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cenic Hot Springs National Park is the perfect setting for the 2012 Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival, which runs from Oct 12-21 at the historic Arlington Hotel. Festival Director Courtney Pledger has referred to the Arlington as being the “hero” of the festival as it stepped in and offered to host it after damage was done to the Malco Theater during a storm in August. “The Arlington Hotel understands the importance of keeping one of Arkansas’s greatest cultural events alive and well in downtown Hot Springs. Without the donation of space from The Arlington to host the festival there is a good chance that the festival might not have happened this year. We are incredibly grateful that The Arlington was generous enough to help the festival in a time of need,” said Pledger. The Arlington is the presenting sponsor of the film festival and will host both the opening and closing night films along with the traditional Champagne and Popcorn Reception as part of the opening night festivities. This year the reception will be held on the mezzanine of the Arlington, overlooking the regal lobby of the hotel. Most of the film screenings will also take place on this level as it offers two rooms, designated cinema 1 & 2, that are both spacious and comfortable with sound proof walls that make them perfect for viewing films. The Maxwell Blade Theater of Magic, down the street from the Arlington will
also be host to panels, screenings and events during the festival. The Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival is the oldest solely documentary film festival in the United States as well as one of the oldest, second to Amsterdam, internationally. It showcases some of the most exciting, enlightening and informative documentary films available in the world today, featuring both classic and avant-garde forms as well as awardnominated films that will forever change the way audiences think and interact. This year more than 100 films are in the festival starting with the opening night film, the much anticipated Ann Richards’ Texas and ending with a special director’s preview of Glen Campbell: The Long Way Home. Panels and workshops range from The Challenges of Filming in the Wild, New Waves of Distribution, CrowdFunding, Guerilla Filmmaking, Using Shooting in Danger Zones with the award-winning Renaud Brothers. A competitive Outdoor Film Category showcasing films about the great outdoors, with the winner taking home The Jerry McKinnis Outdoor Film Award, is new this year. Thousands of guests will travel to Hot Springs from both near and far to see the finest in current documentary films as selected by screening committee members.
Opening Night Champagne & Popcorn Reception - 6:00 p.m. Arlington Hotel Mezzanine Open to all VIP Pass holders, Sponsors, Filmmakers, and general admission ticket holders purchasing tickets for opening night. A limited number of guaranteed general admission tickets are available for purchase online at hsdfi.org/tickets-passes.
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