The Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa will host the 10th anniversary of Low Key Arts' Arkansas Shorts Film Festival on Jan. 7.
Ten years ago, the festival was a mostly local affair, with many of the films shot and produced by budding young filmmakers from Hot Springs. Today, the festival has grown to include films by professional and established filmmakers from around the state, as well as award-winning short films from across the country and around the world. It has grown in the last decade to be one of the premier short film festivals in the country, and an important celebration of the small-but-talented filmmaking community in Arkansas, a news release said.
Arkansas Shorts features films that are under 10 minutes long, an important medium for filmmakers on a budget or with a unique story or concept. Shorts featured range from music videos to comedic sketches to short, dramatic vignettes and everything in between.
"Arkansas Shorts has become one of the most sought after film events in the state for native filmmakers to have their short works screened at," said Hot Springs Film Commissioner Bill Solleder of Visit Hot Springs. "The event is produced by Arkansas filmmakers and enthusiasts and that feeling of community has become more and more apparent over the last decade."
This is the third year that Arkansas Shorts will be curated by Jennifer Gerber, a Hot Springs native and an accomplished filmmaker.
"Filmmaking is a rigorous and exhausting process and the only reward we seek is a place to share our work with an engaged audience," Gerber said. "Arkansas Shorts provides a unique screening opportunity in the Crystal Ballroom of the Arlington Hotel where the seating is packed and the room is full of energy. I've traveled with my films to festivals around the world and Arkansas Shorts is one of the best screening experiences a filmmaker can get."
This year's festival includes four blocks of short films: an international block with films from five different countries, a North American block with films that have screened at festivals like Sundance, SXSW, and the Hamptons International Film Festival, a block of student films from this year's Inception to Projection filmmaking class, and the Arkansas Shorts block, featuring a juried selection of films made by Arkansas residents and natives.
The Arkansas Shorts program will be judged and awards will be given out at a ceremony following the program.
In celebration of the 10th anniversary of Arkansas Shorts, this year's festival has been expanded to include a Friday night gallery installation of the Inception to Projection student films at Low Key Arts, and a Saturday afternoon panel discussion. The panel, titled "Made in Arkansas," will focus on filmmaking in Arkansas from short films to television to studio features. The panelists will be Graham Gordy, creator of the Cinemax series "Quarry" and a writer on "Rectify," Daniel Campbell, director of the film "Antiquities," currently in production starring Mary Steenburgen, and actress Natalie Canerday ("October Sky," "Walk the Line," "Sling Blade").
Preceding the screenings, attendees will have an opportunity to have their portrait made by photographer Thomas Petillo at an opening reception. Following the screenings will be an after party at Low Key Arts, 118 Arbor St.
The programming for Arkansas Shorts does include mature content and is rated R. Viewer discretion is advised.
Email Bobby Missle, artistic director at Low Key Arts, at [email protected] or visit https://www.facebook.com/arkansasshorts for more information about Arkansas Shorts.
2017 Arkansas Shorts lineup
"Policy," Donavon Thompson.
"Pepper Spray," Geenah Krisht.
"Set Pickup," Chris Churchill.
"Up On A Cloud," Jeff Rolfzen.
"Frail," Hunter Bay.
"Majestic, 'o to Thee," Dan Anderson.
"The Dale Story," Phil Chambliss.
"Throwers," Coty Greenwood.
"Mud Bugs," Whitney Butler.
"Expecting," Jen Gerber.
"Sector 7," Kelly Griffin.
Inception to Projection films
"Autumn," by Autumn Nicole.
"The Mysterious Case of Downtown," by Gwen Kudabeck.
"Serenade," by Tenzing Briggs.
"Stanley," by Trey Wilson.
Jan. 7 schedule
• 2:30-4 p.m. -- Made in Arkansas filmmaking panel.
• 4:30 p.m. -- Reception with portraits by Thomas Petillo.
• 6 p.m. -- International block.
• 7 p.m. -- North American block.
• 8 p.m. -- Arkansas Shorts and award ceremony.
• 10 p.m. -- After party at Low Key Arts.
Entertainment on 12/23/2016