The 2024 Bentonville Film Festival, set for June 10-16 in Bentonville, Arkansas, unveiled the competition program of narrative, documentary, short film, and episodic selections premiering in-person.
Opening the festival is Out of My Mind from director Amber Sealey and based on the novel by Sharon M. Draper, which will be released on Disney+ later this year. Following the screening, Amber Sealey and Sharon M. Draper, along with lead actress Phoebe Rae-Taylor, will participate in a Q&A. Additionally, the recipient of the See It, Be It, Make It Filmmaker Grant presented by NBCUniversal and the BFFoundation, Nuked, which was shot entirely in Bentonville, will be included in this year’s line-up as a Spotlight Screening selection.
The festival will screen five World Premieres throughout the week and will also add a new category, the Alumni Showcase category, in honor of the 10th anniversary of the festival, to showcase films lead by filmmakers who have shown films at previous festivals.
“In celebrating BFF’s 10 years of commitment to inclusion, I’m thrilled to present Out of My Mind as our Opening Film. It’s a universally relatable story about making an impact in the world, while centering artists with differing abilities as both performers and collaborators,” Geena Davis, Bentonville Film Festival chair, said in a statement. “Out of My Mind is a humorous and heartfelt manifestation of BFF’s belief that if they can see it, they can be it.”
This year’s programming illuminates a wide array of storytelling that showcases talent and filmmakers alike. More than 75% of the competition program is from creators who identify as female or gender non-conforming; 51% who identify as BIPOC, Asian, or Pacific Islander; 30% who identify as LGBTQIA+; 7% who are over 50; and 6% who identify as a person with disability. In addition, for the 2024 program, onscreen leads are 56% women/gender non-conforming, 45% BIPOC, and 11% representing talent with disabilities. More than 60% of all selected films have background cast and crews that were made up of majority of people who identify as female or gender-nonconforming and BIPOC, AAPI or Indigenous.
“Our curated films, led by Artistic Director Drea Clark, reflect who Bentonville Film Festival is as an organization,” stated Wendy Guerrero, BFF President. “The selected storytellers represent a range of perspectives, but are united by their ability to transport, impact and inspire audiences.”
The following projects are confirmed for the 2024 Bentonville Film Festival competition:
OPENING FILM
OUT OF MY MIND – U.S.A.
(Director, Amber Sealey; Writer, Daniel Stiepleman; Based on the Novel by Sharon M. Draper)
Melody Brooks is navigating sixth grade as a non-verbal wheelchair user who has cerebral palsy. With the help of some assistive technology and her devoted, exuberant allies, Melody shows that what she has to say is more important than how she says it.
Cast: Phoebe Rae-Taylor, Rosemarie DeWitt, Luke Kirby, Judith Light, Michael Chernus, Courtney Taylor
ALUMNI SHOWCASE
ALL HAPPY FAMILIES – U.S.A.
(Director/Writer, Haroula Rose)
Graham is waiting for his big break while his hugely successful brother stars in his own sitcom. On the weekend before new tenant Dana – Graham’s college crush – is due to move into their childhood home, the family gathers to clear out the house, but finds themselves airing out resentments.
Cast: Josh Radnor, Rob Huebel, Becky Ann Baker, John Ashton, Chandra Russell, David Pasquesi
GHOSTLIGHT – U.S.A.
(Directors, Kelly O’Sullivan, Alex Thompson; Writer, Kelly O’Sullivan)
When melancholic construction worker Dan finds himself drifting from his wife and daughter, he discovers community and purpose in a local theater’s production of Romeo and Juliet. As the drama onstage starts to mirror his own life, he and his family are forced to confront a personal loss.
Cast: Keith Kupferer, Katherine Mallen Kupferer, Tara Mallen, Dolly De Leon
THE QUEEN OF MY DREAMS – Canada
(Director/Writer, Fawzia Mirza)
Queer Pakistani grad student Azra is worlds apart from her conservative Muslim mother. When her father suddenly dies, Azra finds herself on a Bollywood-inspired journey through memories, both real and imagined; from her mother’s youth in Karachi to her own coming-of-age in rural Canada.
Cast: Amrit Kaur, Nimra Bucha, Hamza Haq
SPOTLIGHT SCREENINGS
BLIND AF – U.S.A. World Premiere
(Director, Gina LeVay)
Shawn Cheshire, a blind female Paralympic champion and multiple world-record holder, becomes the first blind person to ride a single, non-tandem bike across the United States—3600 miles in 60 straight days–while confronting painful truths about her past that she spent a lifetime trying to outrun.
NUKED – U.S.A.
(Director/Writer, Deena Kashper)
A group of friends gets together for a cannabis-infused, technology free, dinner party only to learn a bomb is headed right for them.
Cast: Anna Camp, Justin Bartha, Lucy Punch, George Young, Ignacio Serricchio, Tawny Newsome, Maulik Pancholy, Stephen Guarino, Natasha Leggero
OUR BLUE WORLD: A WATER ODYSSEY – Ireland
(Director, Ruán Megan)
Our Blue World: A Water Odyssey celebrates the human relationship with water and explores how ancient wisdom combined with modern technology can restore our waterways, hydrate the land and help cool our planet.
RYAN’S WORLD THE MOVIE: TITAN UNIVERSE ADVENTURE – U.S.A.
(Director, Albie Hecht; Writer, Rose Frankel; Story by: Rose Frankel, Shion Kaji)
When Ryan’s twin sisters, Emma and Kate, get sucked into a mystical comic book, he has no choice but to rise up as the great big brother he is and jump in after them, in a live-action/animated hybrid adventure showcasing the stars of one of YouTube’s largest kids’ channels.
Cast: Ryan Kaji, Emma Kaji, Kate Kaji, Shion Kaji, Loann Kaji
WAKHRI – Pakistan
Presented in partnership with International South Asian Film Festival Canada (iSAFF)
(Director/Writer, Iram Parveen Bilal)
A widowed school teacher in Pakistan becomes a viral sensation overnight when she accidentally unleashes her unabashed opinions on social media, and finds herself navigating archaic mindsets and secret identities.
Cast: Faryal Mehmood, Gulshan Majeed, Shees Sajjad Gul, Saleem Meraj, Sohail Sameer, Bakhtawar Mazhar
NARRATIVE COMPETITION
ADJUNCT – U.S.A. World Premiere
(Director/Writer, Ron Najor)
A Middle Eastern American writer turned adjunct professor at a local college faces the harsh reality that he is expendable to the system, setting him on a path to determine his next move.
Cast: Ron Najor, Kristin Erickson, Ross Turner, Nikohl Boosheri, Paige Slaght, Phillip Andrew Botello.
BEN AND SUZANNE, A REUNION IN 4 PARTS – U.S.A.
(Director/Writer, Shaun Seneviratne)
The romantic reunion of Ben Santhanaraj and Suzanne Hopper is thwarted when their holiday plans become a work-from-home vacation. The couple’s romantic trip turns unconventional as they embark on a hilarious yet amorous journey across Sri Lanka.
Cast: Sathya Sridharan, Anastasia Olowin
BOCA CHICA – Dominican Republic
(Director, Gabriella Athena Moses; Writers, Mariana Rondón, Marité Ugás)
Pre-teen Desi spends her days on the beaches of her hometown, dreaming of becoming a famous singer, but her goal is threatened by lies, dark realities and a sinister betrayal from those who should protect her most.
Cast: Scarlet Camilo, Jean Cruz, Lia Chapman, Xiomara Rodriguez, Richarson Díaz
CHAPERONE – U.S.A.
(Director/Writer, Zoe Eisenberg)
Alienated by friends and family for her lack of ambition, 29-year-old Misha finds a dangerous acceptance in a bright 18-year-old athlete who mistakes her for a fellow student.
Cast: Mitzi Akaha, Laird Akeo, Kanoa Goo, Jessica Jade Andres, Krista Alvarez, Ioane Goodhue
DANDELION – U.S.A.
(Director/Writer, Nicole Riegel)
Dandelion, a struggling Cincinnati singer songwriter in a downward spiral, takes a last ditch-effort gig at a motorcycle rally in South Dakota where she strikes up a whirlwind romance with Casey, a guitarist who walked away from his dream long ago.
Cast: KiKi Layne, Thomas Doherty
IF THAT MOCKINGBIRD DON’T SING – U.S.A. World Premiere
(Director/Writer, Sadie Bones)
After being brutally dumped, 17-year-old Sydnie discovers she is pregnant. Seeing this as an opportunity to get her ex back and give her life direction, she decides to keep the baby, but soon finds herself in a complicated love triangle.
Cast: Aitana Doyle, Ava Bodnar, Nadia Dajani, David Krumholtz, Catherine Curtin, Kevin Corrigan
RILEY – U.S.A.
(Director/Writer, Benjamin Howard)
Disciplined high school athlete Dakota Riley lives within carefully-designed boundaries upon which he’s formed the basis of his identity. But when that artifice is thrown into disarray, Dakota is forced to come to terms with who he really is, or confront the consequences of denying himself.
Cast: Jake Holley, Colin McCalla, Connor Storrie, Riley Quinn Scott, J.B. Waterman, Rib Hillis
SUZE – Canada
(Directors/Writers, Linsey Stewart, Dane Clark)
When her only daughter leaves for college, Suze, a single mom who has lost her purpose, gets stuck taking care of her daughter’s heartbroken ex-boyfriend, whom she can’t stand.
Cast: Michaela Watkins, Charlie Gillespie, Sara Waisglass
THREE BIRTHDAYS – U.S.A.
(Director/Writer, Jane Weinstock)
When Bobbie discovers her mother’s infidelity and acts out furiously, she sets off a chain of confrontations that forces her parents to face their own insecurities, as the family wrestles with the contradictions of the Sexual Revolution in the era of the Vietnam War.
Cast: Josh Radnor, Annie Parisse, Nuala Cleary, Dolly Wells, Jasmine Batchelor, Gus Birney
TOKYO COWBOY – U.S.A.
(Director, Marc Marriott; Writers, Dave Boyle, Ayako Fujitani)
Brash businessman Hideki arrives in Montana having convinced his Tokyo bosses he can turn a profitless U.S. cattle ranch into a premiere-performing asset. He is soon poised to misfire magnificently unless he identifies a missing element that’s key to the transformation… himself.
Cast: Arata Iura, Goya Robles, Ayako Fujitani, Robin Weigert, Jun Kunimura
WE STRANGERS – U.S.A.
(Director/Writer, Anu Valia)
Rayelle Martin works as a commercial cleaner in Gary, Indiana, who grows tired of being a witness in her second job, cleaning the home of her boss’s mistress. She impulsively tells one small lie – that she can speak to the dead – and finds herself in an odd new position of power.
Cast: Kirby, Tina Lifford, Sarah Goldberg, Maria Dizzia, Kara Young, Hari Dhillon
YEAR ONE – U.S.A. World Premiere
(Director/Writer, Lauren Loesberg)
A series of events during Ruby’s freshman year of college spin her into a troubling decline, culminated by the arrival of a glamorous alter ego who begins to live a life of her own.
Cast: Elizabeth Yu, Emma Raimi, Maya Schnake, Taylor Kinkead, Billy Chengary, Ryder McDaniel
DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION
ALL WE CARRY – U.S.A.
(Director, Cady Voge)
After fleeing violence in Honduras, joining the infamous migrant caravan, and enduring months in a U.S. detention center, Mirna and Magdiel are sponsored by a synagogue in Seattle, who lend them an empty beachfront mansion while they wait for their asylum verdict.
CAREFULLY TAUGHT – U.S.A. World Premiere
(Director, Cynthia Kao)
An exploration of the intricate web between U.S. policies, Asian stereotypes and Hollywood imagery, as personal stories from notable Asian artists highlight the profound impact of Asian stereotypes on individual lives.
DAUGHTERS – U.S.A.
(Directors, Natalie Rae, Angela Patton)
Four young girls prepare for a special Daddy Daughter Dance with their incarcerated fathers, as part of a unique fatherhood program in a Washington, D.C., jail.
THE DEBUTANTES – U.S.A.
(Director, Contessa Gayles)
A Black girl coming-of-age story about an intergenerational group of women and girls revitalizing a long-lost tradition — the debutante ball.
FAMILY TREE – U.S.A.
(Director, Jennifer MacArthur)
Exploring sustainable forestry in the American South through two Black families fighting to preserve their land while navigating family dynamics, unscrupulous developers, and changing environmental needs.
THE IN BETWEEN – U.S.A.
(Director, Robie Flores)
Following the death of her brother, filmmaker Robie Flores returns to her hometown on the Texas/Mexico border, colliding with quinceañeras, Rio Grande river excursions, teen makeovers and beyond, that invite her to soak up the details of the home her brother adored and she ignored.
PRECONCEIVED – U.S.A.
(Directors, Sabrine Keane, Kate Dumke)
An exploration of the pervasive presence of crisis pregnancy centers throughout the U.S., and their role in furthering the anti-abortion movement.
SHARI & LAMB CHOP – U.S.A.
(Director, Lisa D’Apolito)
Before Mr. Rogers and Sesame Street, there was Shari Lewis and her lovable cast of puppets, including Hush Puppy, Charlie Horse, and the most beloved puppet of all time, Lamb Chop.
S/HE IS STILL HER/E – U.S.A.
(Director, David Charles Rodrigues)
Genesis P-Orridge lived her art and died three times for it. Persecuted by Queen Elizabeth, a disciple of Burroughs, Leary, Nepalese monks and African witch doctors; Gen influenced and revolutionized music, art and gender – all without most of the world even knowing. At least not the full story.
UNSEEN – U.S.A.
(Director, Set Hernandez)
Most people dream of a better future. Pedro, an aspiring social worker, is no different. But as a blind, undocumented immigrant, Pedro faces political restrictions to obtain his college degree, secure a job as a health care provider, and support his family.
WE ARE GUARDIANS – Brazil
(Directors, Chelsea Greene, Rob Grobman, Edivan Guajajara)
Following an Indigenous forest guardian and activist fighting to protect their territories from deforestation, an illegal logger who has no choice but to cut the forest down, and a large landowner at the mercy of thousands of invaders and extractive industry.
WE CAN BE HEROES – U.S.A.
(Directors, Carina Mia Wong, Alex Simmons)
For attendees of a live action role-playing (LARP) camp in upstate New York, the deeply accepting environment has given neurodivergent, queer, and self-proclaimed “nerdy” teenagers the space and community for self-discovery that they have never found anywhere else.
EPISODICS SHORTS COMPETITION
THE COCKROACH – U.S.A. (Director, Mary Pat Bentel) – World Premiere
DO IT TO ME IF YOU WANT – U.S.A. (Directors, Elise Kibler, James Udom)
GONE NATIVE – U.S.A. (Director, Joey Clift)
WHAT ABOUT ME – U.S.A. (Director, William Lott)
SHORT FILM COMPETITION
THE BALLAD OF TITA AND THE MACHINES – U.S.A. (Director, Miguel Angel Caballero)
THE BULLFIGHTER – U.S.A. (Director, Giselle Bonilla)
CANYON CHORUS – U.S.A. (Director, Chris Cresci)
CARNIVORA – U.S.A. (Director, Felipe Vargas)
DEAD BIRD HEARTS – U.S.A. (Director, Ryan Redcorn)
THE DOG – Australia (Director, Danielle Baynes)
FIGHT OR FLIGHT – U.S.A. (Director, Lindsey Hagen)
FOUR NIGHTS AND A FIRE – U.S.A. (Director, Alex Nystrom)
F*CK THAT GUY – U.S.A. (Director, Hanna Gray Organschi) – World Premiere
GOLDEN CHILD – U.S.A. (Director, Hannah Levin)
GOOD GRIEF – U.S.A. (Director, Megan Chumbley)
GRACE – U.S.A. (Director, Natalie Jasmine Harris)
THE GRIEVANCE – U.S.A. (Director, Richie Keen)
HOW DID I GET HERE – U.S.A. (Director, Kate Hamilton) – World Premiere
LAST TO LEAVE – U.S.A. (Director, Mary Elizabeth Ellis) – World Premiere
THE MASTERPIECE – Spain (Director, Alex Lora)
NIAN – U.S.A. (Director, Michelle Krusiec)
ORDER FOR PICKUP – U.S.A. (Director, Jackie! Zhou)
POPS – U.S.A. (Director, Sylvester K. Folks) – World Premiere
SEOUL SWITCH – U.S.A. (Director, Liann Kaye)
SHIMMER – U.S.A. (Director, Alice Gu)
SIS – U.S.A. (Director, Brooke Markham)
TAYAL FOREST CLUB – Taiwan (Director, Laha Mebow)
TINY JOY – U.S.A. (Director, Leena Pendharkar)
WILD ANIMAL – U.K. (Director, Beth Park)
THE WORLD IN A GLASS – U.S.A. (Director, Ekwa Msangi)
ANIMATED SHORTS COMPETITION
ASHKASHA – Spain (Director, Lara Maltz)
DRAGONFLY – U.S.A. (Director, Julia Morizawa)
THE SHADOW OF DAWN – Turkey (Director, Olga Stalev)
SLOW LIGHT – Poland/Portugal (Directors, Katarzyna Kijek, Przemysław Adamski)
THE SPRAYER – Iran (Director, Farnoosh Abedi)
THIS IS A STORY WITHOUT A PLAN – U.S.A. (Director, Cassie Shao)
WANDER TO WONDER – Belgium (Director, Nina Gantz)
ADVENTURE SHORTS COMPETITION
ABLE. – U.S.A. (Director, Gretchen Powers)
BOTH & NEITHER – U.S.A. (Director, Julie Ellison)
THE CAPTAIN – U.S.A. (Director, Greg Kohs)
COMING HOME – U.S.A. (Directors, Katie Lozancich, Alex Showerman)
FORWARD – U.S.A. (Director, Palmer Morse)
RAISED BY SAND AND SALTY WATER – Spain (Directors, David Corrochano, Daniel Simón)
THE ROUTE TO EMANCIPATION – U.S.A. (Directors, Talib Abdullahi, Riley Engemoen)
SPEED OF SOUND – U.S.A. (Director, Jade Ang Jackman)
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