University Libraries to Serve as Bentonville Film Festival Archive

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University Libraries and the Bentonville Film Festival Foundation have reached an agreement to have the University Libraries’ Special Collections department archive a variety of materials from festivals past, present and future. Filmmakers will have the option to preserve their work through this agreement, and it is anticipated that physical items, such as programs and books, will be preserved in the archive, as well.

“We have been working to expand our holdings in music and the performing arts, and the Bentonville Film Festival materials will greatly help our students and faculty in researching film and the arts,” said Carolyn Henderson Allen, dean of Libraries. “As always, the public is also welcome to view and use Special Collections materials.”

The Bentonville Film Festival was co-founded by Academy Award winner Geena Davis and Inclusion Companies CEO Trevor Drinkwater. The yearlong platform, culminating with an annual six-day festival the first week in May, champions inclusion in all forms of media. In addition to film, the festival features live music performances and discussion events.

“Having this archive at the university that celebrates diversity in this industry provides a treasure trove of research materials, so I am grateful that we were able to see this idea through to fruition,” said Jeff Banks, assistant dean for human resources and organizational development.

The  Bentonville Film Festival Collection will add to the Libraries' extensive holdings in music and performing arts, which encompass everything from theater and symphony to film and folksongs. For example, the Florence Price Papers give a glimpse into the incredible life and work of the first major African-American female composer. The Alice Ghostley Materials celebrate the Tony Award winner’s career as an actress and comedienne. Other noteworthy collections include Arkansas Rock Band Memorabilia, as well as the Opera in the Ozarks and the Arkansas Folksong collections.

The University Libraries also serve as the archive for the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival – the oldest all-documentary film festival in North America. The materials span 27 years of history and include thousands of documentary films, as well as an extensive collection of photographs, film memorabilia and artifacts. A number of the documentaries in the collection, especially those screened prior to the digital revolution, were never released.

For more information on the Bentonville Film Festival Archive, the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival Archives, or any of the resources in Special Collections, please contact 479-575-8444 or email specoll@uark.edu.

About University of Arkansas Libraries: Located at the heart of campus, David W. Mullins Library is the university’s main research library. Branch libraries include the Robert A. and Vivian Young Law Library, the Fine Arts Library, the Physics Library, and the Chemistry and Biochemistry Library. The Libraries provide access to more than 2 million volumes and 53,000 journals, and also offer individual and group research help, study spaces, computer labs with printing and scanning, interlibrary loan and RazorRush services, and cultural exhibits and events. The Libraries’ Special Collections unit acquires, preserves, and provides access to materials on Arkansas and the region, its customs and people, and its cultural, physical, and political climate. Visit the Libraries’ web page at libraries.uark.edu to learn more about services and collections.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.