What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/1397959
AUGUST 1-7, 2021 WHAT'S UP! 37 COVER STORY BFF PANEL DISCUSSIONS All panels will be presented virtually, in Central Standard. Panels are free to attend, with a suggested donation to support inclusive storytelling. "I Am Not a Fetish or Model Minority: Redefining What it Means to be API in Entertainment" WHAT — Craig Robinson (EVP and Chief Diversity Officer, NBCUniversal) moderates a discussion on the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media's new groundbreaking research study on Asian American and Pacific Islander representation in media. WHEN — 1-2 p.m. Aug. 3 "If She Can See It, She Can Be It" WHAT — A showcase of best practices from industry execu- tives, content creators, and actors who have successfully worked with female-driven content. In partnership with GDIGM, this annual panel discussion is moderated by Madeline Di Nonno and features BFF Chair Geena Davis. WHEN — 4-5 p.m. Aug. 3 "Power of Media for Social Change" WHAT — A dialogue with brand leaders on how they are amplifying social issues through their channels and the impact of their campaigns in different communities. Moderated by Madeline DiNonno (CEO & President, Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media). WHEN — 11 a.m.-noon Aug. 4 "In Conversation with Geena Davis & Callie Khouri" WHAT — In celebration of the 30th anniversary screening of "Thelma & Louise," moderated by a press person from IndieWire. WHEN — 10-10:30 p.m. Aug. 4 "Out of the Shadows and onto the Screen: Storytelling and Mental Health" WHAT — A conversation highlighting the importance of prioritizing mental health whilst maintaining a career in the film and entertainment industry, especially during the pandemic. WHEN — 11 a.m.-noon Aug. 5 "Animated Voices" WHAT — A dynamic discussion highlighting animation including changemakers in the entertainment industry from companies like Dreamworks, Warner, Sony and more. WHEN — 2-3 p.m. Aug. 5 "Sounds of Storytelling" WHAT — A discussion highlighting film scoring, soundtracks and how music shapes story. WHEN — 4-5 p.m. Aug. 5 "Transgender Voices" WHAT — Nick Adams (GLAAD) moderates a conversation highlighting the importance of authenticity in the repre- sentation and inclusion of trans voices on and off the screen. Speakers will include on and off-screen talent, as well as activists in the industry. WHEN — 11 a.m.-noon Aug. 6 "Geena & Friends" WHAT — A standout event featuring Academy Award-win- ning actor and BFF chairperson Geena Davis, joined by Margaret Cho, Yolanda Ross and Shohreh Aghdashloo to reimagine iconic, memorable dialogue from male-dom- inated movie scenes. This exciting series explores how refreshing it can be to expand thinking about roles origi- nally written for male characters. WHEN — 6-7 p.m. Aug. 7. The virtual event will be followed by a moderated conversation with the cast. industry in the Natural State. Growing up in Arkansas, she never saw an opportunity to be part of the industry unless she left the state. Now, the infrastructure has grown such that there are myriad ways to make a living in different areas of the filmmaking process, Edwards asserts. "That kind of stuff, I think we still need that regional education. I'm not saying we're bringing it all, but we definitely want to help foster that." Showcasing Stories One way festival organizers are supporting that goal is with the Regional Shorts Showcase, initiated last year. A compilation of non-competition short films that were filmed regionally or created by filmmakers and/or actors from the region are highlighted in their own category during the festival. "We want to be able to support stories, and support filmmaking, here and make sure that those stories have a place in our festival," Edwards affirms. In the vein of making space for underrepresented voices, the seventh annual BFF will also have an LGBTQIA+ Shorts Showcase. Viewers will, of course, still find queer stories represented in the competition films, but the festival received so many incredible submissions that they couldn't all fit in the lineup. So the programming team wanted to offer a platform to highlight just a few more of the "beautiful stories" they received, Edwards reveals. "As we grow as a festival, we are trying to really understand who's not being represented. And, truly, I've watched films for this festival since the beginning, and the LGBTQ stories are the ones that I see that are really changing, and really changing how we see that," she shares. Edwards also saw the same trend in film submissions featuring Asian and Pacific Island stories, she adds. "I think it's just the more that we are doing our own mission in the industry — where we are asking filmmakers to look at their crew: Who's behind the camera? Who's telling the stories? And then who's in front of the camera? — I'm just seeing how it's changing the industry landscape." The Northwest Arkansas landscape also seems to be responding to the festival's mission of inclusion, Edwards notes. Among previous partnerships and "unofficial" community events planned around the festival, she specifically points to the yearly exhibition organized by University of Arkansas faculty and students to complement the festival's theme. The exhibition is hosted for free at 21c Museum Hotel during BFF's run. "It's pretty great for our filmmakers to see and great for the community," Edwards enthuses. "I hope more people do that in the future, that they partner with us in a way, kind of like Sundance. If you go to Sundance, you see all these different people of Park City kind of activating around [the festival], and in response to it. And it's not all led by our programming, but it's definitely kind of in celebration of the festival. I think more and more, that hopefully will grow." Welcome Continued From Page 4 Geena Davis and Stephanie Beatriz act in a scene from "MASH" during a previous "Geena & Friends" panel. The popular portion of the festival reverses gender roles as female panelists read scenes from popular films with mostly male casts. The panel is virtual this year and will stream on Aug. 7. (NWA Democrat-Gazette File Photo/Ben Goff)