Bentonville Film Festival 2025: Star-Studded Jury Revealed, Exciting New Events Added!

The Bentonville Film Festival (BFF) has revealed its schedule for the upcoming 2025 festival, which will run from June 16-22. Celebrating its 11th year, the festival continues its commitment to promoting diverse voices within the entertainment industry, including those of women, non-binary individuals, LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, and people with disabilities.

The festival’s notable recurring segment, “Geena & Friends,” will once again feature actress Geena Davis. This year, Davis will be joined by Shohreh Aghdashloo (“The Penguin), Toks Olagundoye (“Frasier”), Alysia Reiner (“The Diplomat”), and Brenda Song (“Running Point”). The event is scheduled for Friday, June 20, at the Thaden Theater.

In collaboration with The Bangin Beats, Brenda Song will be honored with the The Bangin Beats Virtuoso Award on the same day. Additionally, the festival’s dialogue series “Shaping the Narrative” will feature Olympic athlete Allyson Felix in a discussion hosted by the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and Ingeborg Initiatives.

Wendy Guerrero, the president of BFF, expressed excitement about this year’s expanded program lineup, which aims to further the festival’s goal of supporting diversity in storytelling. Guerrero highlighted the involvement of Allyson Felix, praising her advocacy work that aligns with the festival’s themes of equality and empowerment.

The jury for the 2025 festival awards has been confirmed, featuring a diverse group of professionals including Anne Alvergue, Keely Cat-Wells, Joshua Dahlman, Kathryn Everett, James Faust, Marie Jamora, Michelle Krusiec, Toks Olagundoye, Pallavi Sastry, Nicole Shipley, Bomani J. Story, and Claire Taylor.

The festival will also acknowledge Juneteenth with a special two-day focus that highlights films and filmmakers with strong ties to Arkansas. Featured films include “The Paris 3,” “COLBERT: All Students Can Learn,” “Traveling Mercies,” and “God Said Give ‘Em Drum Machines.” Additionally, the festival lineup includes panels and screenings such as “Authenticity Matters: Rewriting Disability on Screen,” STEAM Sessions, “Find Your Fight: A Conversation & Book Signing with Jay Ruderman,” and “A Guiding Light for Documentary Ethics + Case Study,” among others.

For more information on the full program schedule and how to purchase tickets, visit bentonvillefilm.org.