, 2022, at The Pavilion at the Carleen Bright Arboretum, by the GRAMMY Award winning band, OZOMATLI.

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The sponsors for the 2023 Waco Family & Faith International Film Festival include the festival's Founding Partner, TFNB Bank Your Bank for Life. The 3^rd Annual Celebrity Golf Classic sponsor is Greg May Honda. The H.O.T. Fashion & Style Show sponsor is the Waco Convention and Visitors Bureau. The Kick-Off Concert Sponsor is Pete & Michelle Groetzinger, and the Awards Sponsor is the Waco Central Texas Chapter of The Links, Inc. The Gold Star Sponsor is Creative Waco. The Silver Star Sponsors are Z's at the Curry, the City of Woodway, and Modern Texas Living Magazine. The Bronze Star Sponsors are Brazos Masonry, Extraco Banks, HEB, Marie's, Regal Cinemas, ISW Holdings, and Vision Vehicle Studios. The Community Sponsors are Uncle Nearest, Carolina Blue Cigars, Texas State Technical College, Dutch Bros. Coffee, the Texas Media Production Alliance, Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers, The Driveway Company of Waco, and Tru Jamaica Restaurant. The Media Partners are 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.

For more information on the full festival schedule for the 2023 Waco Family & Faith International Film Festival and to purchase tickets, visit www.wacofilmfest.org.