The BFFoundation, in partnership with founding sponsor Walmart and presenting accomplice Coca-Cola, has introduced that the twelfth annual Bentonville Film Festival will return to northwest Arkansas June 15-21, 2026, with digital screenings persevering with by June 28. Movie submissions at the moment are formally open.
As well as, the pageant has renewed its partnership with Selection’s 10 Producers to Watch.
Established by Geena Davis, the Bentonville Movie Competition is designed to raise daring views and spotlight tales from over missed communities.
“For 12 years, BFF has championed the artistry of over 10,000 gifted filmmakers, providing a world platform for his or her highly effective and private tales to be seen, heard, and celebrated” mentioned Davis, who serves as chair of BFF.
In 2025, the pageant drew over 30,000 attendees, and hosted Selection’s 10 Producers to Watch, which identifies notable up-and-coming movie producers. Final yr’s record included Zainab Azizi (“Don’t Transfer”), Juliet Berman (“Griffin in Summer season”), Jessica Choi (“Toy Story 5”), Thomas Hakim and Julien Graff (“All We Think about as Mild”), Jesse Hope (“Rebuilding”), Stephen “Dr.” Love (“The Land,” “They Cloned Tyrone”), Lizzie Shapiro (“The Plague”), Trevor Wall (“Ponyboi,” “Slanted”), Zoë Value (“Thelma”) and Tony Yang (“Fortunate Lu”), who participated in a dialog about their path into the trade and showcased a few of their work.
Selection additionally honored Brenda Track with the Virtuoso Award.
The 2025 version additionally featured 9 world premieres, together with “Grownup Youngsters,” “Abigail Earlier than Beatrice,” “West of Greatness,” “The Floaters” and “Dope Queens.” BFF’s marquee occasions and reside panels welcomed particular friends akin to Lucy Liu, Al Roker, Alyson Felix, Hint Lysette, Bradley Whitford, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Betsy Brandt, and Mimi Rogers.
“This yr marked an thrilling evolution in our programming and group engagement,” mentioned Wendy Guerrero, president of the Bentonville Movie Competition and Basis. “We’re thrilled to convey again Selection’s 10 Producers to Watch, alongside initiatives just like the Homegrown Movies program and our STEAM Periods. Collectively, these applications replicate our dedication to sparking alternative, nurturing native expertise, and bridging the hole between innovation and storytelling.”
Key dates for 2026 movie pageant submissions:
● Oct. 6: Submissions open
● Nov. 21: Early Deadline
● Jan. 30, 2026: Common deadline
● March 6, 2026: Late deadline
● March 20, 2026: Prolonged late deadline
● Might 11, 2026: Notification date
