Isobel Sandoval’s “Lingua Franca,” Rachel Harrison Gordon’s “Broken Bird,” and Chris Chalk’s “Farewell” Among 2020 Bentonville Film Festival Winners

The Bentonville Film Festival, presented in partnership with founding sponsor Walmart and presenting sponsor Coca-Cola, announced the jury prize winners for their sixth annual festival, which concluded today. BFF is a one-of-a-kind event, uniquely dedicated to championing underrepresented voices in film, entertainment and media and this year was their most diverse festival to-date with over 70 films where over 80% were directed by women, 65% BIPOC and 45% LGBTQA+.  

Isobel Sandoval’s “Lingua Franca” took home the top prize winning the jury award for Best Narrative Feature. Alice Gu’s The Donut King was awarded Best Documentary, Broken Bird was selected for Best Short Film Narrative and Ava & Bianca won for Short Film Documentary. Lady Liberty and Immigrant Voices of America took the honors in Episodic. 

Co-founded by Academy Award®-winning actor Geena Davis, this year's festival was a new hybrid model that paired digital screenings, panels and events alongside select on-the-ground premieres and conversations. 

The full list of awards and honorees are below:

Jury Award Winners:

Narrative Film Award: LINGUA FRANCA, Director: Isobel Sandoval

Documentary Film Award: THE DONUT KING, Director: Alice Gu

Short Film Narrative Award: BROKEN BIRD, Director: Rachel Harrison Gordon

Short Film Documentary Award: AVA & BIANCA, Director: Rachel Fleit

Episodic Narrative Award: LADY LIBERTY, Director: Taylor Lee Nagel

Episodic Documentary Award: IMMIGRANT VOICES OF AMERICA, Director: Miguel Angel Duran

Special Recognition Awards:

Best First Feature, Narrative: FAREWELL, Director: Chris Chalk

Best Performance, Narrative: TAKE OUT GIRL, Director: Hissoni Johnson, Actor: Hedy Wong

Best Editing, Documentary: MY DARLING, VIVIAN, Director: Matt Riddlehoover