Chinwe Okorie

Join award-winning filmmaker Chinwe Okorie—twice nominated for Best Austin Filmmaker by the Austin Chronicle—for Paint the Reel, a free, drop-in analog film workshop celebrating family, joy, and creative play. Inspired by Chinwe’s new short film Cycles—which explores grief and the bond between father and daughter—this unique event invites participants of all ages to paint directly onto 16mm film strips, transforming personal stories into a collective, experimental film. Each guest will receive a digitized version of the collaborative reel, capturing a moving portrait of community connection, frame by frame.

This hands-on workshop is hosted in partnership with Austin School of Film, a hub for analog film and storytelling rooted in an artist-centered ethos that supports experimentation and underrepresented voices in media arts.

As part of The Canopy’s Monthly Open Canopy, a vibrant community art day—this event will take place at our 1228 sq ft Black Box Studio at CINEMAKER, Austin’s only unlimited-access creative studio program designed for indie artists, small businesses & filmmakers in Texas!

The workshop will be led by our Executive Director & Experimental Media Artist Faiza Kracheni, known for her bold exploration of non-narrative and hand-developed film works.

Why this matters: Chinwe’s partnership with Austin School of Film reflects our shared commitment to providing accessible film experiences that celebrate identity, family, and joy.

No RSVP is required—just drop in, paint, and connect!
Family friendly ~ All ages welcome.

This project is presented in partnership with Austin School of Film, CINEMAKER, and supported in part by the City of Austin Economic Development Department.