L. Tanner Smith

L. Tanner Smith is a young filmmaker who grew up in the small town of Manila, Arkansas. Through experimentation with a home video camera, an annual enrollment in the T Tauri Movie Camp in Batesville, and much leisure time writing stories & scripts, Smith grew up learning the basics of filmmaking and has received awards for his high school projects. One of these awards, the 2010 AETN Student Selects screenwriting award, earned him a $2500 foundation scholarship that he managed to use as he transferred from a Blytheville community college to the University of Central Arkansas in Conway. Majoring in Digital Filmmaking, Smith has made plenty of short films to be proud of, including Ozark Foothills FilmFest selection "D.C. & Jess" and the UCA-produced "Surrounded by Love," which has screened at numerous festivals. Smith now lives in Kansas City and still continues to make films. With support from his friends & colleagues, as well as a Digital Filmmaking degree from UCA, Smith is making the transformation from small-town dreamer to indie filmmaker complete.