Bentonville Film Festival

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Arts & CultureBentonville
DatesDates TBA · Usually JuneCheck locally before booking
Duration7 daysListed event span
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forPerformance, exhibitionsThe festival's founding circumstances are
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: USD
CategoryArts & CultureFestival type
The story

Bentonville Film Festival in Bentonville

The Bentonville Film Festival is an annual film festival founded in 2015 by Academy Award-winning actress Geena Davis, with Walmart as a founding sponsor. The festival champions films made by and featuring women, people of color, LGBTQ people, and people with disabilities, and marked its 10th anniversary in the mid-2020s.

When Geena Davis launched a film festival in Bentonville, Arkansas in 2015, the choice of location was as notable as the mission behind it.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

The festival's founding circumstances are unusual: Walmart approached Geena Davis directly to start a film festival in Bentonville even though the city had no movie theater at the time, and Davis co-founded the event with Trevor Drinkwater of ARC Entertainment to advance the mission of her Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, established in 2004 to research and improve representation in entertainment

02

The mystery stays covered

Rather than judging films purely on artistic merit, the festival prioritizes projects made by and portraying diverse groups, spanning gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and disability, tying programming directly to the institute's research-based advocacy

03

The city starts moving

That mission has held steady through the festival's first decade even as Bentonville transformed from a town without a theater into a growing arts destination

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The festival continues the American regional film festival tradition of pairing screenings with industry panels and filmmaker appearances

Water and renewal

Living ritual

while explicitly centering representation and inclusion as its organizing principle rather than a secondary programming goal

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually June

Getting around

Stay close enough to the part of Bentonville you will actually use, especially if the event runs late.

What to wear

Business casual to smart casual for premiere screenings and industry panels, with more relaxed casual wear appropriate for general public screenings; layer for changeable spring Arkansas...

Safety

Bentonville Film Festival is easier with a small bag, charged phone and group plan that survives poor signal.

Where to stay

Base yourself where the last trip of the day stays easy, especially if Bentonville Film Festival runs late.

Tickets/cost

Official ticket link is available. Confirm access rules before booking.

Language/currency

USD

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map36.37 N, 94.21 WOpen in Google Maps

Bentonville, AR

Nearest airportXNA — Northwest Arkansas National
TransportStay close enough to the part of Bentonville you will actually use, especially if the event runs late.
Stay areaBase yourself where the last trip of the day stays easy, especially if Bentonville Film Festival runs late.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Bentonville via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Bentonville, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for June.Compare faresFestival gearBusiness casual to smart casual for premiere screenings and industry panels, with more relaxed casual wear appropriate for general public screenings; layer for changeable spring Arkansas weather.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for United States and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Bentonville Film Festival?

Bentonville Film Festival is listed for Past edition: 15–21 June 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Bentonville Film Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Bentonville, United States. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

7 days is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Bentonville, AR

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLbentonvillefilm.org
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually June
Source statusOfficial source linked
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