Film Club featuring Wayne Smith III

The Civic Saturday Akron fellows are so excited to have guest filmmaker Wayne Smith III join us this month for film club! We'll be screening two of Wayne's short films, and getting a sneak peek at a mystery project!

Wayne’s body of work centers narrative storytelling, exploring themes of identity, community, science fiction, history, the Black experience, disability, loss, and surrealism. His films are deeply human, thoughtful, and grounded in lived experience.

On FRIDAY, January 23rd, we'll see:

• Max Gains (2023) - A Dark Comedy about the trust we blindly outsource to others in pursuit of self improvement | Featured Selection: 48 Hour Horror Film Festival & YCR a Night at the Pictures - 8 minutes. 
• No Two Flowers (2024) - An immersive documentary about masculinity, disability and how these concepts relate to nature | Featured Selection: Ingenuity Festival 2023 & Borderlight Fringe Theater Festival 2024 - 18 minutes.
• Untitled Mystery Project (2025) - A Rough cut of an experimental documentary Opus, dealing with Cleveland, Art, & the DIY Scene - featuring many local talents - 22 minutes.

Hang out after the films for conversation and Q+A with Wayne, who will share insights into his creative process and artistic journey.

Come watch, reflect, and engage in an evening of powerful, independent film and community dialogue.

7pm- Doors open

7:30pm- Showtime

Popcorn, candy and soft drinks provided. Feel free to bring any food/snacks and BYOB.

The location is a former church building on the corner of W. Market St. and N. Rose Blvd. There is a parking lot around back and free street parking on most surrounding streets.

All are welcome!

If you have accessibility needs or require an accommodation/service to participate, please contact Kristy Clark at kristyclark1@gmail.com.

See you there friends!