The Bentonville Film Festival, organized by BFFoundation, will kick off its 2026 edition with Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick's 'Family Movie' on June 16 in Bentonville, Arkansas.
Opening Night with 'Family Movie'
Bacon and Sedgwick will participate in a moderated discussion after the screening of 'Family Movie,' which depicts a filmmaking family embroiled in a real-life horror scenario when a body is discovered on their slasher film set. The festival, running from June 15-21, will showcase a variety of narrative, documentary, homegrown, short, and episodic works.
Closing Feature: 'Little House on the Prairie'
The festival will conclude on June 21 with a special screening of the Netflix pilot 'Little House on the Prairie.' Rebecca Sonnenshine, the showrunner, executive producer, and writer, along with stars Crosby Fitzgerald and Alyssa Wapanatâhk, will engage in a Q&A session. This adaptation continues the legacy of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s 'Little House' series set in the American West.
Sonnenshine will receive the Rising to the Challenge Award at the festival’s award ceremony on June 20, honoring artists who expand opportunities and challenge conventions in storytelling.
Centerpiece and Notable Premieres
'Street Smart,' directed by Catherine Hardwicke, will premiere on June 18 as the festival's centerpiece film. Featuring Isabelle Fuhrman, Yara Shahidi, Michael Cimino, and Marcia Gay Harden, the film follows a group of Venice Beach street kids as they chase dreams with humor and street-smart antics.
The festival’s lineup also includes the world premieres of the IVF-rights documentary 'Show Me the Line' and the road trip comedy 'Welcome to the Fishbowl.' Films highlighting the stories of global figures include 'The Brittney Griner Story' and the documentary 'Give Me the Ball!' about Billie Jean King, produced by Liz Garbus.
Guest Appearances and Partnerships
The festival will feature appearances by Jessica Alba, Danielle Brooks, Hillary Clinton, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Frances Fisher, Gillian Jacobs, Rob Lowe, Isabel Sandoval, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, Tony Shalhoub, Lily Tomlin, and others. 'Coffee Talk' sessions will include discussions with Bobby Flay, Ree Drummond, and Chef JJ Johnson.
BFF 2026 is hosted in partnership with Walmart and Coca-Cola. More information is available at bentonvillefilm.org.
Source: https://variety.com/2026/film/news/kevin-bacon-bentonville-film-festival-house-on-the-prairie-1236748929/
