Arkansas Cinema Society to screen films fresh out of Telluride, Venice, and Toronto

Fresh off its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, Academy Award-nominee Jessica Chastain is bringing The Eyes of Tammy Faye to Filmland in the Park on Saturday, October 2nd! Other headliners include the Cannes Film Festival Grand Prix winner A Hero with multi-Academy Awarding winning director Asghar Farhadi; and the documentary from Academy Award-winning producer Evan Hayes and Peabody Award-winning director Liz Garbus Becoming Cousteau. See the hottest films of 2021, alongside fellow movie-lovers, in a safe and socially-distanced shared experience. 

On Saturday, October 2, Chastain will take the stage with ACS co-founder and director Jeff Nichols following the screening of The Eyes of Tammy Faye. They will discuss her role as Tammy Faye and her career in acting and producing. This is a fantastic opportunity for Arkansans to see an A-list star discuss her craft in person.

“I’ve known Jessica since we worked together on our film Take Shelter,” said Jeff Nichols, writer/director and ACS co-founder. “It was exciting to be on that set and watch the immense talent she’d bring every day, and it’s been equally exciting to watch how her career has evolved and exploded over the last decade. I truly consider her one of the best actors working today.”  

Filmland in the Park will be an outdoor event so bring a blanket or a chair and see the stars under the stars at Filmland in the Park. The event runs September 30th through October 3rd at MacArthur Park, screenings will begin every night at sundown. Tickets are available for members and sponsors starting Thursday, September 23rd at 9 a.m. and will open to the general public at 9 a.m. on Friday, September 24th. Concessions and a rotation of local food trucks will be available each night. 

“We moved Filmland to October in 2020 to be able to bring the best films from Telluride, Toronto, and Venice to Arkansas along with marquee talent in filmmaking and so far it’s working! All thanks to board members like Jeff Nichols and Evan Hayes who so generously invite their collaborators to be a part of Filmland,” said ACS Executive Director Kathryn Tucker. “Last year, we were the first to bring Nomadland to Arkansas, which went on to win best picture at the Academy Awards, and we are equally as excited and hopeful about this year’s line-up! The chance to showcase the latest works by a brilliant director​​s—Asghar Farhadi​​ and Liz Garbus—will be such a treat.” 

ACS is also launching a collaboration with the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts. Their members will receive advance notice and 10% off tickets to all Filmland in the Park screenings and workshops. 

“Having grown up at the Arkansas Arts Center, I understand first-hand the importance it holds in our community and am honored to collaborate with them on this special event,” said Tucker.

“AMFA is excited to collaborate with ACS to host Filmland in the Park in MacArthur Park, our backyard. We welcome these wonderful films and artists to Little Rock,” said AMFA Executive Director Victoria Ramirez. “If last year is an indicator, then hopefully we have another Oscar winning movie in the lineup.”

Tickets for AMFA members will be available on the AMFA website Thursday, September 23, 2021 at 9 a.m. Purchase tickets at: www.amfa.org.

FILMLAND IN THE PARK LINE-UP

Becoming Cousteau

Adventurer, filmmaker, inventor, author, unlikely celebrity and conservationist: For over four decades, Jacques-Yves Cousteau and his explorations under the ocean became synonymous with a love of science and the natural world. As he learned to protect the environment, he brought the whole world with him, sounding alarms more than 50 years ago about the warming seas and our planet’s vulnerability. In Becoming Cousteau, from National Geographic Documentary Films, two-time Academy Award®-nominated filmmaker Liz Garbus takes an inside look at Cousteau and his life, his iconic films and inventions, and the experiences that made him the 20th century’s most unique and renowned environmental voice — and the man who inspired generations to protect the Earth. 

The Eyes of Tammy Faye

Directed by Michael Showalter and written by Abe Sylvia, The Eyes of Tammy Faye is produced by Jessica Chastain, p.g.a., Kelly Carmichael, p.g.a., Rachel Shane, p.g.a., and Gigi Pritzker.  The film stars Chastain, Andrew Garfield, Cherry Jones, and Vincent D’Onofrio. Chastain, whose previous musical experience was limited to college, does her own singing in the film, which is an intimate look at the extraordinary rise, fall and redemption of televangelist Tammy Faye Bakker. In the 1970s and 80s, Tammy Faye and her husband, Jim Bakker, rose from humble beginnings to create the world’s largest religious broadcasting network and theme park, and were revered for their message of love, acceptance and prosperity. Tammy Faye was legendary for her indelible eyelashes, her idiosyncratic singing, and her eagerness to embrace people from all walks of life.

A Hero

Oscar-winning writer/director, Asghar Farhadi’s latest film, A Hero, took home the Grand Prix during the 2021 Cannes Film Festival. Starring Amir Jadidi, Mohsen Tanabandeh and Fereshteh Sadrorafaii, A Hero tells the story of Rahim, who is in prison because of a debt he was unable to repay. During a two-day leave, he tries to convince his creditor to withdraw his complaint against the payment of part of the sum. But things don’t go as planned…

A native of Iran, Farhadi has directed nine feature films. Only a handful of directors have won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film multiple times and Farhadi is among them for his films, A Separation (2012) and The Salesman (2017). In 2012, he received the French Legion of Honour and was named one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People and a Top 100 Global Thinker by Foreign Policy. 

 

FILMLAND IN THE PARK SCHEDULE

Schedule:  Gates open each night at 6 p.m.; show starts at 7:15 p.m.

Thursday, September 30, 2021 – Becoming Cousteau followed by virtual Q+A with producer Evan Hayes

Friday, October 1, 2021 – 2021 Filmland: Arkansas Short Audience Award Winner Screening* & TBA

Saturday, October 2, 2021 -Filmmaking Lab for Teen Girls Short Screening & The Eyes of Tammy Faye followed by live Q+A with Jeff Nichols and actor Jessica Chastain

Sunday, October 3, 2021 – 2021 Filmland: Arkansas Short Audience Award Winner Screening* & A Hero followed by virtual Q+A with Jeff Nichols and director Asghar Farhadi

*Filmland: Arkansas is available as part of the Filmland Digital Experience beginning Friday, September 24, 2021 and will stream online through Sunday, October 3rd. 

Address: 

MacArthur Park Lawn
1200 McMath Ave
Little Rock, AR 72202

Tickets: 

Thursday, September 23, 2021 at 9 a.m. – Members and Sponsors ON SALE
Friday, September 24, 2021 at 9 a.m. – General Public ON SALE

Ticket prices will vary per screening. ACS members will receive 50% off and AMFA members will receive 10% off.  For prices and to purchase tickets, visit: www.filmland.org and www.arkmfa.org. 

 FILMMAKING WORKSHOPS AND PANEL DISCUSSIONS

Filmmaking workshops and seminars, made possible by a generous donation from the Windgate Foundation, will be open to adults and children, and will be led by Jeff Nichols, Christina Arquette, Graham Gordy, Jayme Lemons, Adam Stone, Mario Troncoso, local filmmakers, and industry professionals. The addition of educational programming during Filmland is something ACS has been working toward as it carries out its three-pillar mission: WATCH, LEARN, MAKE.  

Address: 

MacArthur Park Parade Grounds
601 E 9th St
Little Rock, AR 72202

Tickets: 

Thursday September 23, 2021 at 9 a.m. – Members ON SALE
Friday September 24, 2021 at 9 a.m. – General Public ON SALE

Space is limited, but ACS members receive a 50% discount and AMFA members receive a 10% discount on Filmmaking Workshops along with advance notice when tickets go on sale. For prices and to purchase tickets, visit: www.filmland.org and www.amfa.org.

 

WORKSHOPS:

Building a Scene (and Hopefully, Eventually, a Screenplay):  True Detective Season 3 co-writer Graham Gordy will break down the anatomy of a scene, helping you move from initial idea to the building blocks of a complete script by harnessing the power of detail. Followed by a Q+A.

TICKET PRICE: $40

Building a Scene (and Hopefully, Eventually, a Screenplay) Junior (Grades 6-8): During this engaging writing-for-film workshop for Middle School students, screenwriter Graham Gordy will walk them through how to develop a story idea and to write a scene. 

TICKET PRICE: $5

Building a Scene (and Hopefully, Eventually, a Screenplay) Varsity (Grades 9-12):  High School students will be led by screenwriter Graham Gordy through this exciting basics of screenwriting workshop. 

TICKET PRICE: $5

Landing the Role: Get inside secrets from Casting Director, Yancey Prosser of The Agency Inc., on how to improve your audition for screen. During this unique workshop you can receive direct feedback or watch a casting director in action. 

TICKET PRICE: $40 to audition $20 for audience member 

The Art of the Pitch:  During this workshop, Emmy Award Winning Filmmaker Mario Troncoso will teach participants how to take their story idea and build a pitch deck to intrigue agents and production companies, followed by a Q+A.

TICKET PRICE: $40

The KEYS to the Film Industry: Join us for an inside look into the film industry from professional filmmakers in our state. During this workshop, participants will have the opportunity to glean expert insight from professional filmmakers about their role on a film set. Experts include Dave Calhoun, Kristy Pruitt, Nate Dissaro, Dwight Chalmers, Brian Johnson, Puala Blanco, Hannah Whitney, and many more.

TICKET PRICE: FREE w/ RSVP

The Craft of Cinematography: The collaborative relationship between a director and cinematographer is an intimate one.  Join us for a conversation between Jeff Nichols and Adam Stone as they discuss the intricacies of their working relationship and the importance of team work when bringing a script to life.Followed by a Q+A. 

TICKET PRICE: $25

Filmland: Arkansas Audience Award Winners Q+A:  Winners of the Filmland:Arkansas shorts block will join us for an exciting Q+A. These up and coming filmmakers will have an opportunity to discuss their process as filmmakers and what inspired them to create these short films. 

TICKET PRICE: FREE w/ RSVP

FILMLAND: ARKANSAS DIGITAL EXPERIENCE

Each year, the festival highlights the best short and feature filmmakers in the state and those connected to our state. 2021 will be no different as Filmland: Arkansas will feature films from 23 new and veteran Arkansas filmmakers. The Filmland Digital Experience is free with an ACS Membership. Individual tickets for the Filmland Digital Experience will also be available for purchase.

Filmland: Arkansas is non-competitive in nature but we want to allow our audience the opportunity to support their favorite local filmmakers! Filmland: Arkansas Audience Award winning short films will screen before the features on Friday and Sunday evening at Filmland in the Park! The winning feature of the Audience Award will screen in 2022 as part of our ongoing Homegrown Film Series. 

Watch: September 24-October 3
Vote: September 24, 12 p.m  – September 29, 12 p.m.
Visit filmland.org for more info.

Covid Protocol

In order to gain entry to all events at Filmland in the Park you must be fully vaccinated and need to show proof in the form of an official vaccination card, digital card, or photo of your vaccination card OR you must present a NEGATIVE PCR, LAMP, or Antigen COVID-19 test within the last 48 hours. Masks must be worn at all times when you are visiting the Cantina or unable to socially distance.

About Filmland

The Arkansas Cinema Society’s Filmland is a curated annual celebration of cinema with a mission to nurture and inspire filmmakers in Arkansas by exposing Arkansans to filmmakers and their art. This hybrid event features Filmland in the Park and the Filmland: Arkansas Digital Experience. Members receive free access to the full Filmland Digital Experience, 50% off tickets to Filmland in the Park, and advance notice when tickets go on sale for all events. Memberships are $50 and available now on the ACS website. Stay up to date with announcements about Filmland features and events on our website:  filmland.org 

About the Arkansas Cinema Society

ACS is a non-profit committed to building a film community in Arkansas where film lovers can watch films, share ideas, connect with each other, and nurture the new and existing film talent within our state through increased exposure to filmmakers and their art. Those interested in supporting ACS can visit their website at www.arkansascinemasociety.org.

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