Bentonville Film Festival 2025: Celebration of Diversity and Storytelling Set for June 16-22
The Bentonville Film Festival (BFF) is returning from June 16-22, showcasing 28 feature-length films, including a new Homegrown Competition aimed at highlighting productions with Arkansas ties. Notable attendees include Lucy Liu and Al Roker.
Kicking off the festival is “East of Wall,” directed by Kate Beecroft, a film that captures the lives of South Dakota ranchers and features non-professional actors portraying themselves. After its debut at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, it caught attention on IndieWire’s list of must-watch films. Beecroft, along with key figures Tabatha and Porshia Zimiga, will lead a Q&A session post-screening.
The new Homegrown Competition will spotlight four feature films, including a documentary on adaptive mountain biking and short films. Among the offerings are the psychological thriller “Abigail Before Beatrice,” directed by Little Rock native Cassie Keet, and “West of Greatness: The Story of the Westwego Muscle Boys,” helmed by Jared LaReau. The competition also includes “Sovereign,” featuring Nick Offerman and Jacob Tremblay, which centers on a tragic police shooting involving a father-son duo.
Lucy Liu will be honored with the 2025 Rising to the Challenge award, celebrating artists who push for diverse storytelling. She will present her new film “Rosemead.” Meanwhile, Al Roker will preview his educational animated series “Weather Hunters,” set to debut on PBS Kids in September.
Founded in 2014 by Oscar-winning actress Geena Davis and Walmart, BFF has quickly grown into a prominent festival, emphasizing diversity in storytelling. This year, 66% of featured creators are female or gender non-conforming, and nearly half identify as BIPOC. Tickets for screenings go on sale on May 19.
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