Films, no matter their plot, have the power to create change across communities, elicit intense emotions and start conversations among all people. All around Arkansas, film makers are sharing their stories in a variety of ways and Fayetteville Film Festival and Walton Arts Center are thrilled to highlight these incredible films.
This mini film festival showcases minority voices and honors their stories and artistic expression. This is one of four collaborative film showcases between the two arts organizations this season. Each is designed to bring diverse and global cinema to local audiences to enrich our understanding of our neighbors and of the world at large. Fayetteville Film Fest and Walton Arts Center will present an evening of film featuring works created by Black, Indigenous and People of Color on Saturday, Feb. 3 at 8 pm.
We asked each producer a few questions to gain their insights and inspirations about their respective films. Read more below!
Denzel Jenkins – The Measure of a Man
Denzel Jenkins, a Los Angeles based producer, shot his film The Measure of a Man for his thesis project at USC. His film was inspired by a heated conversation he had with his father over the phone. Jenkins is a survivor of rape/sexual assault, during his conversation with his father, it was revealed that his father was molested when he was young. Jenkins explained, “that experience along with having a mentor that pushed me to be bolder with my storytelling, inspired me to write this story.”
The Measure of a Man has been shown at the USC screening, The Micheaux Film Festival, Arkansas Cinema Society Filmland, Fayetteville Film Festival and BHERC Reel Black Men Short Film Showcase. Jenkins ultimately hopes this film helps viewers create healing spaces for anyone who has experienced a related trauma. “I also want for people’s minds to shift and to treat this topic without it coming across as taboo like these things don't happen to men.”
Daniel Beltram – Baking
Daniel Beltram’s film, Baking, was inspired by the idea of the “American Dream” and how this dream is not what is used to be for second and third generation immigrants. Beltram explained, “my inspiration for this film was this feeling of being somewhere that is supposedly better, opportunity wise, from where my family came from, but not feeling that to necessarily be true.” His inspiration also stems from long nights of loneliness and boredom. Beltram features his best friends in his film and adapted the story to match his best friend’s experiences, “he came to the U.S. at the age of eight and it hasn't always been easy for him, but together we've always dreamed big and punched above our weight.”
Beltram believes showing this film is extremely important to help quiet the misconceptions people have about Latinos and what they look like. Beltram told us “being Latino is such a diverse ethnicity in itself and I'm learning more and more about the incredible diaspora of people across Latin America and I'm constantly inspired." Baking was shot in both Cabot and Conway, Arkansas. Beltram used these locations because he felt they truly represented the inspiration of the film as well as the experience of growing up as a Hispanic in a small town.
When asked what he wants viewers to take away from the film, Beltram said “I hope viewers can watch the film and understand that this is a story about being an immigrant. I feel like a lot of people my age are stuck in a weird place where they don't feel American, but they don't also feel like where their family is from. I hope viewers can gain an insight or at least relate to that constant battle with cultural identity.”
Michael Day – All Units
All Units is a film inspired by a dating experience from one of the cast members along with the 2020 protests surrounding George Floyd, Breanna Taylor and Amaud Aubrey. The film was shot by Michael Day in Northwest Arkansas at a cast members’ residence and My-t-by-design.
All Units has been featured in multiple film festivals across the U.S. and has hosted private screenings. The film has also been part of multiple showcases in Arkansas. Day says he hopes “people to take away from All Units is that for change to happen, we must all work together for a common goal: to be free.”
Neba Evans – Song of the Bluff
Song of the Bluff features a story about the city Pine Bluff, Arkansas, drawing inspiration from the negative stigma about the city. Producer Neba Evans shot 90% of the film in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, she is an alumna of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and explained that the community is near and dear to her heart. Evans shared, “I wanted to create a film that shared some historical context about Pine Bluff, as well as uplift it.”
This film has been shown at Nurture the Narrative, which Evans co-curated with Micheaux Award and Film Labs. When asked about what she wants viewers to take from the fil, Evans said “I want viewers to know that there are amazing things that are happening in the city, and that community members are working to nurture their narrative and empower their town!”
Additional showcases are Arkansas Filmmakers on Saturday, April 6; Indie Films Artosphere on Saturday, May 11; and LGBTQIA Filmmakers on Thursday, June 13.
Tickets to all these film showcases are available now for $15 plus applicable fees. Purchase tickets by visiting waltonartscenter.org, by calling 479.443.5600 weekdays 10 am until 5 pm or in-person at the Walton Arts Center Box Office weekdays 10 am until 2 pm.