Jeff Nichols and producer Evan Hayes

Official selection of 2021 Toronto International Film Festival.

Inspired Adventurer, filmmaker, inventor, author, unlikely celebrity and conservationists: For over four decades, Jacques-Yves Cousteau and his explorations under the ocean became synonymous with a love of science and the natural world. As he learned to protect the environment, he brought the whole world with him, sounding alarms more than 50 years ago about the warming seas and our planet's vulnerability. In Becoming Cousteau, from National Geographic Documentary Films, two-time Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Liz Garbus takes an inside look at Cousteau and his life, his iconic films and inventions, and the experiences that made him the 20th century's most unique and renowned environmental voice--and the man who inspired generations to protect the Earth.

writer/director David Gordon Green and Jeff Nichols

Jamie Lee Curtis returns to her iconic role as Laurie Strode, who comes to her final confrontation withMichael Myers, the masked figure who has haunted her since she narrowly escaped his killing spree on Halloween night four decades ago.

Master of horror John Carpenter executive produces and serves as creative consultant on this film, joining forces with cinema¹s current leading producer of horror, Jason Blum (Get Out, Split, The Purge, Paranormal Activity).Inspired by Carpenter¹s classic, filmmakers David Gordon Green and DannyMcBride crafted a story that carves a new path from the events in the landmark1978 film, and Green also directs.

Halloween is also be produced by Malek Akkad, whose Trancas International Films has produced the Halloween series since its inception, and Bill Block (Elysium,District 9). In addition to Carpenter and Curtis, Green and McBride will executive produce under their Rough House Pictures banner. Ryan Freimann alsoserves in that role.

Jeff Nichols and actor/producer Jessica Chastain

Official Selection of 2021 Toronto International Film Festival

Directed by Michael Showalter and written by Abe Sylvia, The Eyes of Tammy Faye is an intimate look at the extraordinary rise, fall and redemption of televangelist Tammy Faye Bakker. In the 1970s and 80s, Tammy Faye and her husband, Jim Bakker, rose from humble beginnings to create the world's largest religious broadcasting network and theme park, and were revered for their message of love, acceptance and prosperity. Tammy Faye was legendary for her indelible eyelashes, her idiosyncratic singing, and her eagerness to embrace people from all walks of life. However, it wasn't long before financial improprieties, scheming rivals, and scandal toppled their carefully constructed empire.

Jeff Nichols and director Asghar Farhadi

Cannes Film Festival Grand Prix Winner

A Hero tells the story of Rahim, who is in prison because of a debt he was unable to repay. During a two-day leave, he tries to convince his creditor to withdraw his complaint against the payment of part of the sum. But things don't go as planned...

A native of Iran, Asghar Farhadi has directed nine feature films. Only a handful of directors have won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film multiple times and Farhadi is among them for his films, A Separation (2012) and The Salesman (2017). In 2012, he received the French Legion of Honor and was named one of Time's 100 Most Influential People and a Top 100 Global Thinker by Foreign Policy.

casting director Yancey Prosser, The Agency, Inc.

During this unique workshop you will get inside secrets from a casting director on how to improve your audition. For $40 participants can sign up to perform a scene of their choice (3-minutes or less) and receive feedback from Casting Director Yancey Prosser of The Agency, Inc. For $20 you can sit in the audience and get a behind-the-scenes look at a casting director at work. Afterwards, Yancey will lead a lecture on improving a taped audition, mastering the "throw away line" as a day player, and answer questions from the audience.

screenwriter Graham Gordy

True Detective Season 3 co-writer Graham Gordy will teach you how to take a story idea and begin building a script. This workshop will focus on the power of detail, the importance of show don't tell, and will guide participants through the basics of writing a scene for film. Participants will walk away having written a 3-5 page scene and how this technique of scene creation leads to a full script for film.

Christina McLarty Arquette, David Arquette, Jayme Lemons, & Mario Troncoso.

Moderated by Kathryn Francis Tucker

Producers often wear many hats when getting a script to the big screen. During this panel discussion led by ACS co-founder and Executive Director Kathryn Francis Tucker, producer Christina McLarty Arquette, producer Jayme Lemons, and Emmy Award Winner Mario Troncoso will delve into their specific wheelhouse as they discuss how a producer's role is different depending on genre and budget. Listen in as they discuss the different process for getting a TV show, indie film, documentary, or big-budge studio film greenlit.

Little Rock Mayor Scott Jr., Executive Director of F.E.L.O.N. and Dream Corps Justice Organizer Ruby Welch, State Senator Clarke Tucker, and producer Christina McLarty Arquette and one of the Executive Producers of The First Step, moderated by Dr. Johanna Rahman.

A panel discussion on Criminal Justice Reform in our time between Little Rock Mayor Scott Jr., Executive Director of F.E.L.O.N. and Dream Corps Justice Organizer Ruby Welch, State Senator Clarke Tucker, and producer Christina McLarty Arquette and one of the Executive Producers of The First Step, led by Dr. Johanna Rahman. This panel is in conjunction with our screening of the film The First Step on Sunday October 10, 2021 at the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival. The First Step documentary, premiered at Tribeca Film Festival, and captures the personal journey of Black progressive activist and political commentator Van Jones during his effort to reform a broken criminal justice system.

screenwriter Graham Gordy

During this engaging writing-for-film workshop for Middle School students, Graham Gordy will walk them through how to develop a story idea and how to write a scene. Students will have the opportunity to work one-on-one with a mentor, participate in fun, hands-on activities, and will walk away with an ACS binder full of helpful tools they can utilize in the future.

Mario Troncoso

During this workshop, Emmy Award Winning filmmaker and Director of Film and Media Ecosystems at CACHE Mario Troncoso will discuss how to take your project to the big screen. Using their original story idea, participants will start the process of building a pitch deck to intrigue agents and production companies.

Kathryn Francis Tucker, Christina McLarty Arquette, & Jen Gerber. Moderated by Alison Williams

These veteran Arkansas filmmakers join together to discuss the state of women in the film industry and how to break into the industry from Arkansas. Join us for a conversation between producer Christina McLarty Arquette, director Jen Gerber, and writer, director, producer Kathryn Francis Tucker, led by Alison Williams, chief of staff to Governor Hutchinson.

Arkansas Filmmakers

Filmmaking is a collaborative visual art that isn't possible without all of the individuals who work together to make a story come to life. During this speed dating style workshop participants will have the opportunity to glean expert insight from professional filmmakers about their role on a film set. Learn from some of the most experienced and up-and-coming filmmakers in Arkansas, including Dave Calhoun, Kristy Pruitt, Nate Disarro, Dwight Chalmers, Brian Johnson, Paula Blanco, Hannah Whitney, and many more.

Filmland: Arkansas Audience Award winners

Filmland: Arkansas Audience Award winners of the shorts blocks join us for an exciting Q+A. These filmmakers will have an opportunity to discuss their process as filmmakers and what inspired them to create their short films.

director Jeff Nichols & cinematographer Adam Stone

The collaborative relationship between a director and cinematographer is a critical component of every film. Join us for a conversation between director Jeff Nichols and his cinematographer Adam Stone as they discuss their working relationship and their process of bringing a script to the screen.