Reel Wonder · Dec 9–10

Chapter Three · Black Cinema & Fantasy · Reel Wonder December 9 – 10, 2026 · A Historical Theatre, Jacksonville
Chapter Three · Black Cinema & Fantasy

Reel Wonder

Dec 9 – 10, 2026 · A Historical Theatre · Jacksonville

The season’s finale. Reel Wonder centers Black cinema, fantasy, and the imagination — closing the residency with the work, the voices, and the awards that send the year home.

Programming

Two days.
Themed shorts blocks.
Awards on closing night.

Reel Wonder programs Black cinema, fantasy, magic realism, mythology, and world-build — a chapter that honors Black voices in genre filmmaking alongside the broader language of imagination, closing the inaugural season with the championship awards block.

  • 8+ curated short films at a target twenty-minute run time
  • Themed blocks distributed across two programming days
  • Moderated filmmaker Q&A after every block
  • Lobby mixer between blocks · doors open early
  • Awards presented at the close of the final block
The blocks (working titles)

How the weekend unfolds.

Friday · Block I

World-Build

Cinema that builds entire worlds in twenty minutes — and earns the time.

Friday · Block II

Wonder

Films that remember why we loved this medium in the first place.

Saturday · Block III

Myth

Old stories, new images. The form-language of legend, retold.

Saturday · Block IV

Closing Magic + Awards

The season’s final block, closing with the Reel Wonder awards.

Block sequencing and final lineup locked by Lumina programming three weeks before the weekend.

FilmFreeway · Reel Seasons 2026

Submit to Reel Wonder.

Submissions are open now. Early Bird closes June 30 · Regular Deadline July 31 · Final close September 20. All three chapters accept submissions through one FilmFreeway listing.