Starting Tuesday, May 2, downtown Bentonville will be filled with entertainment industry leaders, celebrities and influencers for the third annual Bentonville Film Festival.
Attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy narrative and documentary screenings, discussions and musical performances. The schedule of this year’s panels lineup builds on the mission-oriented foundation set in the previous years while expanding into progressive conversations surrounding comedy, music, toys, tech and more.
A few panels to attend and look out for are:
Inclusion: Does that Include Me? Geena Davis will lead this panel discussion dedicated to diversity, exposing our own implicit bias, encouraging connection, empathy and more. A lively round of inclusion-inspired 5-Second Rule by PlayMonster will serve as a conversation catalyst for panelists from Wonder Crew, Coca-Cola, Mars, and Walmart.
When: May 3 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Where: The Record North
Lights! Camera! Inclusion! Actor Joey Travolta founded ‘Inclusion Films’ to support and empower individuals with developmental disabilities by creating custom-designed filmmaking workshops and camps.
When: May 3 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Where: The Record South
Stories Matter A handful of the industry’s best and brightest examine story as one of the most effective tools for social change. Features William H. Macy. Presented by Hallmark and Unilever.
When: May 3 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: The Record North
In Control of Her Own Destiny What would happen if we gave all young girls the ability to forge their own paths, free from the weight of implicit bias? It’s possible when we work together. These women share the tools they use in their personal and professional lives to make that possibility a reality. Featuring Judy Greer. Presented by L’Oreal. *one of our personal favorites from last year’s festival
When: May 4 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Where: The Record North
Progress vs. Perfection Whether you’re an individual or business, when striving for gender equality and cultural diversity, fear of failure and the paralyzing desire to “do it right” can keep you from ever reaching the finish line. If we wish to leave behind a legacy of lasting change, these panelists explain why the future is counting on us to seek progress, and not unattainable perfection, to measure our success. Presented by Mattel.
When: May 4 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: The Record North
Geena and Friends Geena Davis and a handful of celebrity friends come together to swap gender roles while reading scenes from some of Hollywood’s favorite scripts to expose implicit bias and have some fun. Featuring Meg Ryan. Presented by L’Oreal.
When: May 4 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: The Record North
Kids: Shaping Tomorrow’s Influencers Today If our destiny is diversity, then it’s never too early to begin these important conversations with our kids. Meet the children’s television programmers and product developers who have dedicated their life’s work to making those conversations a little bit easier. Presented by Mattel.
When: May 5 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: The Record South
You can view a complete schedule of the festival’s events here.
The Bentonville Film Festival was co-founded in 2015 by Academy Award Winner Geena Davis, founder and chair of the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, and Trevor Drinkwater, President and CEO of ARC Entertainment. The festival is a commercially focused research based platform with a mission to champion women and diverse voices in media. It’s the only film competition in the world to award guaranteed theatrical, international, digital, retail home entertainment distribution for its winners in partnership with AMC, Walmart, and American International Cinema.