News Archive
Geena Davis is working to bring gender-equality to television and films
Who is your hero? For young children, the answer often includes people they have seen on TV or in movies. Yet, the percentage of male roles in the media far surpasses the percentage of roles for females, according to actor Geena Davis, keynote speaker at the East Bay Women’s Conference last Monday in San Ramon. (She does not call herself an “actress” because “actor” means a person portraying a character in a production.) Read More…
Actress Geena Davis to speak on gender equality
We are pleased to welcome actor and advocate Geena Davis to the Ithaca College campus. She will give a free public talk titled “Gender Equality in the Modern Media” at 8 p.m. March 31 in Ford Hall. Davis is known for her portrayals of strong female characters in such films as “Thelma and Louise” and “A League of Their Own,” and as the first woman president in the ABC series “Commander in Chief.” Read More…
Geena Davis, Susan Sarandon mull over ‘Thelma & Louise’ anniversary tour
Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon may be heading out on the road again — a quarter-century after the release of their Oscar-winning film “Thelma & Louise.” Davis says she and Sarandon are currently hashing out ways to mark the 25th anniversary of the film about a girls’ road trip gone bad. “There’s still so much affection for the movie and we loved it,” Davis says. “It seems like there should be some girl power celebrating going on.” Davis and Sarandon, who still remain good friends, came up with the idea. Read More…
Video Contest Offered by Zions Bank, Utah Film Commission Will Commemorate 25th Anniversary of ‘Thelma & Louise’
To commemorate the 25th anniversary of “Thelma & Louise,” the iconic feminist movie filmed in part in Utah’s red rock country, Zions Bank and the Utah Film Commission today announced a public video contest. The announcement was made by Academy Award-winning actor Geena Davis, Zions Bank President and CEO Scott Anderson and Utah Film Commission Director Virginia Pearce during the 2015 Sundance Film Festival Women’s Leadership Celebration on Jan. 29. Read More…
Geena Davis will headline this Cincinnati business event
Actress Geena Davis will be paying a visit to Cincinnati in May to speak at the YWCA of Greater Cincinnati’s Career Women of Achievement luncheon. The annual event, which will be held May 13, is the YWCA’s largest fundraiser and honors eight women from Greater Cincinnati for their personal career success, leadership, qualities and status as role models for all women. Two educational scholarships will also be awarded at the event that runs from noon until 1:30 p.m. at the Duke Energy Convention Center. Read More…
Geena Davis Is on a Mission to Highlight Female Filmmakers. Her Biggest Ally? Walmart
It’s not surprising that, amid a national debate over gender equity, a star and activist like Geena Davis would launch a film festival celebrating female and minority filmmakers. What might be surprising, however, is that it would be held in Bentonville, Arkansas, and proudly sponsored by hometown megabrand Walmart. As it turns out, setting The Bentonville Film Festival in Bentonville—where fellow sponsors Coca-Cola and Kraft also have offices—wasn’t Walmart’s idea, according to Trevor Drinkwater, festival co-founder and ARC Entertainment CEO. Read More…
Here’s Why Geena Davis Started a Film Festival Focused Not on Women, But Diversity
It’s a new year, and gender and racial inequality persist. However, Academy Award-winning actress Geena Davis, founder of The Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, hit the ground running in 2015 with the announcement that she’s launching a film festival designed around diversity. Davis’ new film festival, the Bentonville Film Festival, is being described as an event “designed around diversity” because it’s designed to not only promote diversity to its festival audiences, but also guarantee distribution across all platforms to the films that win the Audience, Jury Selection and Best Family Film awards. Read More…
Geena Davis to Launch Bentonville Film Festival
Academy Award winning actor Geena Davis announced the launch of the Bentonville Film Festival.
The inaugural festival is slated for May 5 – 9 in Bentonville. The five day event will screen 75 films that highlight women and diversity in filmmaking. Winners of the competition will get guaranteed theatrical, television, digital and retail home entertainment distribution for its winners.
The festival will be hosted by ARC Entertainment, Walmart, Coca-Cola and AMC Theatres. Davis will serve as the chair. Films selected will include studio premieres to independent features and documentaries. The Festival’s Advisory Board includes Angela Bassett, Bruce Dern, Samuel L. Jackson, Randy Jackson, Eva Longoria, Julianne Moore, Paula Patton, Natalie Portman, Nina Tassler and Shailene Woodley.
Films that receive the Audience, Jury Selection and Best Family Film awards at the Bentonville Film Festival will receive a distribution agreement with a guaranteed traditional theatrical release on a minimum of 25 screens from AMC Theatres.
Film submissions for the Festival will open on January 15th 2015, with films accepted into competition being announced in March 2015.
Academy Award® Winning Actor Geena Davis and Arc Entertainment Launch Bentonville Film Festival with Founding Sponsor Walmart and Presenting Sponsor Coca-Cola
Unprecedented Film Festival Celebrating Women and Diversity in Film is First to Guarantee Theatrical, Television, Digital and Retail Home Entertainment Distribution for Winning Films
Bentonville, AR / Los Angeles, CA (January 06, 2015) – Academy Award® winning actor Geena Davis and ARC Entertainment today announced the launch of the Bentonville Film Festival (BFF), a one-of-a-kind inaugural event designed to champion women and diversity in film. The Festival, which will take place from May 5 – 9 in Bentonville, Arkansas, will be the first and only film competition in the world to offer guaranteed theatrical, television, digital and retail home entertainment distribution for its winners.
The festival, which is being hosted by ARC Entertainment, Walmart, Coca-Cola and AMC Theatres, will be chaired by Geena Davis and will screen approximately 75 films in competition, ranging from studio premieres to independent features and documentaries. The Festival’s Advisory Board is comprised of entertainment industry leaders, celebrities and artists including Angela Bassett, Bruce Dern, Samuel L. Jackson, Randy Jackson, Eva Longoria, Julianne Moore, Paula Patton, Natalie Portman, Nina Tassler and Shailene Woodley. While individual activities for each BOA member will vary, the Advisory Board directives include garnering support within the entertainment industry, leading mentorship activities, film selection input, festival jury participation, defining success metrics and measuring effectiveness of programs, and offering broad strategic counsel.
“I have been an advocate for women for most of my adult life,” said Geena Davis. “The Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media is dedicated to improving the representation in gender and diversity of talent, filmmakers, and business leaders by growing awareness through research, education and advocacy. The Bentonville Film Festival is a critical component of how we can directly impact the quantity and quality of females and minorities on screen and behind-the scenes.”
Films that receive the Audience, Jury Selection and Best Family Film awards at the Bentonville Film Festival will receive a distribution agreement with a guaranteed traditional theatrical release on a minimum of 25 screens from AMC Theatres. AMC Theatres will also participate in the film submission and jury selection process.
“I’m honored to collaborate with ARC Entertainment, Walmart, AMC and Coca-Cola to launch this important initiative,” added Davis. “I have been so impressed with the commitment Walmart has made to support Women through their Global Women’s Economic Empowerment Initiative, which has as one of its goals to source $20 billion from women-owned businesses in the U.S.”
In addition to the film screenings, the Bentonville Film Festival will include a star studded award show hosted by Geena Davis and presented by Kraft Foods Group, multiple panel discussions with celebrities and industry leaders, and family film night events that will be free to the public and held in exciting non-traditional venues.
Following the debut of the event, the non profit arm of the initiative, The Bentonville Film Foundation, will launch as part of the BFF initiative a year-round event calendar to promote women and minority filmmakers, artists, directors, and producers at colleges and universities around the country in partnership with the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, which is the official non-profit partner of the BFF initiative and will be focused on research and awareness building.
Film submissions for the Festival will open on January 15th 2015, with films accepted into competition being announced in March 2015.
For more information on the festival please visit bentonvillefilmfestival.com or email your inquiry to info@bentonvillefilmfestival.com.
About Geena Davis and the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media:
Academy Award winner Geena Davis is one of Hollywood’s most respected actors, appearing in several roles that became cultural landmarks. In 1989, Davis received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in “The Accidental Tourist” and earned the 2006 Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama, Davis broke ground in her portrayal of the first female President of the United States in ABC’s hit show “Commander in Chief.”
A long-time advocate for women, Davis is now recognized for her tireless efforts on behalf of women and girls nearly as much as for her acting accomplishments. She is the Founder and Chair of the non-profit Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media at Mount St. Mary’s College, the only research-based
organization working with media and entertainment companies to engage, educate and influence the need for gender balance, reducing stereotyping and creating a diverse and inclusive range of female characters for entertainment targeting children 11 and under.
Davis was recently appointed Special Envoy for Women and Girls in ICT for the UN’s International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Davis is also an official partner of UN Women, working toward their goal of promoting gender equality and empowering women worldwide. Davis is the Chair of the California Commission on the Status of Women. Davis holds honorary degrees from Boston University, Bates College and New England College.
About ARC Entertainment
ARC Entertainment is an independent media company that distributes, produces and acquires content for exploitation on its robust distribution platform. Founded in 2010, ARC Entertainment has achieved exponential growth with releasing over 150 new title since its founding. The Company has unparalleled relationships with major national retailers and a management team with a history of success in the Entertainment and Consumer Products industries. ARC’s most recent platform expansion includes the launch of My Country Nation, (mycountrynation.com) an over-the-top (OTT) digital channel and web brand formed in partnership with, Brad Paisley, William Morris Agency, Taillight Productions, and Raindance Entertainment.
Forbes Interview: Geena Davis And The Hollywood Gender Divide
Academy Award winner talks to Moira Forbes about the unequal representation of women in film and the most important aspect of power. Read More…
