When did the Red Wasp Film Festival begin?
The Red Wasp Film Festival began in 2003. Founders Carol and Craig Conlee first held the festival at 7F Lodge in Wellborn, TX. In 2006, Brazos Progressives partnered with Carol and Craig, and the festival moved to Conlee Auctions in downtown Bryan, TX, and 2008 was the first year that it was held at StageCenter. Where did the name come from? Carol Conlee came up with that. When she and her husband Craig started the festival, they owned 7F Lodge (B&B in Wellborn). The first festivals were held out there, and it was in the spring. During the spring, the red wasps would return in droves (annoying some of the guests), so Carol just decided to make the “pesky” wasps part of the festival. It was one of her ways of making peace with her surroundings. She swears that although the wasps are still present in the environment during the spring they don’t bother her any more. So apparently the strategy worked Past winners of the festival: 2009: • Red Wasp Best Film: The Christmas Conspiracy by Jenn
