The University Libraries and the Bentonville Film Festival Foundation have reached an agreement to have the University Libraries’ Special Collections department archive a variety of materials from festivals past, present and future. Filmmakers will have the option to preserve their work through this agreement, and it is anticipated that physical items, such as programs and books, will be preserved in the archive, as well.
“We have been working to expand our holdings in music and the performing arts, and the Bentonville Film Festival materials will greatly help our students and faculty in researching film and the arts,” said Carolyn Henderson Allen, dean of Libraries. “As always, the public is also welcome to view and use Special Collections materials.”
The Bentonville Film Festival was co-founded by Academy Award winner Geena Davis and Inclusion Companies CEO Trevor Drinkwater. The yearlong platform, culminating with an annual six-day festival the first week in May, champions inclusion in all forms of media. In addition to film, the festival features live music performances and discussion events.
“Having this archive at the university that celebrates diversity in this industry provides a treasure trove of research materials, so I am grateful that we were able to see this idea through to fruition,” said Jeff Banks, assistant dean for human resources and organizational development.
The Bentonville Film Festival Collection will add to the Libraries’ extensive holdings in music and performing arts, which encompass everything from theater and symphony to film and folksongs. For example, the Florence Price Papers give a glimpse into the incredible life and work of the first major African-American female composer. The Alice Ghostley Materialscelebrate the Tony Award winner’s career as an actress and comedienne. Other noteworthy collections include Arkansas Rock Band Memorabilia, as well as the Opera in the Ozarks and the Arkansas Folksong collections.
The University Libraries also serve as the archive for the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival – the oldest all-documentary film festival in North America. The materials span 27 years of history and include thousands of documentary films, as well as an extensive collection of photographs, film memorabilia and artifacts. A number of the documentaries in the collection, especially those screened prior to the digital revolution, were never released.
For more information on the Bentonville Film Festival Archive, the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival Archives, or any of the resources in Special Collections, please contact 479-575-8444 or email specoll@uark.edu.