FILM FESTIVAL NEWS: The 2018 Bentonville Film Festival announces award winners

The Bentonville Film Festival (BFF) founded by Walmart and Presented by Coca-Cola, announced its 2018 Award Winning Films, and honors at an Awards Ceremony, presented by P&G, at the Crystal Bridges American Museum of Art.

The production team from F.R.E.D.I. accepts the "Best of fest" award at the 2018 Bentonville Film Festival. — The production team from F.R.E.D.I. (producer Johnny Remo, director Sean Olson, and Executive Producer/SFX Supervisor Christian Beckman) accept the “Best of Fest” Audience Award at the 2018 Bentonville Film Festival.

The show was hosted by The Real’s Loni Love, and presenters included festival Co-Founders Geena Davis and Trevor Drinkwater, and actor Stephanie Beatriz, with performances by Martina McBride and the Latin X Theater Project. Actor and filmmaker Natalie Morales was presented with BFF’s first SEE IT, BE IT award, recognizing her rising and influential voice in the landscape of diversity and inclusion in media.

Presenter Stephanie Beatriz and See It Be It Award honoree Natalie Morales at the Bentonville Film Festival Awards Ceremony (Photo by Victor Chalfant)

The winning film received award recognition as well as prizes from the awards partners listed below. Five out of five feature film award winners made their world premiere at BFF this year.
Jury Awards:
Best Narrative Film: LEZ BOMB, (World Premiere), Director: Jenna Laurenzo, includes guaranteed distribution offer from a BFF distribution partner
Best Documentary Film: EMANUEL (World Premiere), Director Brian Ivie, includes a mentorship prize package from ITVS
Best Short Film: THE BROWNLIST, Directors: Kelly Walker and Ryan Garcia, includes a feature film directing job from MarVista Entertainment
Best Episodic: BEAST, Director Ben Strang, includes a mentorship prize package from SeriesFest

LEZ BOMB's director/writer/star Jenna Laurenzo accepts the jury prize for Best Narrative Feature Film. (Photo by Victor Chalfant) — LEZ BOMB’s director/writer/star Jenna Laurenzo accepts the jury prize for Best Narrative Feature Film. (Photo by Victor Chalfant)

EMANUEL accepts their award — The production team from EMANUEL accepts their jury prize for “Best Documentary Film” at the 2018 Bentonville Film Festival Awards Ceremony.

Audience Awards:
Best Narrative Film: MISS ARIZONA (World Premiere), Director Autumn McAlpin
Best Documentary Film: LOVE ALWAYS MOM (World Premiere), Directors Tricia Russo, Craig E. Shapiro
Best Short Film: LABORATORY CONDITIONS, Director Jocelyn Stamat
Best Episodic: BROOKLYNIFCATION, Director Keith Miller
Best of the Fest: F.R.E.D.I. (World Premiere) Director Sean Olson

MISS ARIZONA's Autumn McAlpin, with her prize and BFF's co-Founder Geena Davis. — MISS ARIZONA’s director Autumn McAlpin, with her Audience Award for “Best Narrative Feature” and BFF’s co-Founder Geena Davis.

Co-dirctors of the Audience Award winner for "Best Documentary Film," LOVE ALWAYS, MOM, with BFF's Geena Davis. — Co-dirctors of the Audience Award winner for “Best Documentary Film,” LOVE ALWAYS, MOM, Craig E. Shapiro and Tricia Russo,with BFF’s Geena Davis.

Additional awards included:
Big Vision Empty Wallet Fellowship Award: Molly McGlynn, Writer/Director, MARY GOES ROUND. Big Vision’s focus is on fostering inclusion and developing unexpected content with women, people of color and LGBTQ creators.
Samsung Create Award: Olivia Stumbaugh, Chris Perea & Melanie Teoh, Harbor High School, Springdale, Arkansas