Hot Springs Arts and Film Institute presents the Hot Springs International Women's Film Festival. The annual festival provides a platform for female filmmakers to showcase their work, network with industry professionals and learn from industry leaders. We believe that promoting talented artists in a male dominated industry is an important part of creating a more equitable and inclusive film community. The Festival takes place in Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas and attracts filmmakers, industry professionals, and celebrities from all over the world, it provides a unique opportunity for attendees to view some of the best independent films of the year and engage with a diverse community of creatives.

Schedule

June 30, 2023

Pre-Festival festivities from 4:00 - 6:00 PM at the Bar & Grill Hot Springs Hotel
Meet and Greet Doors Open at 6:30 at The Vapors Live

7:20pm: Festival Introduction: Hosted by Becky Bartlett President Women in Film Arkansas “Arkansas Made” Films

7:30pm: First River: How Arkansas Saved a National Treasure, 00:53:28, "The Buffalo National River in Arkansas draws more than one million visitors per. But in the early 1960's, this pristine natural attraction was doomed to be dammed. A grassroots movement led by a small town doctor rose up. With perseverance, joining of forces, and a little luck, this group of homegrown conservationists not only saved the river from damming, but also helped it to gain permanent protection as America's first National River. Michelle West, Guy Giaimo-McClung, Arkansas USA First time Filmmaker

8:30pm: Esme, 00:05:00, "Esme is a short film about a young girl, Madison Abbot. and her Journey to treat her Grandmother with respect. with the help of a memoir from 1938, Germany.” Alana Dunn, Arkansas USA First time Filmmaker

8:35pm: Heal the River, 00:21:31, "Hydropower dams, built decades ago, have dramatically altered river systems across Alabama. Downstream of the Harris Dam on the Tallapoosa River, families and landowners who have lost property and use of the river have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to ask for changes to the operation of the dam through the relicensing process. Their hope is that changes can improve downstream conditions and begin to heal the river.” Paulina Sobczak, Arkansas USA First time Filmmaker

9:00pm: The Soul of Sicily, 00:33:57, "The food we eat connects us to a vast web --from farmers to producers - involved in getting food from farm to fork. We probably don’t pause to think about it while eating an apple or cheese, but this global food system is central to some of the biggest challenges facing humanity. Farmers are our most fragile link in this food chain.” Margie Raimondo, Elisabetta Zengaro, David Craft, Patrick Green, Arkansas USA First time Filmmaker

9:35pm: Why Don’t You Watch A Little Fox News?, 00:08:38, The women of America have decided to take over. Kristine Artymowski, Arkansas USA

9:45pm: Dirt, 00:55:06, "Break through the surface to explore the living, breathing ecosystem beneath our feet. A new documentary about saving our soil delves into how Arkansas farmers, ranchers and more are improving their operations by helping the environment.” Jennifer Gibson, Levi Agee, Arkansas USA First time Filmmaker

10:40pm Break 15 min, 10:55pm Start International Films

10:55pm Could This Have Been An Email 00:04:44 Three coworkers struggle with the horrific possibility of speaking with a customer on the phone. Nicole Kemper Sarah Alison Hodges (mature) United States

11:00pm: WILDCAT, 00:14:43, "Mary Todd Lincoln, who is committed to an insane asylum by her last living relative, tries to prove her sanity with the help of a medium and her dead son. Based on true events." Cat Dale, Alexa Alberda, United States

11:20pm: Polette, 00:38:18, "Crystal goes on a journey to discover her powerful female sensuality and the right to express. Set in the backdrop of the pole fitness community". KATRINA CEBREIRO, United States

July 1, 2023

"Mimosa at the Movies Meet and Greet" from 12:00 PM-1:00 PM at Vapors Bar

Arkansas Network Panel 12:00 – 1:00pm

International Films

1:00pm: Hamster, 00:19:07, "Mahi and Pouya are in a vacation with friends. At night they have fun with their friends. In the morning, they face with the dead bodies of their friends (CO poisoning) and find out that they are the reason for the death of their friends. The tension raises, Pouya decides to run and ignore but Mahi decides to Stay. Between arguing for staying or leaving they realize the depth of their relationship. At one point Mahi suddenly realizes one of their friends is alive and makes an unexpected decision that reveals a new dimension of her personality that even she didn't know." Fatima Nofely, Bruno Smadja & Majid Barzegar, France

1:20pm: BIENVENIDOS A LOS ANGELES, 00:15:00, "Inspired by true events, the film tells the timely story of Imani, a Nigerian single-mother living in Los Angeles. When she offers to help a perfect stranger reunite with her son, Imani learns this simple act of kindness threatens to jeopardize her own path to citizenship." Lisa Cole, Ben O'Keefe, Vivian Johnson, Cindy Lu, Jolene Mendes, United States

1:40pm: Ivy Grace, 00:13:00, "A Christian, Republican woman from South Carolina makes a challenging decision following a hypoplastic left heart syndrome diagnosis in a post-Roe v. Wade world." Allie Delury, Mariah Harkey, United States A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT SAVING OUR SOIL

2:00pm: Vodnik Many Years After the Rainstorm, 00:05:58, "In San Francisco, many years after his hideous crimes, the fiendish water creature Vodnik emerges from Czech folklore to recount his beguiling tale." Emma Penaz Eisner, United States

2:07pm: You're Alright Hun, 00:05:06, "Orla is on the brink caring for her terminally ill Dad, Darragh. While waiting in the pharmacy for his pain medicine, all hell breaks loose when Orla's ex-girlfriend shows up to return a potted succulent." Katie-Ann McDonough, Leigh Douglas, Ireland First time Filmmaker

2:15pm: Fix, 00:15:00, "Thomas and Maeve meet at a NYC bar for the first time in years. As the night unfolds, they fall back into old habits, rehashing a troubled history." Madge, Soukaina Alaoui El Hassani, Vincent Van der Velde, United States First time Filmmaker

2:30pm: For Tomorrow, 01:12:00, "Filmed with local crews around the world from the Andes to Sierra Leone, and with rare access to the United Nations Development Program, For Tomorrow (narrated by Daisy Ridley) is the story of grassroots innovators dedicated to fighting some of today’s most pressing sustainability issues. Through actions, big and small, everyday changemakers are tackling local problems and inspiring their communities with ingenuity, resilience and vision. An Tran, Elliot V Kotek, Sue-Ellen Chitunya, Sara Teasdale, Garcia Inigo, First time Filmmaker Canada

3:45pm PROGNOSIS - notes on living, 01:21:00, "In perhaps her bravest act, Oscarwinning documentarian and LGBTQ+ activist Debra Chasnoff responds to a deadly disease by turning the camera on herself, her wife and their chosen family. Clear-eyed and unsentimental, PROGNOSIS is an emotionally raw, funny, and profoundly intimate present-tense diary of a life fiercely lived, and a love worth fighting for. "Everyone should see Chasnoff and Kate Stilley Steiner, ‘Prognosis‚ Notes on Living', a wrenching, intimate, and eloquent study of mortality and how we confront it." Boston Globe. Kate Stilley Steiner, Debra Chasnoff, Joan Lefkowitz, Lidia Szajko, Nancy Otto, United States

4:10pm Frida, 00:19:00, "An encounter between a young nurse and her patient of the same age, Frida, on the border of professional distance and the desire for closeness." Aleksandra Odić, Stanislav Danylyshyn, Germany Student

4:30pm: Spring Roll Dream (Sub Eng), 00:09:19, "Linh is a Vietnamese mother who lives with her son in America. When her father visits and insists on cooking a traditional Vietnamese meal, Linh is confronted with the past and culture she left behind." Mai Vu, Thijme Grol, United Kingdom Student

4:40pm: The Sisters Karras 01:23:00 “A story about the things that matter: Family, legacy, success, and textiles. Yes, textiles. Two estranged half-sisters form a complicated bond as they work together to retrieve their rare and precious inheritance, which their late father inexplicably leaves to the mysterious Marco.” Micah Stathis, Clare Louise Frost, United States

6:10pm - 7:00pm: Break

7:00pm: The Rain Has Passed, 00:14:04, "Brad, a famous artist, grieves the loss of his wife after a tragic accident. He blames himself wishing for only one thing: to have 5 more minutes to say how much he loved her. A stranger shows up who gives Brad a chance to look at his life from different angle." Marina Nikolaevna Edwards, Jon Morris Edwards, United States First time Filmmaker

7:15pm: Mommyland, 00:03:10, "After finding herself in a surreal amusement park called Mommyland, a young woman discovers the ups and downs of pregnancy and motherhood." Aijian Chen, Euni Park Chao, United States Student

7:20pm: Well Actually, 00:09:27, “A Black woman software engineer deals with workplace microaggressions from her male colleagues”. Vlada Knowlton, Susan LaSalle, Lulu Gargiulo, United States

7:30pm: Generation Impact: The Guardians, 00:05:00, "Generation Impact is a video series from the Garage by HP about cutting-edge young innovators who are using technology to create a more equitable world. Generation Impact: The Guardians, the fourth film in a series by the Garage by HP about Gen Z innovators, is directed by Alessandra Lacorazza of Meerkat Media and produced by T Brand, the content studio within New York Times Advertising." Alessandra Lacorazza, Justine LaViolette, Adam Loeb, United States

7:35pm: Run and Stun: The '92 Lady Kats, 00:20:35, "In Indiana, high school basketball is king. In 1992, the Kokomo Lady Kats made sure the Queen reigned supreme. These girls took the court with a fast, physical style of play that this blue-collar town fell in love with. Their goal was a State Championship." Sam Flynn, United State First time Filmmaker

8:00pm: TRUE BELIEVERS AT THE INSURRECTION: Road To The Capitol, 00:18:00, "One Journalist's Eyewitness Account Of the Attack On Democracy. This is my first hand account of the two months after Trump lost the 2020 election, covering rallies leading up to the January 6th Capitol insurrection, and the events of that day. I have been documenting the rise of right wing extremism and white supremacy since Charlottesville and the radicalization of the Proud Boys and how Trump delivered the mob of 'true believers' to storm the Capitol. My footage was used by the January 6th Committee and evidence during the 2nd impeachment hearing. I'm a member of the New York press corp and documentary video journalist and Getty Images contributor." Sandi Bachom, United States (mature subject matter)

8:20pm: At Your Cervix, 01:11:25, "At Your Cervix is the first documentary to expose the little-known practice of the non-consensual use of patients as practice dummies by the American medical education system. In an era when conversations about both consent and reproductive justice are paramount, it shines a light on the use of anesthetized or unconscious patients by medical students to practice pelvic examinations without the knowledge or consent of those patients. The film also introduces the audience to patients who have been victims and awoke after surgery or sedatives only to find they had been assaulted by the people and the system that were supposed to take care of them." A'magine, Renee Bergan, Stephanie Dawson, Julie Carlson, United States (mature subject matter) First time Filmmaker

9:35pm: A Leap into the Void, 00:24:00, "A man goes to the capital in search of his wife and only daughter in the hope of patching things up between them. Finding her and realizing that she earns her living in a cabaret and that she doesn't want to go back to him, he goes crazy with jealousy. This situation provokes feelings of anger and desolation in him because she belongs to him. To hurt her, he kidnaps their daughter and after wandering with her, not knowing what to do, he ends up committing suicide, along with the girl, putting an end to the anguish that corrodes him inside and thus consummating what he has conceived as his best revenge against the woman who abandoned him." Mary Frances Attias, Adrian Alberto Santana, Adrian Diaz, Eudys Cordero, Dominican Republic First time Filmmaker

10:00pm: Third Base, 00:39:05, “A young girl meets a homeless ex baseball player. The common bond of their love for baseball brings them close together. Then tragedy strikes” Katt Gilcrease, United States*

10:50pm Bella, 01:38:00, "A feature-length film about the life, work, influence and impact of California-based choreographer/Arts Activist Bella Lewitzky. Described as ...one of the greatest American dancers of our age, (Walter Terry) Bella Lewitzky was a talented, strong, out-spoken artist, who dedicated her creative life to protect the rights of every American citizen." Bridget A Murnane, United States*

End Saturday Films Day 2 Vapors Bar Open till 1:00am

July 2, 2023

Films

1:00pm: We Were Hardly More Than Children, 00:08:45, "We Were Hardly More Than Children‚ is an epic tale of a time when abortions were illegal and a reminder of a time that women could be reliving once again." Cecelia Condit, United States

1:10pm MINA, 00:19:23, "While the world is under global quarantine, a teenage girl, Mina, writes a story on how she overcame an eating disorder after rediscovering herself and falling in love for the first time" Masha Bordovskikh, Dina Safina, Dale Palmer Wells, United States First time Filmmaker

1:30pm: Lunchbox, 00:16:15, "When a Taiwanese American woman prepares lunches from her childhood, she struggles to forgive herself for pushing away her immigrant mother." Anne Hu, Gilana Lobel, Rachel Liu, Chenney Chen, Gabriella Murillo, Oliver Brooks, United States

1:50pm Bellybutton, 00:08:06, “A Y2K teen girl struggles to connect fantasy and reality when she gets a piercing on her birthday. Hilary Eden, Oliver Daly, United States First time Filmmaker

2:00pm: Julia Wuz Here, 00:05:52, "A little girl and her younger brother arrive at a motel with their junkie parents. The little girl tries to maintain what control she can and distract her brother from their parent’s actions. When the parents leave the children alone, a day of escapist play is disrupted by an accident. After the siblings go to bed, the little girl wakes up in the middle of the night to find her parents still gone and the future uncertain." Samantha Silvay, Monk Henshaw, Angela Simmons, United States First time Filmmaker

2:07pm Las Abogadas: Attorneys on the Front Lines of the Migrant Crisis, 01:34:00, "For four extraordinary women who practice immigration law, the refugee crisis is a call to action they can't ignore. Las Abogadas follows four immigration attorneys over a multi-year odyssey beginning in 2018 as the U.S. government under President Trump upends every law to protect those fleeing from violence and war. We watch the valiant efforts of our protagonists: Rebecca Eichler setting up a legal clinic in a Volkswagen van in the middle of 5,000 desperate migrants; Charlene D Cruz forcing border guards to follow the law and accept three disabled children into U.S. custody" Victoria Bruce, Laura Seltzer-Duny, United States

3:45pm Letting Go, 00:28:31, "A journey of three young women learning to skydive, while overcoming anxiety, depression, and personal loss. Follow the fear filled first jumps, to the thrills of freefall, on the emotional ride of their lives." Eiko Trevor Jones, Canada

4:15pm: Promises, 00:14:00, A Latina single mother of two is struggling to keep her head above water and regain custody of her kids while keeping the needle out of her arm. Faye Ann Brenner, Mekia Cox, Nathan Fillion, Aaron Brenner, Vidal Cohen, United States First time Filmmaker

4:30pm: You Arrive, 00:29:22, "Based on the extensive career of Montreal therapist and professor Bonnie Harnden, YOU ARRIVE is an educational docu-drama that explores how to break free from the cycles of trauma that impact our lives, our children’s lives, and our relationships. This innovative, experimental genre exposes advanced trauma theory. Bonnie's real life experiences working with hundreds of families in the emergency room are embodied in the character of a therapist struggling with vicarious trauma. The film represents a cathartic therapy session. As the therapist guides her client, she comes to terms with her own traumatic past, and ultimately realizes she possesses the gift of therapy. The film shares the important message that cycles of inter-generational trauma can be stopped, acknowledged, repaired, and ultimately healed." Mark A. Krupa, Bonnie Harnden, Canada

5:00pm: Break 30 minutes

5:30pm: Who I Am, 00:16:48, "Just as it only takes a spark to start a fire, it only takes one chance encounter to reinvigorate a forgotten and abandoned dream. Based on true events, this is a story about a young woman reflects back on how she traded away her dream to be a professional ballet dancer for a corporate career, only to discover years later that despite her best attempts, her passion and love for dance never died." Dan Hewitt Owens, Chelsy Leigh Jackson, United States

5:47pm: Fetish, 00:13:29, "An Asian American woman’s one night stand takes an unsexy turn when breakfast the morning after comes with a side of fetishism. Caught in a moment of truth, she’s forced to ponder her options for how to respond to casual racism. Dismissal? Diplomacy? Violence? It’s all on the table. WINNER - Panavision Award: Outstanding Short. Rhian Williams, Jennifer Zhang, Jo Podmore, United States (Mature)*

6:10pm: Golden Dawn a public affair - how to resist, 00:58:00, "How to fight far right, fascist and nazi ideas that are contaminating institutions all over Europe? The story of the trial against Greek neo-nazi party Golden Dawn that lasted more than 5 years is one of the answers." Angelique Emma Kourounis, Maxime Bitter, Greece

7:10pm: Tidal, 00:18:06, "In the wake of divorce and alone in a new country, Treen matches with the “one”. Months later, in what seems to be a fairytale romance, she discovers a huge lie. Who really is the man she loves? Isolated from friends and family, in an exclusive relationship with a volatile stranger, Treen finally finds the courage to leave and with the support of other survivors of narcissistic abuse, she beings to heal." Katrina Lillian Sorrentino (Treen), John Condne, Bryn Silverman, Alexandra Liveris, United States

7:30pm: MAD / WOMAN, 00:14:50, "A woman beaten unconscious by her husband searches her mindscape for a way out. Inspired by the songs of genre-fluid indie rocker Storm Large and Charlotte Perkins Gilman's classic feminist short story "The Yellow Wallpaper," this musical phantasmagoria continues in the surrealist tradition of Queer Cinema pioneers Jean Cocteau and Derek Jarman. Filmed by an all-female crew." Marc Acito, Halle Mandel Sadel, Rick Sadle, United States First time Filmmaker (Mature)

7:45pm Moving Out, 00:11:30, "A young college student still lives at home with her parents in Oceanside, California. In love with her best friend who has just married another woman, she becomes confounded by faith and ultimately must risk telling her parents who she really is in order to save herself." Rachel Earnest, Ashley Monti, United States

7:57pm: A Ghost Story, 00:16:45, A World War II veteran on his deathbed tells a hospice therapist about his ghost. Melissa Ann Bruning, Derek Alan Cecil, Sarah Demeestere, United States

8:20pm: BACKLOG, 00:18:06, "The true story of a young collegiate woman who tried to find justice for three years for her shelved rape kit‚ only to become the key witness in the Senate hearing to end the rape kit backlog. Can she trust the system that betrayed her? In 2006, Mallory Newell (all names changed) was brutally assaulted and date-raped on her 21st birthday. The next day, she underwent a painful scientific 4-6 hour medical examination to collect clinical evidence. But because of the bureaucracy of the justice system, the police shelved her evidence and evaded her for almost two years, claiming the case to be‚ unwinnable. But Mallory continued to help survivors, working at a rape treatment crisis center, where she is asked to advocate to end the Rape Kit Backlogs. Eventually, she finds insurmountable courage to become the key witness at the Senate
Judiciary hearing in 2010." Jacqueline Elyse Rosenthal, Robin Wang, Marian Cook, Josh Powell, United States Student

8:40pm: Good Girl, 00:11:37, "After ending a six year relationship, a well-behaved, Jewish, OBGYN decides to turn her brain off and her body on by exploring BDSM; instances of which are popping up in the most unusual places." Jenny Kleiman, Brooke Goldman, United States First time Filmmaker (mature) Live entertainment with SLEEPWALKER

Vapors Bar open till 11:30pm

Date: June 30- July 2, 2023

Location:
Vapors Live, 315 Park Avenue
Hot Springs National Park, AR 71901

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