Films, no matter their plot, have the power to create change across communities, elicit emotions and start conversations. All around Arkansas, filmmakers are sharing their stories in a variety of ways. Fayetteville Film Festival and Walton Arts Center are thrilled to highlight some of these incredible films on Saturday, April 6 at 8 pm.
This mini-film festival showcases local filmmakers and honors their stories and artistic expression. This is one of four collaborative film showcases between the two arts organizations this season.
We asked each director a few questions to gain insight into their respective films.
Kids from Westfork – Dalton Hays | West Fork
Kids from Westfork is a film inspired by a build-up of negativity in the community of West Fork at the end of 2020.
“I love my community and I believe there's good people here, and that it's not a bad place," explained Hays. “It's a very good place.” Through this film, the filmmaker wanted to showcase the people in it and to remind them that West Fork is a place that is worthwhile and worth celebrating. The film was shot in West Fork to capture the beauty of the town, the community, its surroundings and people.
“I want people to take away from this film is (the understanding) that people as individuals have an impact, no matter where they come from,” Hays told us. “It can be big or it can be small. What kind of impact will you leave behind in your community?”
Different Not Less – Alexandra Duran | Rogers
Alexandra Duran’s film, Different Not Less, was shot in the kitchen and living room of Duran’s childhood home, giving the film an organic and natural look with an intimate feel. This short film has been screened in nine film festivals from February to October 2023.
The inspiration for Different Not Less originated from the idea that Duran wants to accept herself more while also advocating for high-masking people with autism. Different Not Less explores the personal and authentic view of Duran’s acceptance of their late autism diagnosis as a 17-year-old, all voiced through a journal entry.
“I especially wanted to establish more representation for disabled individuals and break the stigma of there being a specific ‘look’ or stereotype of disabilities,” Duran said. They hope to change the stereotypical perspective of what autism is and to shift the view of it to a different way of processing rather than a deficit.
Libertad – Hilary Lex & Ashely Hayes | Bentonville
Libertad, about the World Ride’s program – a bike program for women, features a story based in Guatemala, where the main character lives in the foothills above Antigua. The film features the surrounding towns and trails of Antigua, the active volcano Acatenango, Lake Atitlan, various coffee farms and a mountain biking preserve called El Zur. This is the third screening of Libertad; this film can also be found on Osprey Pack’s YouTube channel.
The filmmakers shared that they had been working with women in mountain biking for several years in Northwest Arkansas, so it was a natural extension of their network and personal interest to get involved with women internationally.
“We are inspired by normal women doing rad things in the outdoors,” explained Lex and Hayes. “We’ve learned the repeating themes of community and healing is such a universal story for women in this sport.”
The film is about so much more than just biking.
“[As filmmakers,] We have the honor and joy of seeing things in women that they can’t quite yet see in themselves. It’s important for me to amplify women’s voices and unique stories to help inspire not only themselves but ultimately more women and girls of their own strength and power. Sometimes it just takes one person believing in you for you to believe in yourself,” Lex said.
“I’d really love for people to feel inspired to get out and see the world and just how big and how small it is,” Hayes said. “You’ll meet people who inspire you to create entire businesses, to share universal stories, to enjoy their way of life and you’ll probably get to see epic places you never even knew existed.”
Madness Within – Tyler Horne & Levi Horne | West Fork
Madness Within about an occultist doctor and his patient has been screened at various film festivals including the Texas Short Film Festival, the No Coast Film Festival and more. This film was shot locally in Fayetteville at an office building in downtown. The filmmakers share that they were inspired by folklore and superstitions about monsters in our culture, specifically werewolves.
“Madness Within explores the ugliness that can surface when we are desperate to get what we want and that desire can warp our view on what is real and what is twisted fantasy or superstition,” explained Tyler Horne. “We want anyone who views our film to take away a warning to not judge a book by its cover.”
Angle of Attack – Russell Leigh Sharman | Fayetteville
Sharman’s film, Angle of Attack, features two iconic Fayetteville locations: the bottom floor of the Old Post Office, which is the underground bar room for local restaurant, Cheers, and Goblin House Tattoo Studio. Sharman told us that the script called for a tattoo studio and a fancy wine bar, so each location was perfect as they both had a lot of character and atmosphere built into space. This film focuses on stepping outside of one’s comfort zone and revealing what is hidden in you.
Angle of Attack was presented at multiple national and regional film festivals including the Oxford Film Festival and the Arkansas Cinema Society Filmland. Sharman shared with us that as a kid, he struggled with spelling and carried a shameful spelling bee moment with him since he was young, thus giving him an emotional tattoo.
When asked what he wants viewers to take away from the film, Sharman said, “own your errors and imperfections — feeding your creativity and making art is an act of bravery.”
Morning Room – Lexie Mosby | Conway
Morning Room is a film centered around taking control back over stories and situations of sexual assault and harassment. Mosby explained that this film is extremely personal to her since it is autobiographical. Morning Room has been featured in the Made in Arkansas Film Festival where it was nominated for best student short and best actor.
“One thing that I want viewers to take away from my film is that sexual assault can look so many ways,” shared Mosby. “It’s not the thing where you can mark off so many boxes and then it gets classified as sexual assault. Instead, it is the type of thing where it is completely reliant on the guidelines and conversations had within that relationship. I feel like the media really misrepresents sexual assault and what it is and survivors are being invalidated and hurt because of it. “
The film was shot in Bryant in a home that belongs to her boyfriend. The location gave her complete access to the entire house along with permission to make whatever changes might be needed for the filming.
J.O.E. – Bailey Vo | Bentonville
Bailey Vo’s film, J.O.E., was shot at Pulaski Academy and a crew member’s house, both located in Little Rock. Vo explained that she chose these locations because they fit the look and the overall color palette of the film. J.O.E. has been screened eight other times at various film festivals including the University of Central Arkansas Film Fest and the Student World Impact Film Festival.
The inspiration for this film was taken from Vo’s personal experiences struggling with her mental health while also witnessing the experiences of her friends and family who also struggle with mental health.
“I wanted to create a short film that highlighted the effects of how mental health and suicide can impact those around you and to talk about how to continue living despite what life may throw at you,” Vo said. J.O.E. is specifically centered around men’s mental health and toxic masculinity. Vo said she wanted to change the stereotype and prove that anyone can struggle mentally despite what they may present on the outside. “One thing I want viewers to take away from the film is the importance of talking about uncomfortable topics of toxic masculinity, coping with the loss of a loved one and knowing when it is time to receive mental health help,” Vo explained.
Joan and the Rolling Stone – Ethan Edwards | Greenbriar
Joan and the Rolling Stone, shot by Ethan Edwards, was filmed in a couple locations across Manhattan. This film was screened at the Fayetteville Film Fest and the New York Shorts International Film Festival. Edwards got his inspiration for the film from reading lots of Sam Shepard one-acts. He felt the absurdity of the plays helped get him into a headspace where a talking bowling ball became a plausible storyline. When asked what he wanted viewers to take away from his film, Edwards said, “life is continually interesting.”
I Can’t Do This Anymore - Laina Ludwig | Siloam Springs
Laina Ludwig shot I Can’t Do This Anymore while she was a student at John Brown University. Ludwig filmed both on campus as well as in a house owned by the campus. This film was screened at Fayetteville Film Festival and Sunny Side Up Film Festival where Ludwig earned the award of best first time filmmaker.
While taking film classes at John Brown, Ludwig was also taking child psychology classes. She explained that she felt the need to understand what a child experiences when their parent chooses to cope in a negative way. “I want viewers to honestly ask themselves if this is reflective of their experience,” explained Ludwig, “and if so, there are people who can help you.”
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.
Additional upcoming showcases are Indie Films Artosphere on Saturday, May 11 and LGBTQIA+ Filmmakers on Thursday, June 13.