Bentonville Film Festival

The Bentonville Film Festival runs June 15 through 21, 2026, filling screens across Bentonville with premieres, panels, and family friendly programming designed to spotlight diverse voices in filmmaking.

Festival passes grant access to multiple venues, including outdoor screenings on the Square, theater showings in the Walton Arts Center complex, and intimate question-and-answer sessions where directors and actors discuss their work directly with audiences. The program features a mix of narrative films, documentaries, and short films, along with events that invite the broader community into conversations about storytelling and representation.

The festival was founded to champion content created by and about women and underrepresented groups. It attracts filmmakers, industry professionals, and film enthusiasts who value substance alongside entertainment.

Bentonville’s location in the Ozark foothills places it about 15 miles from the northern shoreline of Beaver Lake, where the White River was impounded in the 1960s to create 31,700 acres of clear water. The city’s cultural infrastructure has expanded rapidly since the opening of Crystal Bridges Museum in 2011.

Today, visitors find art galleries, chef driven restaurants, and a walkable downtown that feels both polished and accessible. Between screenings, attendees explore the museum’s wooded trails and Frank Lloyd Wright structures or ride the Razorback Greenway, a paved path connecting Bentonville to neighboring towns.

Outdoor screenings on the Square draw the largest crowds, so arriving early is recommended to secure a spot on the lawn. Bringing a blanket or low back chair makes the experience more comfortable. Indoor venues offer air conditioning and stronger sound quality, which works especially well for dialogue-driven narrative films.

Panels and workshops often require separate tickets and tend to fill quickly, particularly sessions featuring recognizable names or timely topics. Festival organizers also schedule family friendly content during afternoon hours, making it easy to bring kids for a screening or two without committing to a full week of films.

Hotels and short term rentals near downtown book quickly during festival week. Properties around Beaver Lake provide a quieter alternative, where visitors can start the day with a paddle or hike before heading into town for evening screenings. Lake.com offers lakeside lodging options that pair festival days with relaxed Ozark evenings by the water.

After a day of films, consider dining at The Hive at 21c Museum Hotel for farm to table Southern cuisine, or visit Tusk and Trotter, which has served gourmet comfort food since 2011 in a casual pub setting with local beers and craft cocktails.

Plan your Bentonville Film Festival weekend and book lakeside stays on Lake.com.