Bentonville Film Festival Winners Announced:

Bentonville Film Festival Winners Announced:

Best of the Fest – No Greater Love

Audience favorite Showcase Film. Determined by Audience ballot.

No Greater Love – Director/Writer: Justin Roberts. (2015, USA)

No Greater Love explores a combat deployment through the eyes of an Army chaplain, as he and his men fight their way through a hellish tour in one of the most dangerous places in Afghanistan and then as they struggle to reintegrate home.

Best Narrative – It Had to Be You

Jury award for Best Competition Narrative. Determined by Jury.

It Had to Be You - Director/Screenwriter: Sasha Gordon (USA/Italy)

Sonia is a neurotic jingle writer who’s always dreamt of a big and exciting life. Surprised by a sudden proposal and subsequent ultimatum from her easy-going boyfriend, Chris, Sonia has to decide whether she’ll join the ranks of her married friends or take a leap and pursue her fantasies.

Cast: Cristin Milioti, Dan Soder, Halley Pfeiffer, Mark Gessner, Kyle Mooney

BFF Audience Award – Floyd Norman: An Animated Life

Audience favorite Competition Film. Determined by Audience ballot.

Floyd Norman: An Animated Life - Directors: Erik Sharkey, Michael Fiore. (USA)

Animator. Storyman. Troublemaker.  At 80 years old, see how this Disney Legend, the first African-American animator at Disney, continues to impact animation and stir up his own brand of “trouble.”

Best Family Film – Lost & Found

Best Family Film in a Competition Narrative Film. Determined by Jury.

Lost & Found - Director: Joseph Itaya, Screenwriters: Joseph Itaya, Erik Cardona (USA)

Andy and his younger brother Mark are sent to visit their estranged uncle on a mysterious island.  They soon discover clues to a complex treasure hunt, a hunt that could lead to unimaginable wealth and heal their broken family - if they can find it in time.

Cast: Justin Kelly, Benjamin Stockham, Céleste Desjardins, with Cary Elwes, and Jason Patric

Best Documentary – A Journey of a Thousand Miles: Peacekeepers

Jury award for Best Competition Documentary - Determined by Jury.

A Journey of a Thousand Miles: Peacekeepers - Directors: Geeta Gandbhir, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. (USA/Pakistan)

One hundred and sixty women leave their families in Bangladesh for one year to join the United Nations Stabilising Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). They form one of the world’s first all female, predominantly Muslim peacekeeping units, shattering every stereotype the world holds about the capabilities of Muslim women. 

The Dernsie – Alice Coulthard - Josephine

Best Acting in a Competition Narrative Film. Determined by Jury (named for Bruce Dern, BFF BOA Member) 

Josephine - Director: Rory Feek, Screenwriter: Rory Feek and Aaron Carnahan (USA)

In the spring of 1864, a desperate young farmer’s wife enlists in the army, posing as a man.  She battles the enemy, the men of her unit and her own identity in a quest that takes her on a journey from Tennessee to Virginia in search of her missing husband.

Cast: Boris McGiver, Alice Coulthard, Jessejames Locorriere

Best Ensemble – Fair Market Value

Best Ensemble in a Competition Narrative Film. Determined by Jury

Fair Market Value - Director: Kevin Arbouet, Story: Judy San Roman, Screenwriter: Kevin Arbouet. (USA) World Premiere

Kendall, a real estate agent from Miami, moves to the suburbs of New York and immediately finds she has to join forces with Brooke, a competitive rival agent, to sell one of the most expensive mansions in Long Island.

Cast: Luisana Lopilato, Craig Bierko, Royce Johnson, Julia Duffy, Drew Meorlein, Jerry Adler, Wendy Makkena, Debra Jo Rupp, Tina Benko, Gene Gabriel, Olga Merediz

Highest Diversity Score – Tested

Determined by analysis through the Bentonville Film Festival Foundation

Tested - Director: Curtis Chin. (USA)

A diverse group of 8th graders in New York City vie for a coveted spot in one of the city's elite public schools by taking a single standardized test.

BFF Spirit Award -  Monica Gonzalez, ESPN

Selected by BFF recognizing an individual in media advancing the cause of diversity and inclusion.

Monica Gonzalez, former Mexican-American professional soccer player, now soccer analyst and announcer for ESPN, has taken her Gonzo Soccer Academy global, teaching soccer, life and leadership skills to over 900 girls worldwide.

Impact Award – Walmart, AMC Theatres, Lifetime & STARZ 

Selected by BFF based on contribution to Festival & Mission

In addition to the support of Walmart, AMC Theatres and Lifetime, the expanded partnership support from Starz offered filmmakers in the 2016 BFF Film Competition even greater distribution opportunities.  Carmi Zlotnik, managing director at Starz said, "Starz is pleased to partner with the BFF. The festival has already made an impact, and we are proud to participate in a bigger way this year. We are dedicated to supporting new voices and emerging storytellers.” 

BFF Jurors ranged from industry professionals to corporate executives and were led by Alex Cohen in the Documentary competition and Emilio Estevez in the Narrative competition.

Narrative Jurors: Emilio Estevez (Head Juror), Cody Allison, Bailey Gibson, Chris Nagelson, Al Dominguez, Jody Pinson, Darin Dickson, Mike Roberts, Tangellia Moore, Gretchen Bellamy, Julian Franco, Ashley Price, Laura Philips, Tom Hoehn and Scott Landes. 

Documentary Jurors: Alex Cohen (Head Juror), Kenneth Bradley, Brenda Kellenbarger, Cindy Bradley, Jill Wesbecher, Rebecca Powers, Rock Skeans, Sherrie Langehennig, Connie Kelley, Sree Vaddi, Kortnee Bradley, Jennifer Readio and David K Saito.