Ready For Their Closeup

Fayetteville Film Fest showcases variety of works

The original purpose and goal of the [Fayetteville Film Fest] has remained the same through the years: To celebrate the art of film and filmmakers,” says this year’s executive director, Morgan Hicks.

“Each year, we have an amazing mix of films that were made in or by Arkansas and films from all over the country and all over the world,” she adds. “We strive to create a place for filmmakers to showcase their work and for relationships to be forged and strengthened within the filmmaking community. We also try to pick highquality films for our audience — and each year we have more and more films to choose from. This year we had over 200 submissions, and we were able to create a schedule of 56 films that offer such an amazing variety, that we know there’s something for everybody.”

The ninth annual festival, which started Tuesday, wraps up this weekend at the Chancellor Hotel and the Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History in downtown Fayetteville.

TODAY

AT CHANCELLOR HOTEL NOON — Animated short film block 12:30 P.M. — Rock block (music videos & documentaries)

1:30 P.M. — Foreign film block

3:30 P.M. — Narrative short film block 4:30 P.M. — Q&A with filmmakers 5 P.M. — LGBTQ film block

6:30 P.M. — Feature Film: “American Folk” by David Heinz

Two strangers, both folk musicians (Joe Purdy and Amber Rubarth), are stranded in California and take a road trip to New York in the days after 9/11. A story about the kindness of strangers and the power of music.

8:30 P.M. — Feature Film: “Door in the Woods” by Chase Goforth

A young family is tormented by paranormal events after installing a vintage door in their home.

9:45 P.M. — Q&A with filmmakers

10 P.M. — VIP after-party

SATURDAY

AT THE PRYOR CENTER

9 A.M. — Documentary block

NOON — Q&A with filmmakers

1 P.M. — Feature Film: “Dayveon” by Amman Abbasi

In the wake of his older brother’s death, 13-year-old Dayveon spends the sweltering summer days roaming his rural Arkansas town. When he falls in with a local gang, he becomes drawn to the camaraderie and violence of their world. Dayveon was nominated for an audience award at the Sundance Film Festival.

3 P.M. — Narrative short film block (at

Chancellor Hotel)

4:30 P.M. — Q&A with filmmakers

5 P.M. — Short film block (at Chancellor

Hotel)

6:30 P.M. — Q&A with filmmakers

7:30 P.M. — Feature Film: “All the Birds Have Flown South” directed by Joshua Miller & Miles Miller

After the death of his overbearing mother, a sheltered man attempts to win the affection of a degenerate waitress by caring for her terminally ill and abusive husband. Soon all three lives begin to unravel as obsession and disease consume them all.

9:10 P.M. — Q&A with filmmakers

10 P.M. — VIP closing party (Stage 18) COST — VIP pass, $40; one-day pass Wednesday, $15; one-day pass Friday, $20; one-day pass Saturday, $20; individual films/film blocks range from free to $7 INFO — fayettevillefilmfest.org