Hot Springs Documentary Film Institute appoints new Board of Directors members
The Hot Springs Documentary Film Institute (HSDFI) announced the appointment of several distinguished individuals to the institute’s Board of Directors, as it gears up to celebrate the 35th edition of the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival (HSDFF) (October 9-17, 2026). The list includes: Justin Acri, Beau Durbin, Carolyn Kennedy, Gentry Kirby, André Robert Lee, and Jen Rainin. LaTricia (LT) Hill-Chandler, an HSDFI Board Director since 2024, is HSDFI’s new Board Chair. The longest-running documentary film festival in North America and the only Oscar®-qualifying festival in Arkansas, the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival, was included in MovieMaker Magazine’s 2025 “50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee”.
“We are excited to welcome our new Board members to the Hot Springs Documentary Film Institute,” said HSDFI Board Chair LaTricia (LT) Hill-Chandler. “Their leadership, diverse perspectives, and commitment to storytelling will strengthen our mission and help guide HSDFI’s continued growth and impact within the Hot Springs community and beyond.”
Joining the HSDFI Board of Directors are six new members, whose business acumen and community engagement will be instrumental in expanding the reach and impact of the festival. With a total of nineteen members, the board remains focused on fostering continued growth, diversity, outreach, and organizational strength, all while championing the art of nonfiction storytelling.
New HSDFI Board of Directors: Latricia Hill-Chandler, Justin Acri, Beau Durbin, Carolyn Kennedy, CTP, Gentry Kirby, André Robert Lee, Jen Rainin
HSDFI 2026 Board Chair:
LaTricia (LT) Hill-Chandler is Founder and Principal Consultant of The Dadden Group, with nearly 30 years of leadership across corporate, nonprofit, higher education, and CDFI sectors. A former Chief DEI Officer, she helps mission-driven organizations align culture, talent, and strategy to drive inclusive, sustainable impact.
HSDFI 2026 Incoming Board Members:
Justin Acri is an award-winning broadcaster and media executive with over 20 years in Arkansas sports media. As Program Director and General Manager of 103.7 The Buzz, he hosts The Zone and serves as play-by-play announcer for University of Central Arkansas athletics, earning recognition for professionalism and community engagement.
Beau Durbin is co-founder and principal broker of ESQ. Realty Group and a practicing real estate attorney and partner at Crow & Durbin in Hot Springs, Arkansas. With two decades of experience in real estate and law, he specializes in transactional work and strategic problem-solving. He also maintains a real estate investment portfolio of commercial properties and short-term rentals. Beau lives in Hot Springs with his wife, Sharay, and their two sons.
Carolyn Kennedy, CTP has over 25 years of banking experience and currently serves as Executive Director of Treasury Management & Payment Solutions at Arvest Bank, headquartered in Fayetteville, AR. Carolyn holds a B.A. in Economics and Finance from Sweet Briar College in Sweet Briar, Virginia. She is also a Certified Treasury Professional.
Gentry Kirby is a Senior Director and Producer for ESPN Films where he has produced multiple documentaries for the “30 For 30” series including Be Water and the ESPN Films series, The Last Dance. He has also directed three 30 for 30s – This Magic Moment, Tommy and The Great Heisman Race of 1997.
André Robert Lee is founder of Many Things Productions and director of award-winning documentaries that sit at the intersection of storytelling, social impact, and community engagement. His films include the NAACP Image Awards nominated Freeman Vines, and theautobiographical documentary The Prep School Negro, which aired nationally on PBS. He’s directed for CNN and Sundance films, and serves as head of the Film Department at Sessions University.
Jen Rainin is a filmmaker and co-founder of Frankly Speaking Films, telling bold stories about queer women. With Rivkah Beth Medow, she produced acclaimed feature documentary Ahead of the Curve (Netflix) and the Oscar®-shortlisted short documentary Holding Moses (The New Yorker). She also co-founded The Curve Foundation to amplify LGBTQ+ women’s stories.
The 2026 HSDFI Board Officers: Board Chair LaTricia Hill-Chandler, Co-Vice Chair Kerri Jackson, Co-Vice Chair Chris Ho, Treasurer John Horner, Secretary Matthew Rogers
The 2026 HSDFI Board of Directors: Justin Acri, Brad Burleson, Caryn Capotosto, Kai Coggin, Beau Durbin, Ra A. Hearne, Dr. Chris Jones, Carolyn Kennedy, CTP, Gentry Kirby, André Robert Lee, Margaret McLarty, Jen Rainin, Clint Schaff, Ben Walters, Angie Wilson
Planning is well underway for the highly anticipated 35th Anniversary edition of the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival. Scheduled to take place Oct 9-17, 2026, HSDFF plans to continue its celebrated and critically acclaimed innovations to present documentary films, platform filmmakers, and help push forward the art of documentary storytelling. Announcements regarding the film lineup, events, honorees, and guests will follow throughout the year. For more information on HSDFF please visit: hsdfi.org.