For eight years now, The Bentonville Film Festival has been a place to champion inclusion in all aspects of entertainment media. Always striving to influence mainstream media to rapidly increase diversity in the content that is produced and distributed, as to better match the world we live in. Actor and chair of the festival, Geena Davis, has always envisioned the Bentonville Film Festival as a way of supporting the achievements of diverse storytellers and giving them a place to connect with industry leaders and corporate change makers. 

The Bentonville Film Festival runs in-person from June 22th to the 26th in Arkansas, and virtually until July 3rd. Bentonville is a town with a big heart and even bigger ambition. A place where modern progress meets rich history; where the arts meet innovation; and where companies meet communities. Located in the northwest corner of the state, it borders Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma. Offering easy commutes to such gorgeous places like the Ozarks or Tulsa, Oklahoma. In town, the BFFoundation offers five close-nit screening venues such as The Meteor Guitar Gallery, The Thaden School Performing Art Center, and the Skylight cinema to name a few. 

This year’s lineup is stacked with spotlight features, documentaries, shorts, and episodic viewings. One feature film that has been the cause for major excitement is A Love Song by director Max Walker-Silverman (Lefty/Righty), starring Dale Dickey (Winter’s Bone) and Wes Studi (Deep Rising). The Seven Faces of Jane by a collection of directors including, Xan Cassavetes (Kiss if the Damned), Gia Coppola (Palo Alto), and Ken Jeong (The Hangover), starring Gillian Jacobs (Community) and Breeda Wool (Mass) is another film set with great expectations. 

Special Events will include a preview of Where the Crawdads Sing, followed by a conversation with Director Olivia Newman, Author Delia Owens, and Producer Elizabeth Gabler. Also a part of the Special Events is a 10 Year Anniversary Screening of The Hunger Games followed by a conversation with Geena Davis and Nina Jacobson. Then there’s a Spotlight Screening of Dealing with Dad directed and written by Tom Huang, executive produced by Effie Brown and Howard Barish. The festival will also honor Actor Fin Argus (Queer as Folk) with the Rising Star Award and Producer Effie Brown (But I’m a Cheerleader) will receive the Rising To The Challenge award. 

About the BFFoundation: 

BFFoundation is a non-profit organization focused on promoting underrepresented voices of diverse storytellers. Championing female, non-binary, LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, API, and persons with disabilities’ voices in entertainment and media. Along with the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, the foundation also partners with schools and community institutions to educate the challenging effects of stereotyping, unconscious bias, and representation imbalance of gender, ethnicity, sexuality, and persons with disabilities. The BFFoundation’s goal is to create a seismic change in how media inspires young minds to do great things. 

Sponsors: 

Special thanks to The Bentonville Film Festival major sponsors Walmart and Coca-Cola. Other sponsors include Mars, Paramount+, Sony Pictures, Lionsagate, Disney, Cherokee Nation Film Office, and Titos. 

For more information on the festival, including the full line up, schedule, tickets, panels, and special events, go to: https://bentonvillefilm.org/