HSDFF adds to lineup; festival starts next week
The Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival has added to the lineup of movies and panels for its 29th edition, which will feature both in-person and virtual events from Oct. 9-17.
Karina Grace Nagin, festival executive director, said she is “really excited (for the) incredible programming” the festival has lined up. She said the way the workers have brought the festival to life despite the ongoing pandemic has been a “highlight for me.”
“I’m very proud of my team,” she said.
There are over 100 films in this year’s festival. Nagin said “50% are directed by women and 47% of feature films were made by filmmakers of color,” giving the festival “incredible diversity.”
Recent additions to the festival include “MLK/FBI” by Academy Award nominee Sam Pollard, who has won multiple Emmy Awards. Nagin also noted that “Sam is an alumni of the festival.”
Another addition, “BIG vs small” by Minna Dufton, is a “beautiful film about a Portuguese female surfer,” and its screening at the festival will be its North American premiere, Nagin said.
Nagin said she is also excited for the addition of “You Cannot Kill David Arquette,” which they will screen in partnership with the Arkansas Cinema Society as a “passing of the baton for (the) festivals.” ACS will hold its annual film festival, Filmland 2020, Thursday through Sunday.
The two film festivals will co-host a screening of the movie on Oct. 7. The movie chronicles actor David Arquette’s attempt
to redeem himself in the world of professional wrestling after his widely panned WCW run in the late 1990s. Nagin said she “had no idea” Arquette has spent time in wrestling, and the movie “blew my mind.”
“We’re really excited to partner with the Arkansas Cinema Society,” she said, noting they have a “great connection between these two film festivals.”
In addition to three previously announced drive-in movies, several more in-person events have been added to the festival.
Nagin said the festival wanted to focus on mental health in light of the pandemic. Three in-person events will do this
— a hike, a bike ride and a yoga session. She said the events are references to Hot Springs’ reputation “as a place for rejuvenation.”
The three events will be free to attend, as will most of the virtual talks and panels held after movies are screened. “Most of our workshops are free,” Nagin said, but the virtual storytelling workshop will have a $50 fee. She said this workshop is “back by popular demand,” and “sells out every year.”
At past festivals, pass holders were able to meet with festival guests in a party-like atmosphere. To keep this element alive this year, the festival will include a virtual Speakeasy Happy Hour Series. Guests scheduled to appear include David and Christina Arquette, Sam Pollard, The Cate Brothers and Benjamin Meade.
“People look forward to the parties,” Nagin said. With the virtual Speakeasy, people can “tune into our series, mix a cocktail and enjoy,” she said, noting the events are $15 each.
A pass that includes all of the virtual films is $150, and an all-access pass is $300. The all-access pass includes the Speakeasy events, as well as the drive-in movies.