The Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival is in the final week of a 30-day sprint to raise $30,000 during the month of June as part of its 30th-anniversary celebration, standing to receive up to $30,000 in matching funds if it meets the goal.
"Our goal is to hit $30,000 by the 30th of June, and we are at the 19th and we are just over 25% there," Brad Burleson, HSDFF event chair, told The Sentinel-Record on Saturday. "All of it's going to go to programming. It's going to go to setting up the festival, making it run properly."
By Thursday, the fundraiser had reached 50% of its goal, around $15,000.
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Two private donors, Dorothy Morris and Gail Pratt Frasier, have each agreed to match the funds raised, up to $10,000 apiece, and the film festival's board has also agreed to match funds raised up to $10,000.
In total, the festival stands to gain $60,000 if it meets the fundraising goal.
"It's absolutely needed; it takes a lot of money to get the festival going and every penny we've got, every penny we can get our hands on is used for making the festival run successfully," Burleson said.
"Every arts organization, especially last year, was hit very hard, and this is our 30th anniversary, we want to put on a festival that really brings everybody back with a huge celebration, but even the festival alone is an incredible expense," said Jen Gerber, the film festival's executive director.
"It's a nine-day event. We have parties, screenings, guests; there's a lot going on, so all those funds are used to make that happen," Gerber said, noting she feels they are on pace to reach $30,000.
"I feel confident that we'll make our match, but we definitely want to make it," she said.
"Gail Pratt Frasier and Dorothy Morris are matching our donations up to $10,000," Burleson said. "We are raising $30,000 total then it is a three-way match between Gail, Dorothy and the board," Burleson said.
During the festival, which will be held from Oct. 8-16, Burleson said documentary films will be screened at three locations with shuttles to take guests to the different venues.
"We'll have our traditional screens at The Arlington, we'll also be utilizing the newly renovated Central Theatre, and also the Malco Theatre," he said.
Burleson also announced Docs on the Dock, which will be a screening of "Playing with Sharks" at 4918 Central Ave. on Friday, July 9.
"We are having an outdoor screening at the lake this year; it will be our first one," Burleson said. "It'll be in partnership with Futrell Marine on the lake and it will be a great outdoor event for us to do to incorporate those who like the lake time but don't want to sacrifice that" for a documentary film.
"We're encouraging everyone to come by boat, if they can. Those who don't have a boat, or access to a boat, will be able to watch from the dock itself. If you've got a big pool float, bring it," Burleson said.
Gerber also expressed excitement for the screening.
"Ever since I first took a leadership position at the Documentary Film Festival, I've been wanting to do an event I call Docs on the Dock, and this year we'll finally get to do it," Gerber said.
The film is about a woman in Australia "who was a trailblazer in diving with sharks, and she started out as a poacher, but then really came to love and appreciate the animals and became more of a protector, but she's also an incredible cinematographer, she would film her dives, and a lot of her footage is actually in the movie 'Jaws,'" Gerber said.
"It'll be appropriate to watch on the waterfront," she said.