If I Go Will They Miss Me from director Walter Thompson-Hernández was named Best Narrative Feature at the Bentonville Film Festival, which is wrapping its 12th edition in Bentonville, AR. Director Judd Ehrlich’s Jane Elliott Against the World was named Best Documentary.
“These awards reflect the passion and drive of storytellers, whose work will continue to broaden perspectives and engage audiences throughout the year,” said Bentonville Film Festival chair Geena Davis. “We congratulate our BFF award winners, and we’re so thankful to every filmmaker here for their contributions to the success of this year’s BFF.”
Here’s the full list of winners at the festival:
Narrative
Best Narrative: If I Go Will They Miss Me
Director/Writer: Walter Thompson-Hernández; Producers: Josh Peters, Saba Zerehi, Ben Stillman
Jury Statement: If I Go Will They Miss Me is a thoughtful, poetic, and stunning cinematic experience. We marveled at the visual language, which rendered a methodical approach without sacrificing a sense of improvisation and heart. Director Walter Thompson-Hernandez masterfully asks us to consider each character with understanding by marrying their internal struggles with the mythological status they represent to their loved ones. The result is a depiction of black familial love and fatherhood that is not elevated but rather finally honored.
Special Jury Mention for Directorial Vision: The Musical
Director: Gisella Bonilla; Writer: Alexander Heller; Producers: Rob Lowe, Greg Lauritano, Alexander Heller, Findlay Brown, Jordan Backhus
Jury Statement: From inspired casting and standout performances to expert pacing and shot selection, Bonilla demonstrates remarkable command of every aspect of filmmaking. Comedy is one of the hardest genres to master, yet from the first moments, we knew we were in capable hands. The film commits fully to the genre with impressive precision. That confidence is reflected in performances from Will Brill and Rob Lowe, who play off each other beautifully. For a first feature, this is an extraordinary achievement, and we are thrilled to recognize Giselle Bonilla’s exceptional directorial talent.
Special Jury Mention for Lead Performances: BRB
Director: Kate Cobb; Writers: Sydney Blackburn, Michael Waller; Producers: Kevin Bigley, Kelly Aisthorpe Waller, Mark Glassgow, Michele Girgis
Jury Statement: Zoe Colletti and Autumn Best bring BRB to life through performances filled with warmth, vulnerability, and undeniable charisma. Navigating the highs and lows of sisterhood with remarkable honesty, they help to create characters who feel wholly authentic and deeply human. Their chemistry grounds every emotional turn of the film, balancing comedy, heartbreak, and tenderness with confidence and precision. Together, they remind us of the power of connection and deliver performances that announce two exciting talents to watch.
Best Documentary
Best Documentary: Jane Elliott Against the World
Director/Producer: Judd Ehrlich; Producers: Max Powers, Elena Gaby
Jury Statement: This film is a raw and unflinching glimpse into the life and career of a legendary educator who has dedicated her life to anti-racism, the costs of her radical and undeniably impactful approaches, and a celebration of living life to its fullest potential, for as long as your body and mind allow. We are honored to award Jane Elliott Against The World the Best Documentary Award at the 2026 Bentonville Film Festival for its impeccable execution and its insistence that a better world is possible.
Special Jury Mention (Documentary): Summer 2000: The X-Cetra Story
Director/Writer/Producer: Ayden Mayeri; Writer/Producer: Barry Rothbart; Producer: Rachael Fung
Jury Statement: A tender coming-of-age story that spans decades, with an exceptionally creative use of deep personal archives, this documentary is a charming, funny, moving film about the power of friendship and how art can shape the lives of our children. It is our distinct pleasure to present a Special Jury Mention for “Summer 2000: The X-Cetra Story” for showing how internet virality can sometimes be a good thing.
Best Homegrown
Best Homegrown: Baby/Girls
Directors: Jackie Jesko, Alyse Walsh; Producers: Melissa Leardi, Alex Waterfield, Kelly Rohrbach Walton
Jury Statement: Directors Alyse Walsh and Jackie Jesko bring remarkable sensitivity, humor, and elegance to a subject that could easily have felt heavy-handed or exploitative. Through two years of extraordinary access, they illuminate sweeping systemic failures through an intimate, deeply human lens — one that honors the vulnerability and courage of their subjects in equal measure. The result is documentary filmmaking at its most urgent and compassionate.
Special Jury Mention (Homegrown): Filthy
Writer/Director/Producer: Lisa Cole; Producers: Paola Gadala-Maria, Barbara Lettieri
Jury Statement: Writer-director Lisa Cole crafts a fresh and exhilarating act of liberation with Filthy. The short film’s evolution from a muted, constrained world into one far more primal, blazing with color and movement – embodies the very awakening it depicts. Lisa handles the emotional stakes with masterful precision, weaving the politics of purity culture, religious control, and the mother-daughter bond into a climax that is a revolt and a reconciliation.
Best Episodic
Best Episodic: Too Romantic
Writer/Director/Producer: Talia Light Rake; Producers: Katherine Romans, Charlie Traisman, Adam Kinyon, Sarah Whelden
Jury Statement: Director & Writer Talia Light Rake taps into the current zeitgeist with a marvelously executed pilot that brings together modern internet/social media humor with classic rom-com structure. The charismatic leads and vibrant writing make for a delightful watch and show significant potential for future episodes and a fully realized television series.
Best Short Film
Best Short Film: Find The Boy, France
Director: Pauline Goasmat
Jury Statement: Find the Boy is a bittersweet exploration of identity, love, and the lasting impact of acceptance and rejection; a beautifully crafted reminder that respect for a person’s identity does not end with their life.
Special Jury Mention: Paper Daughter, USA
Director: Cami Kwan
Jury Statement: Paper Daughter combines a creative visual premise with outstanding animation to present a keen story of identity and desperation that refuses a simple interpretation or easy dismissal.
Special Jury Mention: She Chose War, USA
Director: Sarah Moshman
Jury Statement: You just can’t look away from this compelling documentary short about the life and times of a hopeful, young Ukrainian woman who has chosen the front lines of war – with all its horror and degradation – instead of finishing her degree in the dramatic arts.
