The Arkansas Cinema Society is pleased to be the recipient of a grant from the Windgate Foundation to support year-round educational programs and workshops during Filmland, August 15-18, 2024,  at the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts. 

"We are deeply grateful to the Windgate Foundation for their continued support of our educational programs," said ACS Executive Director Kathryn Tucker. "Their funding has enabled us to continue our filmmaking workshops, labs, and classes, providing hands-on education from industry professionals to aspiring filmmakers of all ages in Arkansas. This kind of local access is vital to demystifying the vast number of diverse careers in filmmaking and to help build a sustainable film economy of skilled, employed creatives. Our continued partnership with the Windgate Foundation has empowered us to foster and showcase the incredible talent found within our state, and we are profoundly thankful for their commitment to the arts in Arkansas."

Each year, dozens of films are shot in Arkansas, highlighting the need to expand our crew base to support more and larger productions. The film industry has already created thousands of jobs in our state, employing a diverse range of creatives from various economic backgrounds. Notably, direct film industry professionals earn an average salary that is 53% higher than the national average. Nationally, the film industry employs more people than mining, oil and natural gas extraction, crop production, utility system construction, and rental and leasing services.

The Windgate grant will support seminars and hands-on workshops year-round and during Filmland, covering essential film professions and skills, such as directing, lighting equipment basics, cinematography, screenwriting, marketing, to name a few.. Over the past three years, hundreds of participants have learned from industry professionals like Jeff Nichols, David Arquette, Neil LaBute, and Mark Irwin, as well as regional crew and filmmakers. This year's educational offerings at Filmland will be announced soon.

Other ACS educational programs include the annual Filmmaking Lab for Teen Girls, the co-ed Spring Break Teen Film Lab and ACS Night School at AMFA. ACS also collaborated with the University of Arkansas for workshops and filmmaker forums. In August 2023, award-winning filmmaker Craig Brewer–known for his breakthrough film Hustle and Flow–led a workshop on the art of writing and directing, giving aspiring filmmakers and storytellers the opportunity to delve into the creative process under the guidance of a seasoned industry professional. 

ACS continues to foster a strong film community by hosting screenings and discussions across the state, along with monthly Happy Hours to bring filmmakers together in the spirit of fun and community. In January 2024, ACS also launched monthly Filmmaker Forums to connect film professionals across the state, addressing workforce training  and legislative improvements to the AR film incentives to boost the collaborative art of filmmaking in the state.