Join the Liberty Arts Commission as they go on a cinematic trek, exploring humanity’s fascination with extraterrestrial life at the second annual Reel Liberty Film Festival, Jan. 23-24, 2026. This event is presented by the Liberty Arts Commission, in partnership with B&B Theatres and Visit Liberty. From classic 1950s flying saucers to the alien encounters of modern blockbusters, this year’s Reel Liberty Film Festival showcases films that imagine what lies beyond our world. It will revisit iconic moments, bring a few laughs and show how Hollywood’s portrayal of beings not of this world have evolved, reflecting our fears and curiosity about the unknown. The film festival will be held at B&B Theatres in Liberty, located at 1903 Victory Drive.
Make sure to stick around for an out-of-this-world after party at Johnnie’s Jazz Bar & Grille after the films on Saturday night.
Friday, January 23
6:30 p.m. – “It Came From Outer Space”
An amateur astronomer and his fiancée are dismissed as crazy when they witness a spaceship crash in the Arizona desert and a mysterious creature disappears into the darkness. Things change when the townsfolk begin acting weird, disappear and are replaced by eerie duplicates.
9 p.m. – “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”
In this masterpiece by Steven Spielberg, a group of people experience unexplainable phenomena after coming into contact with UFOs. Roy Neary (Richard Dreyfuss) has a life-changing encounter with a UFO that leaves him obsessed with a strange shape he can’t explain. As others around the world report similar experiences, a team of scientists work to uncover a government cover-up of extraterrestrial contact. The film builds to a meeting between humans and extraterrestrials, exploring themes of curiosity, communication and the search for meaning beyond Earth. The film was nominated for nine Academy Awards and known for its iconic score by John Williams.
Saturday, January 24
4 p.m. – “Mars Attacks!”
This dark comedy directed by Tim Burton parodies classic alien invasion movies and features an ensemble cast featuring Jack Nicholson, Glenn Close, Martin Short and Sarah Jessica Parker. In the plot, the President of the United States announces that Martians have landed on Earth. The Martians claim to have “come in peace”, but when a peaceful exchange ends in the annihilation of the U.S. Congress, the military calls for nuclear retaliation. The Martians deploy unbeatable weapons and a cruel sense of humor. “Mars Attacks!” mixes absurdity with a surprising arsenal of social commentary.
7 p.m. – “War of the Worlds”
This gripping thriller is directed by Steven Spielberg and based on the classic story by H.G. Wells. We follow Ray Ferrier (Tom Cruise) as he struggles to protect his children during a sudden, devastating invasion. When massive tripod war machines emerge from beneath the Earth and begin annihilating civilization, Ray must navigate through chaos and destruction. As society collapses around them, the family fights to survive and reunite, while humanity faces near extinction. The film combines intense action with emotional depth, highlighting the resilience of ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. This movie earned Academy Award nominations for Best Visual Effects, Best Sound Mixing and Best Sound Editing.