The 3W Podcast: Twilla Brooks talks about Bentonville Film Festival

Bentonville isn’t supposed to feel like a film capital, and that’s exactly why the Bentonville Film Festival works. We’re joined by Twilla Brooks to unpack how BFF has evolved over 12 years into one of the most welcoming, intimate and mission-driven film festivals in the country, rooted right here in Northwest Arkansas.We get into the real “why” behind BFF: Geena Davis’ passion project built to amplify underrepresented stories by women and people of color, in front of the camera and behind it. Twilla shares how partnerships with Walmart and Coca-Cola helped the festival scale without losing its heart, and why this year’s theme, “The Stories That Connect Us All,” matters when so many important films struggle to find screens.Then we run through what to actually do during June 15–21: the opening night buzz around “Family Movie” with Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick in town, the emotional punch of “Cookie Queens,” and the free family programming at The Momentary’s Geena Davis Outdoor Theater, packed with movies, food and hands-on activations. We also highlight Coffee Talks with Ree Drummond, Chef JJ Johnson, and Bobby Flay, plus Juneteenth screenings like “The Ebony Canal” on maternal health of Black women and a powerful Brittney Griner documentary.If you’ve ever wondered what makes Bentonville different, this is your guide. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a summer plan, and leave a review to help more listeners find the show.