By John Dobberstein, Editor
Broken Arrow plans to take another step toward becoming a fine arts destination as the city is proposing to create and host a film festival and convention next year.
The city is being asked to contribute $50,000 toward the startup costs for establishing the Broken Arrow Film Festival & Convention in 2026. The request comes from BA Film Festival LLC, which was formed this month and is registered to Brad Heath of Jenks.
Heath is a writer and producer for Bricktown Films in Oklahoma City and owner of Brat Legacy Films in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Brad has worked on projects such as Reservation Dogs, Delivery Fee and The Kiamichi Project. As a writer Heath has completed scripts for several features including 48 Hours in Atoka, which was recently an official selection in the Tokyo Horror Film Festival, Zoo Heist, With Great Speed, The Last American Witch andWar Ball.
The proposed event would take place in early October at the Regal Warren Theater and the Stony Creek Hotel and Conference Center, which is where Ron Perlman, Julie Benz and other Hollywood stars filmed the movie “Horrified” last August.
BA Film Festival would be responsible for planning, managing and executing the event, including programming, venue coordination, screening operations, convention floor logistics, marketing/promotion, equipment rental and technical operations, awards and ceremonies, and staffing.
The city would not provide in-kind services, staffing, security or equipment. The contract requires Broken Arrow Film Festival LLC to form an advisory committee to provide input on programming, marketing and community engagement to include the city’s tourism manager, and the Visit Broken Arrow marketing and communications coordinator.
The proposed event would include both a film festival and a film convention, inviting filmmakers, vendors and industry professionals from across Oklahoma and the surrounding region.
The Broken Arrow Film Festival and Convention is intended to become an annual event.
With the recent implementation of the city’s film incentive program and the subsequent attention Broken Arrow has been receiving within the Oklahoma film industry, city officials believe there’s an opportunity to position Broken Arrow as a leader in supporting the industry.
The event has the potential to enhance cultural offerings in Broken Arrow, draw visitors to the community, generate hotel stays, and contribute to positioning the city as a destination for arts and film in the region, city officials said.
If the startup costs are approved, the Broken Arrow Film Festival and Convention would join a long list of existing film festivals in the Tulsa metro, including the Circle Cinema 918 Film Festival, Twisted Arts, Tulsa Underground Film Festival, Tulsa American Film Festival and Greenwood Film Festival.
Broken Arrow has already getting noticed as a film and entertainment destination due to Horrified being filmed here and Kristin Chenoweth’s Broadway Bootcamp, which celebrated its 10th anniversary this year.
Another organization, Live Like That Movie LLC, recently submitted a film incentive application for a production to be filmed partially in Broken Arrow. and is seeking pre-approval for a film rebate. The feature film with a $6.6 million budget would be filmed between Nov. 10 and Dec. 17, including 7 days in Broken Arrow.
The city also has a growing list of cultural destinations — including the 12,500-seat Sunset Amphitheater expected to open next year, Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center, Broken Arrow Community Playhouse, Brown-Kimbrough Center for the Creative Arts and The Museum Broken Arrow.
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