The Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts is open from Friday, August 13 to Sunday, August 17.
Whether it s all that natural light and sleek architecture or the feeling that you re getting a sneak peek at a movie before the reviews have even come out, there s something elevated and effervescent about the Arkansas Cinema Society s annual Filmland festival finding a venue in the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts. The museum s Performing Arts Theater is just the right size, spacious enough to make what s onscreen feel grand but small enough to give last year s audiences a close-up on Colman Domingo s charisma during the Southern Storytellers panel discussion. This year, expect the festival buzz to be heightened by another heavyweight Hollywood connection to Arkansas: the screening of Tony Tost s debut film, Americana. Tost, who got his master s degree at the University of Arkansas and lives part time in Fayetteville, is a multitalent: showrunner for Natasha Lyonne vehicle Poker Face ; writer for neo-Western Longmire ; author of the award-winning poetry collection Invisible Bride and of the entry on Johnny Cash s American Recordings in the acclaimed 33 book series. Americana, starring Sydney Sweeney, Paul Walter Hauser and Halsey, gets a screening at Filmland two days before its theatrical release, with Hauser and Tost in attendance. Elsewhere on the festival: a screening of Stephanie Laing s Tow, a true story starring Rose Byrne about a Seattle woman fighting her way out of a $21,634 bill from a car tow company; the third consecutive visit from Variety film critic Peter Debruge; and a flock of Arkansas features and short films, some of which will be up for grant money from Panavision s New Filmmaker Program. Find out more at arkansascinemasociety.org .
It’s dragon-slaying time!
The Arkansas Times, which relentlessly defends the fundamental rights and liberties in our community, stands as a light of truth in an era when critical voices are being silenced more and more. Our commitment to provide uncompromising journalism has never been more important, especially with Arkansas in the center of a broad culture war that is impacting our libraries, schools, and public conversation. We can’t accomplish our goals of defeating dragons and holding those in positions of authority responsible alone. You can guarantee that independent journalism in Arkansas not only endures but flourishes by making a contribution today. We can join the fight and make a difference together.
