By Jack Humphreys

Fayetteville, Arkansas, is proud to host a vibrant and growing art scene. Over the past 15 years, independent films have been featured at the Fayetteville Film Festival. This fall, the festival returns Sept. 18–21, hosted at the Fayetteville Public Library’s Event Center with screenings, premieres and conversations about Northwest Arkansas’ film scene.

For co-founder and co-executive director Cassie Haley, the festival represents both a tradition and a hope for the future of NWA films. Founded in 2009, the festival began as a way to support Arkansas filmmakers while exposing outside filmmakers to the potential and beauty of the “Natural State.”

“The original vision was twofold,” Haley said. “One was to encourage people who were working in the industry within our state, because there wasn’t much happening here … and the other goal was to bring outside filmmakers to our state to show them what we had to offer—our crew base, our beautiful locations, and hopefully entice them to come make their movies here.” That vision has paid off. In the time since its inception, the Fayetteville Film Festival has attracted visiting filmmakers with their own projects, as a vibrant film community has grown. More is happening in the Northwest Arkansas film community than when the festival began.

This year’s lineup is arranged through Film Freeway, a submission platform. A team of volunteer screeners spends countless hours rating entries before a committee of jurors deliberates on the selection.

Haley noted that they receive many strong projects, and as a result, not every submission will make the final cut.

“We can have the best project you can imagine, but sometimes we just don’t have the hours to screen everything,” she said.

The 2025 festival offers a variety of content, including narrative features, documentaries, shorts, animation, and even virtual reality projects, which will be showcased in the library’s new VR screening rooms.

All of the films are incredibly diverse. This year, there’s something for everyone with a little bit of everything—drama, horror, comedy.

Highlights include “Tomorrow’s Too Late”, a documentary produced by April Kelly about musician Dillon Holloway, who will perform live during the festival. Another feature is a film directed by Jill Campbell that explores the woman behind the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition. “Enthralled”, a locally shot thriller by writer-director Kate Segan, will make its world premiere after already securing distribution.

The organization of the festival has not always been easy. In its infancy, the most challenging part was educating audiences on why independent films matter.

“Educating the public on what independent film was … why you go watch movies that were not in the theaters and not blockbusters,” Haley said.

Funding and venues remain ongoing challenges, but the festival has steadily expanded its ability to host filmmakers and provide accommodations. Once filmmakers see Northwest Arkansas, they fall in love.

For audiences, the festival is both an opportunity for entertainment and education.

“Sometimes I think it’s about the content … but then film enthusiasts, people that just really love watching movies, know they’re going to get unique and interesting content that they’re not going to get at the movie theater,” Haley said.

The chance to meet filmmakers, ask questions in Q&As, and network in the VIP lounge also draws aspiring creatives from across the state.

This year’s screenings began on Sept. 18 at 11 a.m. Students may also be eligible for a discount code, something Haley hopes will make the festival more accessible.

Beyond the premieres and panels, the festival has a lasting impact on Fayetteville and the greater Northwest Arkansas region.

Films shot locally showcase the beauty of the Ozarks, while success stories like “Greater”, the Brandon Burlsworth biopic filmed in Fayetteville, put the city on the cultural map.

It’s helpful for the culture of Fayetteville to keep our local talent local.

As the lights dim and the first films roll, the Fayetteville Film Festival becomes more than an event—it becomes a looking glass into Northwest Arkansas’ creativity and a medium for stories that might not otherwise be told.

For students, filmmakers and audiences alike, the message is clear: independent film has found a home in Fayetteville.