The Arkansas Cinema Society and its premiere event Filmland were created to build a film community in Arkansas where film lovers can watch films, share ideas, connect with each other and nurture the new and existing film talent within our state through increased exposure to filmmakers and their art.
Filmland marks it's sixth anniversary this year, furthering ACS's mission to promote local filmmakers with Filmland: Arkansas. Information and details on how to submit to Filmland: Arkansas can be found in the short film and feature film categories.
Over the first few years, Filmland has been honored to host Academy Award nominated actor Adam Driver, five-time Oscar nominated Director Richard Linklater, Director David Lowery, Producers Fred Berger and Brian Kavanaugh-Jones, Actor and Director Joel Edgerton, David and Christina Arquette, WIll Forte and Ted Danson and Oscar winner and ACS board member Mary Steenburgen. Last year's films featured A HERO by Asghar Farhadi, BECOMING COUSTEAU by Liz Garbus and a special in-person appearance by Jessica Chastain with her film THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE. Screenings also feature Q&A's moderated by ACS Founder and Director Jeff Nichols and every night wraps with a party for filmmakers and attendees.
Filmland 2023 will take place on October 4-8th at the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts. Events and other details will be announced once special guests and screenings are finalized. Filmland: Arkansas short film selections will screen during Filmland along with a handful of narrative selections. The Panavision New Filmmaker Program will once again provide grants to winners of the Feature Film Audience Award + Professional Short Audience Award.
A Filmland: Arkansas summer program has been added on August 12-13th at the AMFA for feature films so more can be screened in-person. The early deadline for features to be considered for the summer program is May 1st. These screenings will be balloted for the Audience Award just like those during Filmland.
Any feature films submitted after May 1st until the final deadline of July 17th will be considered for a screening during Filmland this October. Space for features is very limited during Filmland, so early submission is recommended so as many Arkansas filmmakers as possible can screen and qualify for the Panavision grant. It is up to the filmmaker if they submit for summer or fall.
Short films will only be screened during Filmland in October. Additionally, ACS will no longer offer a virtual component.
ACS Filmland is a non-competitive, curated event but there will be an audience award for the Filmland: Arkansas program. Winners of the Feature Film Audience Award + Professional Short Audience Award are eligible for camera equipment grants from the Panavision New Filmmaker Program worth $60,000 (feature) and $15,000 (short)! The director or producer of the eligible feature or short film must be in attendance to receive the grant.