The BFFoundation, in partnership with founding sponsor Walmart and presenting partner Coca-Cola, has announced that the 12th annual Bentonville Film Festival will return to northwest Arkansas June 15-21, 2026, with digital screenings continuing through June 28. Film submissions are now officially open.
In addition, the festival has renewed its partnership with Variety’s 10 Producers to Watch.
Established by Geena Davis, the Bentonville Film Festival is designed to elevate bold perspectives and highlight stories from over overlooked communities.
“For 12 years, BFF has championed the artistry of over 10,000 talented filmmakers, offering a global platform for their powerful and personal stories to be seen, heard, and celebrated” said Davis, who serves as chair of BFF.
In 2025, the festival drew over 30,000 attendees, and hosted Variety’s 10 Producers to Watch, which identifies notable up-and-coming film producers. Last year’s list included Zainab Azizi (“Don’t Move”), Juliet Berman (“Griffin in Summer”), Jessica Choi (“Toy Story 5”), Thomas Hakim and Julien Graff (“All We Imagine as Light”), Jesse Hope (“Rebuilding”), Stephen “Dr.” Love (“The Land,” “They Cloned Tyrone”), Lizzie Shapiro (“The Plague”), Trevor Wall (“Ponyboi,” “Slanted”), Zoë Worth (“Thelma”) and Tony Yang (“Lucky Lu”), who participated in a conversation about their path into the industry and showcased some of their work.
Variety also honored Brenda Song with the Virtuoso Award.
The 2025 edition also featured nine world premieres, including “Adult Children,” “Abigail Before Beatrice,” “West of Greatness,” “The Floaters” and “Dope Queens.” BFF’s marquee events and live panels welcomed special guests such as Lucy Liu, Al Roker, Alyson Felix, Trace Lysette, Bradley Whitford, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Betsy Brandt, and Mimi Rogers.
“This year marked an exciting evolution in our programming and community engagement,” said Wendy Guerrero, president of the Bentonville Film Festival and Foundation. “We are thrilled to bring back Variety’s 10 Producers to Watch, alongside initiatives like the Homegrown Films program and our STEAM Sessions. Together, these programs reflect our commitment to sparking opportunity, nurturing local talent, and bridging the gap between innovation and storytelling.”
Key dates for 2026 film festival submissions:
● Oct. 6: Submissions open
● Nov. 21: Early Deadline
● Jan. 30, 2026: Regular deadline
● March 6, 2026: Late deadline
● March 20, 2026: Extended late deadline
● May 11, 2026: Notification date
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