The numbers are in, and the Fort Smith International Festival is growing. The second annual doubled the attendance of the first year with approximately 800 in-person and online guests. The festival attracts filmmakers from around the globe. In the first year, the festival received 396 submissions from 43 different countries, and in the second that number grew to over 50 countries, nations, and tribes producing an overall total of more than 60 across two years. The Fort Smith International Film Festival brings the world to the River Valley showcasing our region’s talent and innovation. With a global media reach of 254 million in 2021 and 265 million in 2022 our marketing has touched over 500 million people around world (Meltwater). We are truly an international film festival.
In January, we will be announcing our third annual dates and theme along with the continuation of the Borderlands Film Series, which features movies screened at the previous festivals. “We currently have over 270 films in our catalogue from more than 40 countries,” says executive director Brandon Chase Goldsmith. “Our year-long programming is aimed at building an independent and foreign film audience in our region and encouraging young filmmakers. Our goal is to cultivate an arts community, which will be the foundation for the next three years as we plan towards our 5th annual festival.”
The River Valley Film Society works with area high schools and organizations to increase youth involvement offering awards and cash prizes to student moviemakers. Future School graduate Gabe Hobbs won a $2000 University of Arkansas Fort Smith Scholarship for his short documentary “A Chat with Tony C” at the 2022 festival. Additionally, the film society donates equipment to assist media courses and student film clubs. Secondary education programs represent a reservoir of talent from which the pipeline feeding our region’s creative economy flows through high school to college to careers. Students are our future.
Festival Numbers
2022
265 million media reach*
135 hours of film submissions
56 Countries, Nations, & Tribes
~800 Attendance
2021
254 million media reach*
124 hours of film submissions
43 Countries, Nations, & Tribes
~400 Attendance
*Meltwater
