2023 Fort Smith International Film Festival

Description

The 2023 Fort Smith International Film Festival returns August 25 & 26, 2023, to Temple Live in downtown Fort Smith, Arkansas!

[re]Focused is the theme of the festival, celebrating a storytelling renaissance by moviemakers who suffered production obstacles posed by the global pandemic. Artists who persevered are emerging with a new focus. People and groups who were on the margins or left out of narratives are entering the picture with a sharpness that reveals the details of life at a higher resolution.

CATEGORIES

People of Color
Indigenous
Music Video
Animation
High School Short Film
College Student Short Film
Documentary
Short & Feature-length Films

SCHEDULE

View Festival Program

AUG. 25 | OPENING NIGHT

Temple Live, Main Theater

4:30 PM | Doors Open

5 PM | NWA Screenwriters Collective Meeting & Mixer

6 PM | Opening Remarks

6:20 PM | Belinga Foundation Introductory Film

6:40 PM | I WANTED TO BE VITTORIO GASSMANN
Cristian Scardigno from the Cisterna Film Festival

7 PM | Cisterna Film Festival Panel

7:15 PM | Cherokee Nation Film Office Film

7:30 PM | Keynote Address
Sgt. Major Keith L. Craig (Ret.)
Jeff Porter of Porter + Craig Film and Media Distribution

8:05 PM | Regional Films Showcase
When the Stairs Creek - Jason Pitts
Banana Triangle Six - Marc Crandall
Lowlifes - Daniel Wingfield
The River Woe - Christopher Coursey

9:30 PM | Q&A with filmmakers

AUG. 26 | FILM SCREENINGS

Content Warning: films are unrated and may contain nudity, sexual situations, strong language, and violence.

SHORT FILMS

Temple Live, Main Theater

10 AM | Animation

11:40 AM | Romance/Drama

2:15 PM | Experimental /Comedy

4:35 PM | Indigenous

6:40 PM | People of Color

8:25 PM | Action / Sci-fi

FOREIGN FILMS

Temple Live, Lodge Room

10 AM | Poetry Zaban

11:15 AM | How to Thrive

1:10 PM | Evolution of Style

3:05 PM | Huspa Jhala Re

4:05 PM | Amuka

5:35 PM | Unfriending

7:25 PM | No Shadows Left

9 PM | Cover Your Ears

AND MORE

Temple Live, Commandry Room

10:30 AM | LGBTQ Films

11:50 AM | Alumni Films

1:40 PM | Please Marry Our Daughter

3:30 PM | New West

5:50 PM | Regional College Films

7:20 PM | Local Films
Somewhere In Nowhere

9:35 PM | Ghost In The World

Temple Live, Sphinx Club

10:30 AM | Short Docs

12:30 PM | Documentary Features
Sound of Identity

2:15 PM | One Pint at a Time

4:05 PM | No Trespassing

5:40 PM | Music Videos

7:05 PM | Crown

8:15 PM | We Will Speak

10:05 PM | Thrillers

AUG. 26 | FILMMAKER PANELS

11:30 AM | Animation / Alum

12:45 PM | Shorts Docs / Romance

2 PM | College

3:15 PM | Sci-Fi / Others

4 PM | Break

5 PM | Comedy / LGBTQ / Regional

6:15 PM | Features

7:30 PM | Indigenous / Thriller

8:45 PM | People of Color /Action

10 PM | Local / Regional

AUG. 26 | AWARDS

Temple Live, Main Theater

10:30 PM | Awards Pre-Party

11:30 PM | Awards Ceremony

12 AM | After-Party

Fort Smith International Film Festival is brought to you by The River Valley Film Society Inc. We are a 501c3 non-profit with the goal to build a vibrant film culture in the River Valley through transformative cinematic experiences and educational film opportunities.

* Please confirm directly with the promoter or box office to ensure event details have not changed.