Event to feature ACS co-founder Jeff Nichols alongside other industry professionals

The Arkansas Cinema Society is excited to announce its first Film Development Conference on Friday, April 29th and Saturday, April 30th at Thaden School in Bentonville. Join us for evening screenings of Jockey and Loving, happy hours, and a full day of in-depth discussions and workshops on pre-production best practices with industry experts. We welcome filmmakers from across Arkansas, Oklahoma and Missouri to come learn from some of the best! Program and ticket details will be announced in the coming weeks.

Hosted in person by ACS co-founder, writer/director Jeff Nichols, this event will bring in Nichols’ producing partner Sarah Green and Jockey’s writer/producer Greg Kwedar and writer/director Clint Bentley.

Directed by Bentley and produced by Kwedar, Jockey premiered at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival and stars Clifton Collins Jr., Molly Parker and Moisés Arias. Jockey tells the story of an aging jockey who aims for a final championship, when a rookie rider arrives claiming to be his son. The film will screen on Friday evening followed by a Q+A with the filmmakers. Watch the trailer for Jockey here.

On Saturday, presenters will share the fundamentals of how they got their independent films off the ground and their experiences getting a film greenlit, followed by a screening of Loving, Nichols’ film on the landmark civil rights case Loving v. Virginia, which Sarah Green produced. Watch the trailer here.

“We are thrilled to host our first Film Development Conference in NWA. We are so proud to bring all-star producer Sarah Green back to Arkansas, along with talented filmmakers Clint and Greg.” said Kathryn Tucker, ACS Executive Director. “Producers are often the unsung heroes in filmmaking, but are responsible for all of the essential nuts and bolts of a production. Thanks to Jeff Nichols for yet again bringing his incredible friends and collaborators to Arkansas, we can take a deep dive into the pre-production processes of these producers and directors. I personally cannot wait!”

This Film Development Conference is made possible from support by John R. Tyson and Olivia Tyson. “We’re excited to be able to host this type of film event in Northwest Arkansas, and we are proud to support the work that the Arkansas Cinema Society is doing statewide,” said John. “Filmmaking is growing in our region thanks to the efforts and talents of many Arkansans, here locally and around the country.”

About Sarah Green
Green has worked with Nichols on movies like Midnight Special and Loving and produced films such as Julie Taymor’s Frida, David Mamet’s State and Main, Terrence Malick’s The Tree of Life and Fahrenheit 451, starring Michael B. Jordan and Michael Shannon. She is the executive producer of the podcast, Hank the Cowdog, starring Matthew McConaughey, Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons. In 2017, she was inducted into the Texas Film Hall of Fame in Austin.

About Greg Kwedar and Clint Bentley
Greg Kwedar debuted as a feature director with Transpecos, a thriller set within the United States Border Patrol. Clint Bentley served as producer and writer on the film. Transpecos premiered in competition at the 2016 SXSW Film Festival where it won the Audience Award. It was acquired by Samuel Goldwyn Films for theatrical release. They teamed up once again to write Jockey with Bentley serving as director and Kwedar as producer.

About Jockey
Jockey premiered at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival and stars Clifton Collins Jr. Molly Parker and Moisés Arias. An aging jockey (Clifton Collins Jr.), hopes to win one last title for his longtime trainer (Molly Parker), who has acquired what appears to be a championship horse. But the years — and injuries — have taken a toll on his body, throwing into question his ability to continue his lifelong passion. And the arrival of a young rookie rider (Moises Arias), who claims to be his son, and whom he takes under his wing, further complicates the path to fulfilling his dream.”

According to IndieWire, “Bentley’s feature debut is confidently assembled, with the world captured by cinematographer Adolpho Veloso seeming to exist entirely in that magic hour that casts ghostly rays of sunlight across the desert plain…”

About Loving
Directed by Jeff Nichols and produced by Sarah Green, Loving is the story of Richard (Joel Edgerton) and Mildred Loving (Ruth Negga), a couple whose arrest for interracial marriage in 1960s Virginia began a legal battle that would end with the Supreme Court’s historic 1967 decision. The film premiered at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival and competed for the Palme d’Ore. Negga and Edgerton were both nominated for Golden Globes for their performances.

About Arkansas Cinema Society
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. Memberships are available to the public at large who may wish to dive into educational videos, member-only tickets, movie swag, and more. Those interested in supporting ACS can visit their website at www.arkansascinemasociety.org.

Photo by Rett Peek

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