The Arkansas Cinema Society (ACS) is excited to announce Filmland 2022. The fifth annual celebration of cinema will return Nov. 3-6, 2022, at CALS Ron Robinson Theater in Downtown Little Rock. Submissions are now open for Filmland: Arkansas, the screening series of shorts and features from Arkansas filmmakers and films. Memberships are available now with more information and tickets becoming available at Filmland.org. 

“We are so grateful to be celebrating Filmland’s fifth anniversary,” said Kathryn Tucker, Executive Director of ACS. “When we first began back in 2017, we knew there was a much-needed hole to fill and I’m so proud of the role Filmland: Arkansas has played in our filmmaking community along with bringing Academy Award-winning films like Nomadland and Academy-Award nominated actors like Jessica Chastain to Arkansas. The educational workshops we launched in 2021 are now giving aspiring local filmmakers needed hands-on training and access to industry professionals to help demystify the idea of pursuing a career in film in Arkansas. Five years is cause for celebration and we can’t wait to showcase the incredible film talent here in Arkansas alongside the hottest films and filmmakers from the international fall festival circuit at Filmland again.”

ACS was created to build a film community in Arkansas to inspire, educate, and nurture new and existing film talent. We work to foster an environment where filmmakers and film lovers can connect with each other, share ideas, and build a sustainable creative economy through increased exposure to filmmakers and their art. Our signature event, Filmland, gives us the opportunity to do just that by bringing filmmakers at the top of their game to Arkansas to share their work, experience, and stories. 

Over the last few years, Filmland has been honored to host award-winning directors Richard Linklater, David Lowery and Joel Edgerton; producers such as Evan Hayes, Fred Berger & Brian Kavanaugh-Jones; and actors like Will Forte, Ted Danson and Oscar winner and ACS board member Mary Steenburgen. Last year's films included A Hero by Asghar Farhadi, Becoming Cousteau by Liz Garbus, Halloween by David Gordon Green and The Eyes of Tammy Faye with a special in-person appearance by Jessica Chastain, who was just nominated for an Oscar for her role in the film. Screenings also feature Q+As moderated by ACS Founder and Director Jeff Nichols, board members or staff and every night wraps with a party for filmmakers and attendees. 

This year we plan to bring more hits from hot festivals such as the Sundance Film Festival, Telluride Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival and Venice International Film Festival for a unique screening experience right here in Arkansas. Filmland will also feature screenings from the Filmland: Arkansas Audience Award winners and the short film created by our 2022 Filmmaking Lab for Teen Girls.

Submissions for Filmland: Arkansas are open through August 15 on FilmFreeway at https://filmfreeway.com/ArkansasCinemaSociety for short films and features. Submissions are for films made in Arkansas, filmmakers from Arkansas who made a film elsewhere, and Arkansas-based producers, directors, and writers. Films may also be considered if an Arkansas native was the lead or key role such as an Actor, Production Designer, Costume Designer, Sound Designer, Composer, Editor, Cinematographer, Animator, Visual Effects, Makeup and Hair or First Assistant Director. The Arkansas filmmaker(s) must be available to participate in a conversation about the film if accepted. ACS members receive half off submission fees.

In 2021, ACS launched workshops for filmmakers of all ages with industry professionals like Jeff Nichols, Graham Gordy, Adam Stone, Mario Troncoso and Christina McLarty Arquette and David Arquette. Topics covered included screenwriting, casting, cinematography, pitching a project and producing. This year’s workshop offerings will continue to provide a broad representation of the diverse crafts of filmmaking.

“Because most film education in Arkansas is provided in a collegiate setting, very few aspiring filmmakers are given the opportunity for hands-on learning from both locally and nationally recognized industry professionals,”said Rachel Norris Wilson, Director of Education at ACS.  “Our workshops provide a space for the film talent in our state to learn from one another, delve deeper into a specific field, and share best practices from the film industry. We are beyond grateful to those who lead the workshops and can’t wait to build upon our previous success this Fall.”

Events and other details will be announced in the coming weeks and months. In case you missed our past Filmland events, you can still check out those conversations and Q+As in our video library on our website, which is included with a membership. ACS Sponsorships are the perfect mix of perks and promotion. As a sponsor of the Arkansas Cinema Society, you can experience all of the unique and exciting events that we offer. Whether you take advantage of the many benefits of a sponsorship or you simply want to support the mission of the Arkansas Cinema Society, your tax-deductible sponsorship of an arts non-profit not only provides you with valuable member benefits all year long, but also contributes to building a strong film community in Arkansas through enhanced exposure to great cinema, filmmaker support, and educational film programming.