El Paso Welcomes Director Kevin Smith To The El Paso Film Fest

El Paso, get ready: one of the most beloved, genre-defying filmmakers in indie cinema is making his way to the Sun City. Kevin Smith, the writer, director, and undeniable force behind cult classics like Clerks, Mallrats, and Dogma, is coming to the El Paso Film Festival. For anyone who’s ever quoted Jay and Silent Bob at a party, this is basically a cinematic homecoming.

The Films That Changed Everything

Kevin Smith burst onto the scene in 1994 with Clerks, a black-and-white, ultra-low-budget film shot in the convenience store where he worked. It was crude, hilarious, philosophical, and deeply human. Clerks didn’t just launch a franchise. It launched a new era of indie filmmaking. Mallrats followed, and while it didn’t hit as hard at the box office initially, it found its cult following on VHS and cable, making trench coats and food court rants the stuff of legend.

Then came Chasing Amy, Dogma, and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. Each film added new depth and dimension to his View Askewniverse while keeping the humor raw, the monologues razor-sharp, and the heart always beating just beneath the chaos.

Beyond the Laughs: Horror, Thrillers, and Risk-Taking

While many know Smith for his slacker comedies and stoner saints, his range as a filmmaker goes far beyond Quick Stop’s front counter. With Red State, Smith stunned audiences by delivering a tense, disturbing thriller about religious extremism in America. It was a film that showed he could do horror just as deftly as he does humor.

Then came Tusk, a grotesque, Cronenberg-esque body horror film that left viewers either fascinated or deeply disturbed (or both). And while it may have been one of his most divisive films, it proved one thing definitively: Kevin Smith is never afraid to take big swings.

A Champion for Indie Film. And Now, An El Paso Guest

Kevin Smith isn’t just a director. He’s a community builder, a podcast empire founder, a comic book writer, a passionate speaker, and a walking masterclass in turning creativity into career. He’s one of the few who’s stayed true to his DIY roots while still adapting, evolving, and mentoring a new generation of storytellers.

For him to show up in El Paso, a city rapidly carving out its own spot on the film industry’s radar, is no small deal. It’s validation. It’s momentum. It’s a love letter back to a city full of creators, misfits, and dreamers who’ve been putting in the work, just like he did back in Jersey in the '90s.

So whether you're a diehard fan or just discovering the brilliance of Clerks and Tusk, now's the time to celebrate. Kevin Smith is coming to El Paso, and that means something big is brewing for the local film scene.

READ MORE: THE STAR STUDDED LINEUP FOR EL PASO FILM FESTIVAL

One Night Only: An Evening with Kevin Smith at the Plaza Theatre

This isn’t just a casual drop-in. Kevin Smith is the featured guest for a special one-night-only event: An Evening with Kevin Smith, happening Thursday, September 25 at the historic Plaza Theatre in downtown El Paso. Doors open at 7:00 PM, and if you’ve ever wanted to hear the man himself break down his career, riff on pop culture, or share behind-the-scenes stories only he can tell, this is the moment.

The El Paso Film Festival, now in its eighth year, continues to champion independent filmmaking and cross-cultural storytelling. Essential values that align perfectly with Kevin Smith’s own legacy. The festival has been named one of MovieMaker Magazine’s 50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee for two years running, and has earned a spot among the Coolest Film Festivals in the World.

This isn’t just a celebration of Kevin Smith. It’s a celebration of how far El Paso has come as a creative force in the film world. And it’s only getting better from here.

Snooch to the nooch, y’all. This one’s for the movie nerds.