Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival

Hot Springs Documentary Film Institute and Low Key Arts team for new doc making workshop

By John Wildman 2 years ago

Course topics for the Documentary Filmmaking Workshop will offer a deep, immersive dive for aspiring filmmakers into topics like, writing for the documentary, building relationships with on-screen participants, interviewing techniques, camera and lighting techniques, journalistic code of ethics, archive media and post-production. The course will begin Monday, July 8 and end Sunday, September 1 and the lectures are primarily hosted on Zoom. The class fee is $400/person (Limited need-based scholarships are available.).

Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival 2023 announces films, honorees, and Honorary Chair

By John Wildman 2 years ago

HSDFF Executive Director, Ken Jacobson, said, “In our 32nd year, we are underlining the high level of film programming that has made the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival such a beacon for the best and most innovative filmmakers working in the documentary form today. In addition, we are incorporating dynamic new programs and events to enrich the audience experience and support the documentary filmmaking community. Our goal is to embrace the rich tableau of nonfiction storytelling and forge deeper connections between filmmakers, the people and place of Hot Springs, Arkansas and the broader world. We are thrilled to be launching these efforts alongside this year’s Honorary Chair, the extraordinary and beloved Arkansan, the multi-talented Mary Steenburgen.”

Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival brings on Ken Jacobson as new Executive Director

By John Wildman 3 years ago

Regarding the new position, Jacobson said, “When I first assisted on interviews with legendary leaders of the Civil Rights Movement as an intern on the series “Eyes on the Prize II,” I knew, deep down, that I always wanted to return to the South to connect the paths of documentary film and great Southern storytellers. After serving 15 years in the film festival and documentary non- profit worlds, I feel honored and thrilled to be joining Hot Springs Documentary Film Institute as the new Executive Director.”

Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival 2022 Interviews – ROOTS OF FIRE & FINDING HER BEAT

By John Wildman 3 years ago

Dawn Mikkelson and Keri Pickett’s Finding Her Beat, and Abby Berendt Lavoi and Jeremey Lavoi’s Roots of Fire have the obvious familial ties front and center: Finding Her Beat has Jennifer Weir and Megan Chao Smith (and heir daughter Josie) as the beating heart in its dynamic look at the women who have essentially unapologetically staked out their place in the world of Taiko drumming, and the husband and wife filmmaking team of Jeremey and Abby Berendt Lavoi successfully embedded themselves in the very tight kit “family” that makes up the insular Louisiana community that revolves around and feeds off their French music and culture.