Stay in the loop with our email updates!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
The El Dorado Film Festival has officially been named one of MovieMaker Magazine’s “50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee” for 2025, a prestigious recognition that honors the festival’s commitment to filmmakers, vibrant programming, and industry impact.
Published annually by MovieMaker Magazine, the list highlights festivals around the world that provide exceptional value to independent filmmakers, not only through opportunities for exposure and connection, but through thoughtful curation, hospitality, and return on investment. For the El Dorado Film
Festival, the distinction reflects years of dedicated growth and a mission to elevate emerging voices from the American South and beyond.
"We're deeply honored to be recognized by MovieMaker," said Alexander Jeffery, Executive Director of the El Dorado Film Festival. “Our goal has always been to create a filmmaker-forward and intimate experience where artists and audiences can connect. This recognition affirms that we’re on the right track. This is a huge win for El Dorado and for the South Arkansas Arts Center.”
Laura Allen, the Executive Director of the South Arkansas Arts Center, also shared in the excitement. “SAAC is so proud to be the home of the El Dorado Film Festival, and we can’t wait to welcome even more creatives to our amazing community in South Arkansas next year. It’s an honor to be included with this awesome group of festivals!”
Now entering its 10th year, the El Dorado Film Festival continues to expand its reach, drawing submissions from across the globe while maintaining the charm and hospitality of its small-town roots. Known for its enthusiastic audiences, intimate setting, and filmmaker-friendly environment, the festival offers selected creators travel support, meaningful networking, and a platform to connect directly with engaged cinephiles and fellow artists.
“The excitement for our 2026 season was the talk of the town after our highly successful festival this past February,” said Film Committee Chair Tamra Corley Davis. “And with this honor from MovieMaker Magazine, we will be able to introduce our amazing South Arkansas community to so many more filmmakers who I know will fall in love with our people and our town.”
Submissions for the 2025 edition of the El Dorado Film Festival are now open via FilmFreeway. For more information, visit www.eldofilmfest.com or follow @eldoradofilmfest on Instagram.
ABOUT THE EL DORADO FILM FESTIVAL
Established in 2014, the El Dorado Film Festival offers a curated selection of independent cinema to audiences in El Dorado—a small town with a unique history in the arts. EDFF has brought filmmakers together and, in turn, created opportunities for those filmmakers to grow together. Look for narrative and documentary features along with short films from around the world. Past guests have included actor/director Joey Lauren Adams (Come Early Morning, Big Daddy) and producer Kristin Mann (What Happens Later, To the Stars).
At ACS, we believe that if we provide filmmakers an arena to exhibit their talents, and film enthusiasts a healthy diet of quality programming, we can inspire more Arkansans to make and watch more films. By supporting filmmakers, festivals, theaters and young people interested in filmmaking throughout the state, we hope to create statewide network, pool Arkansas’s resources and be an umbrella organization that feeds all things film. We believe a rising tide lifts all boats.
To be a filmmaker, we have to connect to create. A painter needs a brush, paint and a canvas. A director needs a writer, a cinematographer, a sound mixer, production designer, editor, actors, distributors, and an audience. We cannot do it alone. This art form forces one to collaborate and thus, creates jobs. Filmmaking is unique in the arts in this way. It takes an army.
