NORFOLK, Neb. -- Big Bang Boom announced Sunday that their feature-length documentary film 'Behind the Boom' was selected for a film festival.

"Behind the Boom" is an official selection for the 2023 Omaha Film Festival. 

The film will be one of 11 documentaries featured during the 18th annual event that will be held March 7 through 12. 

In a press release, Big Bang Boom, Inc said this will be the first time the documentary will have a public screening. 

"Behind the Boom" is a feature-length documentary that walks through the history of Norfolk's 4th of July celebration and takes the audience behind the scenes of the production of the community's fireworks show. 

The film was directed and produced by northeast Nebraska native Brittnay Therese Dawson, who now lives in Florida where she is the Executive Producer for Emerald Design Bar. 

"As someone who grew up going to the Big Bang Boom shows, it was an honor to make this film for the community of Norfolk on something very personal to me," Dawson said. "It's a powerful story that takes viewers on an emotional journey through the history of the festival, as that takes viewers on an emotional journey through the history of the festival, as well, how pyrotechnics have evolved over the past 45 years."

Dawson said the film was two years in the making with a delay in production because of the pandemic. 

She also said this documentary "serves as a testament of how one relentless community and group of volunteers will stop at nothing to continue the tradition of the festival and make certain the show will go on."

"The whole reason for creating this documentary was to preserve the tradition that was started back in 1976 commemorating the bicentennial of the United states and has now continued for more than 45 years," President of Big Bang Boom, Inc. Don Wisnieski said.

Wisnieski said it is an honor to have the film selected by the Omaha Film Festival. 

Big Bang Boom said the public is invited to participate in the festival at the Aksarben Cinema in Omaha on March 12 at 2:30 p.m.

Tickets for the event can be bought at omahafilmfestival.org.