BENTONVILLE -- The 2020 Bentonville Film Festival is moving from April to August because of travel restrictions and public-health concerns regarding the coronavirus.
The event is set for Aug. 5-8, according to a festival news release. The event was originally scheduled for April 29-May 2. Purchased passes will be moved to the new dates.
Everyone’s a Critic
Ticket packages for the 2020 Bentonville Film Festival can be purchased online at bentonvillefilm.org….
Source: Bentonville Film Festival
"This decision comes after careful consideration and consultation with our partners," said Geena Davis, Bentonville Film Festival co-founder and chairwoman. "Our No. 1 concern is the safety of our content creators and our community of attendees."
Event organizers are watching to determine whether the coronavirus outbreak will still be a threat in August, according to information on the festival's website.
"We will continue to monitor the situation and will make any appropriate decisions closer to festival time," the website notes.
Davis said she's grateful for the support and recommendations from event partners and the community concerning the postponement, and she said she looks forward to welcoming participants to the sixth annual festival in August.
"The safety of our visitors is always a top priority, and we look forward to hosting everyone in our exciting city later this year for a memorable festival," said Kalene Griffith, Visit Bentonville president and chief executive officer.
The festival works to influence mainstream media to increase diversity in the content they produce and distribute, according to the festival's website.
The event champions inclusion in all forms of media, according to event officials. The festival welcomes content in the areas of gender equality; gay and transgender; disabilities; and ethnicity.
The event features a yearlong platform that culminates with an annual festival, according to its website. About 37,000 people attended the debut festival in 2015.
The lineup of films is expected to be announced by June, according to the release.
State Desk on 03/07/2020