The Bare Bones FilmArts Society, in association with Legacykeepersrus and the 27th Bare Bones International Independent Film and Music Festival, has selected Marcus Mallard as a 2026 recipient of the prestigious Trailblazer Award. The award recognizes his significant contributions to independent film and his dedication to mentoring the next generation of Oklahoma storytellers.
The Bare Bones Festival presents the Trailblazer Award to individuals who have forged new paths in independent cinema. Previous recipients include Annette O’Toole, Victor Caballero, Rogelio Almeida, and Matt Payne. Mallard joins this distinguished group for his work as a producer, director, educator, and scholar.
A Leader in Oklahoma’s Film Community
Based in Edmond, Mallard plays a key role in Oklahoma’s growing film industry. In April 2025, he co-founded Mouldy Rogue Productions with his wife and producing partner, Leah Heitzke-Mallard. Through the company, he co-wrote and produced the award-winning horror short Killfeed with filmmaker Logan Walcher. The film will screen at this year’s festival.
Mallard also directed and produced the upcoming short Fragments, which explores the challenges of an artist navigating mental health. He co-produced the horror short The Settlement with Carlos Garcia Jr. and Prax Media, and he appears in the upcoming short Final Girls, directed by Emily Richardson. In addition, he and Walcher co-directed and co-produced a feature film for international distributor Devilworks. He is currently writing a new vertical series and developing his next feature project.
Mallard actively supports industry growth through his leadership with the Oklahoma Motion Picture Alliance, where he serves as Oklahoma City Membership Chair and contributes to the public relations committee. He also helps plan Pitchfest+, an event that connects local filmmakers with major companies such as Sony Pictures and Shadow Machine.
At Rose State College, Mallard designed and launched the Film Studies and Digital Media degree program, preparing students for careers in the film industry. He continues to mentor emerging filmmakers through his work with the deadCenter Film Festival, where he moderates panels, leads workshops, and supports the Continuum series. In May 2025, he taught a deadCenter Education summer camp in which high school students created the short film Eleanor, also screening at this year’s festival. He will lead another camp this July.
Scholarship and Creative Work
In addition to his filmmaking and teaching, Mallard contributes to film scholarship. He serves as co-chair of Horror Studies for the National Popular Culture Association and has published on the cultural impact of the genre. His work includes The Walking Dead Live!: Essays on the Television Show (2016) and critical analyses of Big Mouth, the Rocky franchise, and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre series.
About the Festival
The 27th Bare Bones International Independent Film and Music Festival is occurring March 20–29, 2026, in Muskogee, Oklahoma. The festival showcases “no-frills” independent films and, in partnership with Legacykeepersrus, continues to support and preserve Oklahoma’s cultural and creative voices.
