Boomtown Film & Music Festival returns

Cinema enthusiasts, filmmakers and artists will convene in downtown Beaumont for weekend filled with movies, music and more at the annual Boomtown Film & Music Festival to be held Friday, Sept. 9 through Sunday, Sept. 11 at multiple venues.

“BoomFest” is the showcase of fiercely independent films, music and more in Southeast Texas. An annual tradition for over a decade, Boomtown was forced into hiatus during the global pandemic, but 2022 marks this exciting comeback event. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear unique voices and experience truly independent art.

The festival begins with a shorts collection Sept. 9 inside the historic Jefferson Theatre (345 Fannin St.) at 6 p.m. followed by a special presentation of one of the most famous indie films ever produced, “The Room.”

This much discussed drama (and inadvertent comedy) was written, produced and directed by its lead actor, the unique Tommy Wiseau, in 2003. “Can you ever really trust anyone?” The film features “Johnny,” who is a successful banker with great respect for and dedication to the people in his life, especially his future wife Lisa. The happy-go-lucky guy sees his world fall apart when his friends begin to betray him one-by-one.

After the film, patrons are encouraged to head to Pour Brothers Brewery (585 Wall St.) to see live performances by the bands Pet Raven, Nusoul the Poet and Sweet Fighter.

Day 2 of the festival begins early at the Jefferson Theatre at 9 a.m. with the international feature, “Planted,” followed by “The Offline Playlist” at 11 a.m., Texas feature film “Lara and the Beat” at noon, Saturday shorts collection at 2:30 p.m., The Doc Block at 3 p.m., Spindletop student films at 5 p.m., 409 Film Showcase at 6 p.m. and the announcement and showing of the 48-Hour Film Race and Awards at 7 p.m.

Music gets underway at 8:15 p.m. behind the Jefferson in The Alley with the sounds by Olivia Won’t Sing and Psycho Jenni at 9:15 p.m.

The festival concludes Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. with the “Run for the Roses” staged reading at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas (500 Main St.).

Tickets are $6 on Friday, $5 on Saturday and free on Sunday.

It was 2008 when the Beaumont Film Society began holding the annual Boomtown Film & Music Festival in Beaumont. The scope of film society’s activities has expanded since then to include community meet-ups, new contests and other special events all year long.

The Boomtown Film Society is a volunteer-run nonprofit organization that’s been working to promote film making and appreciation in Southeast Texas for more than 15 years. Their mission is to promote film making and appreciation in Southeast Texas by hosting events such as screenings, contests and film festivals. The group is open to anyone who is a local writer, director, actor, producer, musician, animator, make-up artist, costumer, or just a filmmaking enthusiast or a lover of movies.

For detailed information, view boomtownfestival.com.

-Chad Cooper, Entertainment Editor