Bentonville Film Festival announced the award winners for the 12th annual festival, with If I Go Will They Miss Me, directed by Walter Thompson-Hernández, winning the Best Narrative Award, and Jane Elliott Against the World directed by Judd Ehrlich, taking home the Best Documentary Award.
The festival, which took place from June 15 to 21, 2026, is a globally recognized platform that celebrates powerful storytelling and ensures that every voice and every story is seen, heard, and valued.
Geena Davis, the Bentonville Film Festival Chair, said, “These awards reflect the passion and drive of storytellers, whose work will continue to broaden perspectives and engage audiences throughout the year. We congratulate our BFF award winners, and we’re so thankful to every filmmaker here for their contributions to the success of this year’s BFF!”
Here are the winners for this year’s festival:
2025 Bentonville Film Festival Award Winners
Best Narrative
The Best Narrative Award was presented to If I Go Will They Miss Me directed and written by Walter Thompson-Hernández and produced by Josh Peters, Saba Zerehi, and Ben Stillman.
The jury said: “If I Go Will They Miss Me is a thoughtful, poetic, and stunning cinematic experience. We marveled at the visual language, which rendered a methodological approach without sacrificing a sense of improvisation and heart. Director Walter Thompson-Hernández masterfully asks us to consider each character with understanding of their internal struggles with the mythological status they represent to their loved ones. The result is a depiction of black familial love and fatherhood that is not elevated but rather finally honored.”
Special Mention for Directorial Vision: The Musical, directed by Gisella Bonilla.
The jury said: “From being inspired casting and standout performances to expert pacing and shot selection, Bonilla demonstrates remarkable command of every aspect of filmmaking. Comedy is one of the hardest genres to master, yet from the first moments, we knew we were in capable hands. The film commits fully to the genre with impressive precision.
That confidence is reflected in performances from Will Brill and Rob Lowe, who play off each other beautifully. For a first feature, this is an extraordinary achievement, and we are thrilled to recognize Giselle Bonilla’s exceptional directorial talent.”
Special Mention for Lead Performances: BRB directed by Kate Cobb.
The jury said: “Zoe Colletti and Autumn Best bring BRB to life through performances filled with warmth, vulnerability, and undeniable charisma. Navigating the highs and lows of sisterhood with remarkable honesty, they help to create characters who feel wholly authentic and deeply human. Their chemistry grounds every emotional turn of the film, balancing comedy, heartbreak, and tenderness with confidence and precision. Together, they remind us of the power of connection and deliver performances that announce two exciting talents to watch.”
Best Documentary
The Best Documentary Award was presented to Jane Elliott Against the World, directed and produced by Judd Ehrlich, as well as producers Max Powers and Elena Gaby.
The jury said: “This film is a raw and unflinching glimpse into the life and career of a legendary educator who has dedicated her life to anti-racism, the costs of her radical and undeniably impactful approaches, and a celebration of living life to its fullest potential, for as long as your body and mind allow. We are honored to award “Jane Elliott Against The World” the Best Documentary Award at the 2026 Bentonville Film Festival for its impeccable execution and its insistence that a better world is possible.”
Special Mention: Summer 2000: The X-Cetra Story, directed, written, and produced by Ayden Mayeri.
The jury said: “A tender coming-of-age story that spans decades, with an exceptionally creative use of deep personal archives, this documentary is a charming, funny, moving film about the power of friendship and how art can shape the lives of our children. It is our distinct pleasure to present a Special Jury Mention for “Summer 2000: The X-Cetra Story” for showing how internet virality can sometimes be a good thing.”
Best Homegrown
The Best Homegrown Award was awarded to Baby/Girls, directed by Jackie Jesko and Alyse Walsh, produced by Melissa Leardi, Alex Waterfield, and Kelly Rohrbach Walton.
The jury said: “Directors Alyse Walsh and Jackie Jesko bring remarkable sensitivity, humor, and elegance to a subject that could easily have felt heavy-handed or exploitative. Through two years of extraordinary access, they illuminate sweeping systemic failures through an intimate, deeply human lens — one that honors the vulnerability and courage of their subjects in equal measure. The result is documentary filmmaking at its most urgent and compassionate.”
Special Mention: Filthy, directed, written, and produced by Lisa Cole.
The jury said: “Writer-director Lisa Cole crafts a fresh and exhilarating act of liberation with ‘Filthy.’ The short film’s evolution from a muted, constrained world into one far more primal, blazing with color and movement, embodies the very awakening it depicts. Lisa handles the emotional stakes with masterful precision, weaving the politics of purity culture, religious control, and the mother-daughter bond into a climax that is a revolt and a reconciliation.”
Best Episodic
The Best Episodic Award was presented to Too Romantic, directed, written, and produced by Talia Light Rake.
The jury said: “Director & Writer Talia Light Rake taps into the current zeitgeist with a marvelously executed pilot that brings together modern internet/social media humor with classic rom-com structure. The charismatic leads and vibrant writing make for a delightful watch and show significant potential for future episodes and a fully realized television series.”
Best Short Film
The Best Short Film was awarded to Find The Boy, a French film directed by Paulin.e Goasmat.
The jury said: “Find the Boy is a bittersweet exploration of identity, love, and the lasting impact of acceptance and rejection; a beautifully crafted reminder that respect for a person’s identity does not end with their life.”
Special Mention: Paper Daughter (USA) directed by Cami Kwan.
The jury said: “Paper Daughter combines a creative visual premise with outstanding animation to present a keen story of identity and desperation that refuses a simple interpretation or easy dismissal.”
Special Mention: She Chose War (USA) directed by Sarah Moshman.
The jury said: “You just can’t look away from this compelling documentary short about the life and times of a hopeful, young Ukrainian woman who has chosen the front lines of war – with all its horror and degradation – instead of finishing her degree in the dramatic arts.”
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