The Bentonville Movie Basis celebrated the conclusion of their tenth anniversary yr on Sunday with the announcement of their narrative, documentary, brief movie and episodic winners.
The annual fest amplifies feminine, non-binary, LGBTQIA+, BIPOC and other people with disabilities’ voices in leisure. This yr’s occasion ran from June 10 to 16 in Bentonville, Arkansas.
Suze from Linsey Stewart and Dane Clark gained the competition’s greatest narrative characteristic award. Of their assertion, the jury — which included Abbott Elementary star Lisa Ann Walter — famous that the movie “captivated us with its tender, humorous and charming portrayal of a modern-day odd couple. We have been blown away by Michaela Watkins and Charlie Gillespie, who flip in splendidly heartfelt and pleasant performances. This can be a movie that showcases the facility of compassion and the fantastic thing about unlikely friendships.”
In the identical class, Tokyo Cowboy obtained an honorable point out and Boca Chica took house a particular jury recognition.
Daughters, directed by Natalie Rae and Angela Patton, gained greatest documentary characteristic. The film “highlights the love between these inside and out of doors,” the jury famous. “By means of deeply shifting tales and intimately portrayed characters, the movie is a testomony to the facility of affection.”
Unseen obtained an honorable point out, and We Are Guardians obtained a particular point out in the identical class.
Shimmer, from Alice Gu, gained greatest brief movie, and The Ballad of Tita and The Machines obtained an honorable point out.
Gradual Mild by Katarzyna Kijek, Przemysław Adamski gained greatest animated brief, and Wander to Marvel obtained an honorable point out for artistic innovation.
Pace of Sound by Jade Ang Jackman gained greatest journey brief, and What About Me from William Lott and Josh Nadler gained greatest episodic.
The competition additionally introduced Phoebe-Rae Taylor, star of Out of My Thoughts, with their See It, Be It award, which honors “somebody who has opened doorways for folks like them by means of their work and influenced the leisure trade and popular culture by means of the creation of content material that empowers tales which might be in any other case underrepresented.”
The Bentonville Movie Competition is introduced in partnership with the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, with Davis serving as competition chair. “Our tenth anniversary meant a lot to us,” Davis stated. “I’m so grateful to all the filmmakers on this yr’s slate for his or her unimaginable work and the attractive vitality they delivered to the competition.”
Davis’ basis additionally companions with faculties and neighborhood establishments to teach the difficult results of stereotyping, unconscious bias, and illustration imbalance of gender, ethnicity, sexuality, and individuals with disabilities.
The competition was introduced in collaborations with founding associate Walmart and presenting sponsor Coca-Cola. The Hollywood Reporter can be a sponsor of the competition.