The 19th Annual Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival

In 1992 the collaboration between the film alliance and volunteers of Hot Springs formed what is now the 19th Annual Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival. Hosted in the historic Malco theatre in downtown Hot Springs, the film festival shows independent films directed and produced by people all over the world. I sat down with the director of the festival, Dan Anderson and got to know quite about the festival and films going to be shown there.

AR: What is your favorite part about working with the film festival?
DA: Getting a chance to work with all the films. Theres close to 1000 films. Most of the films are independent, so most of the time its a once in a lifetime viewing.

AR: How are the films for the festival selected?
DA: We have a screening committee of 25 members. The members are of all ages, mostly volunteers. We have several meetings and usually narrow the films from 1000 films to 110 films.

AR: Are there going to be any celebrity appearances at the festival this year?
DA: Wes Studi,(dances with wolves.)
        Mathew Lesko, (infomercial guy, wears colorful question mark suit)

AR: Any filmakers?
DA: The filmaker of Disfarmer, who is from canada. Japanese filmaker (A normal life, please) Two filmakers from New Zealand (Once was an Island and Free China Junk)

AR: Any suggestions for filmakers trying to get films into the festival?
DA: Finding a good documentary subject, putting in the time and making the subject just as if not more interesting as it is in person.

2010 HSDFF Films ( A few)

Beard Club - Visiting barbershops, religious sanctuaries, and even mens bathrooms, one woman journeys the globe examining the beard and its ties to tradition, status, gender, and power. Along the way she learns that the facial hair has many meanings, it is more a decoration, it is a window into an individual's identity.

Bouncing Cats - An inspiring story of one man's attempt to create a better life for the children of uganda using the unlikely tool of hip hop culture with the focus on break-dance.

Disfarmer - Discovers the once known portrait photographer, Mike "Disfarmer" Meyers, his influence on the modern Manhattan art world, and the legacy he left behind in his hometown of Heber Springs, Arkansas.

Dogpatch USA - chronicles the history of "Dogpatch USA" a rural theme park inspired by Al C app's comic strip, "lil abner' the park operated from 1968 until 1993 in the hills just outside Harrison, Arkansas.

Haack: The King of Techno - A look into the underground world of Bruce Haack, a genius whose pas work continues to garner recognition with time. Haack's homemade experimental electronics influenced artists such as Beck, The Eels, Mouse one Mars, and others.

Invisible Girlfriend -A man named charles rides a big red bicycle through rural Louisiana to find his invisible girlfriend, Joan od Arc.

The 2010 HSDFF will be held October 15-24th. the films showing roughly from 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.
If you are interested in volunteering at the HSDFF they do accept high school students. Just go to the Documentary film Office or Call the office at (501) 321-4747.