Community Media Excellence—2026 Festival & Uplifiting Creators
More Than TV: Magic
At WPAA-TV, we often say that community media is a stage, but the true magic lies in the storytellers who step onto it. Since our inception but especially in the past decade, our station has participated in national and regional Alliance for Community Media video festivals to showcase the incredible advocacy and artistry happening right here in Wallingford.
While we look forward to the national recognition event on June 24 in Madison, WI, the true victory lies in our history of independent producers and youth creators who make this station a community landmark.
A Legacy of Independent Voices
Our status as an award-winning station is built on the shoulders of independent producers who have called WPAA-TV home for years, in addition to our Team Hercules part-time staff and volunteers:
Georgian Lussier: For nine years, Georgian has produced and hosted Midlife Matters, a series centered on transformational womens’ stories shared in conversation. Her work has been recognized regularly, proving that conversation at any age matters and women have wisdom & wit.
Mike Schleif: A creative force from Space Cub Studio, Mike contributed regularly for two years, exploring story and animation. His work ranged from the full-length animated feature The Space Bears – The Movie to instructional programming about Chinese culture created alongside his daughter.
Mark Houde: Our latest featured producer, Mark’s three-month visual journal, The Magic of Mackenzie, represents the high technical quality and deep sense of place that defines our current submission cycle.
When Students Meet the Masters: #TeenTigerTV
The 2026 festival submissions also highlight a beautiful synergy between our veteran producers and our youth program. One of our standout selections is an episode of the #TeentigerTV profile talk show, The Meet, where student producers sat down with Mark Houde to discuss his journey capturing the flora and fauna of the Mackenzie Reservoir.
This crossover is exactly what WPAA-TV stands for: a space where a student can interview an expert, and both works can be recognized on a national stage. It’s why we invest 15% to 20% of our #greatGIVE06492 revenue (approximately $700) to underwrite these festival fees—ensuring that “What We Do Together” remains our winning formula.
“With all its innocence, flaws, and growth apparent to us who experienced it with the young people, I am proud to have been part of this #TeenTigerTV Profile Interview: ‘The Meet’: Photographer Mark Houde’.”
The Festival Process
The 2026 submissions emerged under the theme “From The Heart,” a motif discovered organically through the collective works of youth, staff, and independent creators. You can view the history of these emerging themes on the station’s Annual Report Videos page.
Building on a decade of award-winning storytelling, the WPAA-TV and Community Media Center Governing Board recently completed its review of 21 candidate videos produced or cablecast in the prior calendar year. From this pool, a curated selection was chosen to represent Wallingford at the Hometown Media Awards. Categories such as festival categories such as About Access, Community Events, Children’s Programs, Community Meeting Coverage, Democracy In Action, Arts, Talk Shows, represent public, education and government televsion
Featured Submission: The Magic of Mackenzie
A primary highlight of this year’s submission list is “The Magic of Mackenzie,” entered into the newly established Parks & Recreation category. This 50-minute visual journal by ecological photographer Mark Houde captures the serene beauty of the Mackenzie Reservoir (Pine River Reservoir). For complete details and convenient on-demand viewing go here.
“It was selected for its incredible technical quality and its ability to connect residents with the local nature we depend on daily, and I think more people should see it.” Jeff Kohan with affirmation by the Board.
Youth and Community Partnerships
The Board’s final selection list also highlights the diversity of Wallingford’s media landscape:
While the national results await in June, the community can enjoy these works now. WPAA-TV will cablecast The Magic of Mackenzie trailer followed by the full documentary every Friday and Saturday at 10 PM during March.
