BENTONVILLE -- The school week has ended, and the Bentonville Film Festival's children and youth programming is just ramping up.
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A variety of films and programming targeted to engage and inspire young minds will be offered today.
Weekend Schedule
Today
• 9 a.m. — Spider-Man, A League of Their Own Ballpark (Lawrence Plaza)
• 10 a.m.-2 p.m. — Kids Fest, downtown square
• 10 a.m. — Samsung Creator Short Film Competition, Record South
• 11 a.m. — Spider-Man 2, A League of Their Own Ballpark
• 11 a.m. — Hidden Figures Lunar Lander Challenge, Haxton Road Studio Building, third floor, 222 S.E. Second St.
• 1:30 p.m. — STEP, Louise Thaden Theatre (21c Museum Hotel)
• 1:30 p.m. — Spider-Man 3, A League of Their Own Ballpark
• 1:30 p.m. — STEAM Live: Lunar Lander Drop, Samsung STEAM Room on Legion Lane
• 4 p.m. — Through Our Lenses with Snapchatter CyreneQ, Walmart Museum World Room
Sunday
• 10:30 a.m. — A League of Their Own 25th anniversary game
• 3 p.m. — Little Space Film Festival will show 11 short films made by area high school students at 211 Cafe.*
Times and venues are subject to change. For the most up-to-date information download the film festival app.
*Not an official Bentonville Film Festival event.
Source: Staff report
New this year is a Lunar Lander Challenge open to middle school-aged students. Youngsters gather in teams to design, build and test a model spacecraft, or "lunar lander," capable of protecting an astronaut during a moon landing during the workshop, according to the festival website. The workshop is free, and materials will be provided.
The workshop starts at 11 a.m. on the third floor of Haxton Road Studios, 222 S.E. Second St. The teams will then compete in the Lunar Lander Drop at the Samsung STEAM Room on Legion Lane at 1:30 p.m.
It was important for children and youth programming to be incorporated into the festival because "one of our goals is to inspire young minds to do great things and to know they can be and do whatever it is that they're passionate about," said Gina Allgaier, BFF chief engagement officer.
Inspiring youth to do great things will have a positive impact on the future workforce, she said.
Kids Fest will return for its second year. Activities including face painting, obstacle courses, arcade games and photo opportunities will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the downtown square, Allgaier said.
Family-friendly films will show in the Louise Thaden Theatre in 21c Museum Hotel as well as at A League of Their Own Ballpark at Lawrence Plaza throughout the day.
The Samsung Create Short Film Competition allows youth to show their work during the festival. Area students were challenged to create a short film using Samsung Galaxy phones and tablets. Films are to highlight the festival's theme of inclusion.
"It's a fantastic opportunity to get that hands-on experience and hopefully it does inspire them," Allgaier said.
Maya Schwartz, a sixth-grader at The New School in Fayetteville, will present her minute-long film during the competition.
She and two of her classmates at Trike Theatre -- Northwest Arkansas' Professional Theater for Youth -- wrote the script, created storyboards, held an actors' call, gathered props and costumes and filmed in three days.
"It was all hustle, bustle," Maya said.
Academy award winning actress and festival co-founder Geena Davis will serve as one of three jurors for the competition.
This is a phenomenal opportunity for a 12-year-old, said Phil Schwartz, Maya's father and principal of The New School's Upper School.
"She's really excited about it," he said. "It's awesome. She has the opportunity to apply creative skills and investigate her interest in filmmaking."
Maya said she feels confident but also nervous about competition, which is 10 a.m. today at Record South, 104 S.W. A St.
"The biggest thing that I learned is that being a producer is not an easy job," she said. "You had to observe, make sure things went right, edit when things went wrong."
On Sunday, the third annual League of Their Own Softball game will take place at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale.
Prior to the first pitch, festival organizers will need the help of attendees to break the Guinness Book of World Records for the Largest Gathering of Superheroes.
The current record was established by Will Ferrell in October 2010 during a DreamWorks Animation event celebrating the release of Megamind where 1,580 people wore superhero costumes. The previous record was 1,500, according to news reports.
Festival officials are shooting to have 2,000 superhero participants.
Rubie's, a costume company, will have 2,000 costumes to give away starting at 9:30 a.m. in the ballpark parking lot. Costumes will range from children to adult sizes and be available on a first-come, first-serve basis, Allgaier said.
Superheroes will meet at the berm area when the gates open at 10:30 a.m. Admission to the softball game is free for participating superheroes. The cost is $6 for those without super powers.
The softball game and corresponding events will also honor the nation's true superheroes, military veterans, Allgaier said. Jewel will perform the national anthem.
NW News on 05/06/2017