The El Dorado Film Festival returns to the South Arkansas Arts Center from February 25 through March 1, offering a sophisticated synthesis of independent cinema and regional artistry. This year’s program features award-winning narratives and Academy-caliber talent, reflecting EDFF’s vision for a festival that resonates deeply with the local cultural landscape and continues to establish El Dorado as a vital hub for filmmakers and cinephiles alike.

Dr. Steve Smart, Director Alexander Jeffery and actor William Ragsdale on the set of Fixation

EDFF kicks off on Wednesday, February 25 with a reception followed by exclusive previews of two television pilots: Savage, a mystery-horror series written by Connor Paolo of Gossip Girl fame, and Fixation, a project with deep local roots. Based on a novel by El Dorado native Dr. Steve Smart, Fixation explores a sinister mystery uncovered during a routine military autopsy. The previews feature aQ&A, offering attendees rare insight into the creative transition from manuscript to episodic television on an independent level.

The 2026 lineup includes the feature Honeyjoon, the Tribeca Untold Stories Award winner that examines grief and identity within a Persian-Kurdish family. The documentary selection features Never Get Busted, a Sundance hit detailing the career of a Texas narcotics officer who exposed systemic law enforcement corruption. For those preferring subversive humor, the festival presents Peeping Todd, a raunchy musical that secured the Audience Award at the Arkansas Cinema Society’s Filmland: Arkansas program last year. These diverse selections highlight the festival’s commitment to both provocative social commentary and intimate character studies.

Central to the festival’s identity is its celebration of Southern storytelling and its strategic partnership with the Louisiana Film Prize. Dedicated blocks for Arkansas and Southern-made shorts showcase burgeoning regional talent, while the Louisiana Film Prize Top Five highlights the best of the neighboring circuit.

Beyond screenings, the festival provides an educational forum through workshops led by industry leaders. Matthew Decker, co-writer of the upcoming La La Land Broadway musical, will discuss the structural complexities of adapting stories between stage and screen. Additionally, Arkansas native and Oscar-nominated producer Tara Sheffer will share strategies for navigating the rigorous path from short film qualification to an Academy nomination. These sessions offer regional filmmakers sophisticated guidance from professionals operating at the highest echelons of the industry.

Saturday’s Roundtable at The 1988 + Four Points Coffee gives filmmakers a chance to rotate between tables for some dedicated Q&A with the panelists: Director of Programming and Production of Screambox (Cineverse) Tony Wash, ward-winning independent director and producer Tina Carbone (who has produced over 80 short films and 7 features), Max Geschwind (who works in the Media Finance department at Creative Artists Agency (CAA) focusing on packaging, sourcing financing and/or selling the distribution rights to independently financed films) and Movie Maker Magazine Editor-in-Chief Tim Malloy.

Find out more at their website.

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