Bentonville Film Festival Unveils 2026 Lineup with Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick Kicking Off Opening Night’s Family Movie Event
The Bentonville Film Festival (BFF) has unveiled its complete lineup for the upcoming 12th edition, scheduled to take place from June 15-21 in Northwest Arkansas.
Founded by Walmart and helmed by Oscar-winning actress Geena Davis, the festival will feature 34 competition films, including five world premieres. The event kicks off on June 16 with the screening of Family Movie, attended by director-producers Kevin Bacon and Kyra Segwick, who also star in the film alongside their children Sosie and Travis Bacon.
‘Family Movie’ SXSW
Family Movie follows a filmmaking family who inadvertently finds themselves in a real-life horror scenario when a body is discovered on the set of their low-budget slasher film. A moderated discussion with Bacon and Segwick will follow the screening.
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The festival will conclude on June 21 with a special screening of Netflix’s reboot of Little House on the Prairie, featuring the first episode and a Q&A with showrunner/executive producer/writer Rebecca Sonnenshine, along with stars Crosby Fitzgerald and Alyssa Wapanatâhk.
‘Little House on the Prairie’ Netflix
Little House on the Prairie has been described as both a family drama and an epic survival tale, providing a fresh adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s beloved books.
Sonnenshine will receive the Rising to the Challenge Award at the annual Festival Award Ceremony on June 20, a recognition for innovative artists whose work broadens opportunities and promotes inclusive storytelling.
Rebecca Sonnenshine, winner of the Best Book to Screen Adaptation for ‘The Housemaid,’ at the 2026 Astra Film Awards on January 9, 2026, in Los Angeles. Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
“Rebecca Sonnenshine’s work reflects the very spirit of the Rising to the Challenge Award,” remarked Geena Davis, Chair of the Bentonville Film Festival. She emphasized Sonnenshine’s commitment to poignant storytelling and expanding representation in the arts. Looking ahead to its twelfth year, Davis expressed pride in the festival’s growth as a platform for artists and audiences alike.
BFF attendees can also anticipate a range of notable features, starting with the world premiere of Street Smart on June 18, which follows a group of street children in Venice Beach. Following this film, a conversation with director Catherine Hardwicke will occur.
The festival promises to showcase personal narratives from various global figures and will feature the documentary The Brittney Griner Story, along with Give Me the Ball!, produced by Liz Garbus, alongside “Coffee Talk” sessions featuring notable chefs and personalities.
BFF’s competition programming highlights its ongoing commitment to inclusion and authentic representation, with over 80% of selected films from creators identifying as female or gender non-conforming.
Additional notable highlights include the full festival lineup, which includes an array of narrative and documentary films covering subjects that resonate across a spectrum of communities. The festival remains a crucial platform for promoting diverse stories in today’s cinematic landscape.
