{The photo above is from the movie, “White God,” courtesy of Little Rock Film Festival}
Roll it!
The Little Rock Film Festival (LRFF) officially kicked off its ninth year this week. Held on the banks of the Arkansas River, LRFF showcases international films and the best in narrative, documentary, and short films from all over the world. Co-founded by Owen Brainard, Jamie Moses, and brothers Brent and Craig Renaud, films are screened at various venues in the River Market and Argenta Arts District through May 17.
Check out our complete guide to the Little Rock Film Festival here.
Matt DeCample, the new communications director for LRFF, spoke to Little Rock Soirée about the festival’s growth, national following and why more filmmakes are seeking out this festival every year.
Soirée: This is LRFF’s ninth year. Give our readers a sense of growth from that inaugural year to now. Has interest spiked from a local standpoint or is this a community built from all over the country that comes to Little Rock for the week?
Matt DeCample: The excitement for the festival comes from both without and within. We have more Arkansas-made films this year than ever before, but we also have an ever-growing reputation as a destination festival throughout the film industry. While there are many regulars who come visit each year, part of the appeal of the festival is the new attendees who get to experience the atmosphere, hospitality and the nightlife for the first time.
Soirée: Our readers can enjoy feature films, short films and documentaries during the festival. Give us a some behind-the-scenes (no pun intended) scoop on how LRFF decides on what to feature during this week-long event.
DeCample: As the LRFF becomes more established each year, more films seek us out as a venue. We are toward the end of the first festival season of each year (there’s another in the fall), so we get a lot of movies that have premiered at bigger festivals like Sundance, South by Southwest and Tribeca and are now trying to build buzz. And then we get more submissions from Arkansas filmmakers every year, giving us a chance to showcase homegrown talent alongside these larger films.
Soirée: What’s the most exciting and rewarding part of being involved?
DeCample: This is my first year going behind the curtain to officially be part of the LRFF team, and it adds a whole new level to the experience. The whole week is well-orchestrated chaos, and I’m thrilled to be in the band now. I’ve gone from a mild attendee to becoming a full-on carnival barker, triviamaster and emcee.
Soirée: What’s the biggest challenge when it comes to planning the festival?
DeCample: The biggest challenge is always going to be living up to previous festivals and taking this year’s to new levels. We’ve had a strong reputation for our hospitality and parties since the beginning, and the bar is set higher each time to find the little changes that improve the week even more. For instance, this year, we’ve moved the awards gala from Sunday night to Saturday night so that the festival winners can screen again on Sunday and help people catch some of the best movies they may have missed.
Soirée: There are film festivals popping up all over Arkansas. Most recently, the Bentonville Film Festival kicked off its first year. Is there a sense of community and support among these festivals? And what do you think makes Arkansas such a great place to support these festivals?
DeCample: The Bentonville Film Festival shows that Arkansas has two regions that can be a draw in the festival circuit, and that is nothing but good news for film in our state. Now that they’ve completed their inaugural run, we’re excited to see what this means in the years to come.
Soirée: Finally, what movie are you most looking forward to this year and why?
DeCample: Like anyone who dabbles in comedy, any chance to see the evolution of American comedy is an exciting opportunity. So my most-anticipated film is Drunk Stones Brilliant Dead, a documentary about the Harvard Lampoon and the comedy minds that made it so influential. I may be a little biased since I’m also hosting the Q&A afterward with the director. Sue me. (Note from LRFF directors: Please don’t sue.)
Check out the complete guide to this year’s Little Rock Film Festival here.