Boomtown Film Fest breaks record, honors O'Brien Stanley

Beaumont's long-running film festival celebrates 18th year with packed screenings and awards ceremony

Feb. 22, 2026 at 7:11pm

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The 18th annual Boomtown Film and Music Festival in Beaumont, Texas broke records for entries in its 48-Hour Film Race and honored longtime Lamar University film professor O'Brien Stanley with a lifetime achievement award. The three-day festival featured screenings of documentaries, narrative shorts and features, animations, music videos, and student films, as well as workshops and discussions with industry professionals.

Why it matters

The Boomtown Film and Music Festival has become a cornerstone event for the arts and film community in Southeast Texas, providing a platform for local and regional filmmakers to showcase their work and connect with industry experts. The festival's growth and continued success reflects the vibrant creative scene in the Beaumont area and the city's commitment to supporting the arts.

The details

The festival featured a variety of programming, including screenings of films in different categories, workshops on topics like film production and working with actors, and panel discussions with industry professionals. A highlight was the 48-Hour Film Race, which saw a record 23 teams sign up to create short films in just two days. The festival culminated in an awards ceremony where prizes were given out, including the Lifetime Achievement Award presented to O'Brien Stanley, who founded Lamar University's film program and co-created the precursor Spindletop Film Festival.

  • The 18th Boomtown Film and Music Festival took place on February 21, 2026.
  • O'Brien Stanley was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award during the festival's awards ceremony on Saturday night.

The players

O'Brien Stanley

A former Lamar University film professor who founded the school's film program in 1998 and co-created the Spindletop Film Festival in 2002.

Stephanie Marie Orta

The executive director of the Boomtown Film and Music Festival, who has led the event for the past three years.

Alfred Cervantes

The executive director of the Houston Film Commission, who spoke at the festival about Texas' growing film industry and incentive programs.

Randee Ramsey

The executive director of the Southwest Alternative Media Project, who led a workshop on film production best practices and working with crews.

Kai Jai Conner and Doug Forrest

The co-directors of the documentary film "The Melody Maids Movie", which won first place in its category at the festival.

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What they’re saying

“If you don't finish, you don't have a movie. Happy set, happy crew. When you're on a set that works well, it's like magic.”

— Randee Ramsey, Executive Director, Southwest Alternative Media Project

“My heart just did a Ninja roll, but it has been so much fun.”

— O'Brien Stanley

“Enjoy the dance of film, music and the arts in Southeast Texas.”

— O'Brien Stanley

What’s next

The Boomtown Film and Music Festival will return for its 19th edition in 2027, continuing to showcase the vibrant film and arts community in Beaumont and the surrounding region.

The takeaway

The Boomtown Film and Music Festival's record-breaking attendance and the honoring of longtime film educator O'Brien Stanley underscores Beaumont's commitment to supporting the arts and nurturing the next generation of filmmakers in Southeast Texas.