El Dorado Film Festival Anuncia Talleres sobre Distribución, Financiación, Televisión Indie y Sonido.

      The El Dorado Film Festival in Arkansas is set to begin next month, celebrating its 40th anniversary with a screening of the horror classic *Fright Night*, which stars El Dorado native William Ragsdale. The festival has announced three workshops specifically designed for filmmakers aspiring to enter the film and television industry. “This year we have some truly exciting educational opportunities,” stated executive director Alexander Jeffery. “Several industry professionals who are leading the way in independent film will be joining us to share their expertise with filmmakers and audience members.”

      The scheduled panels are:

      **No Bullsh*t Financing and Distribution with Benjamin Weissner**

      Benjamin Weissner, producer and vice president of Sales & Distribution at Vanishing Angle, will guide attendees through the challenges of tackling two major obstacles in filmmaking, as noted by the festival. Weissner has produced both animated short films and live-action projects, earning accolades at festivals like SXSW and Sundance. He has contributed to numerous feature films that debuted at events such as Sundance, Berlinale, SXSW, Cannes, and Tribeca, and produced *Thunder Road*, which won the SXSW 2018 Grand Jury Prize. Additionally, he co-founded the Short to Feature Filmmaking Lab and played a role in launching the Vanishing Angle Post Grant to support short filmmakers in 2020.

      **Creating Independent TV with Picture Pool Productions**

      Nicholas Logan, Bridget Regan, and Brittany Fallow will discuss how Picture Pool Productions develops and distributes independent television, providing insights into their latest project. Logan is known for his roles in *Dark Winds*, *Last Stop in Yuma County*, and *I Care a Lot* as both an actor and producer. Regan, an accomplished actress and producer, has appeared in films such as *Devil’s Gate*, *John Wick*, and *The Leisure Class*, and is currently seen on ABC’s *The Rookie*. Fallow is a producer and line producer based in New Orleans, recognized for her feature film *The Fetch*, which won the Dark Matters Audience Award at the 2024 Austin Film Festival, and her award-winning short film *Addie and the Lightning Bugs*.

      **Storytelling With Sound**

      Sound designer Beso Kacharava (*Euphoria*, *Ferrari*), filmmaker J.C. Doler (*The Fetch*), and composer Amos Cochran (*Mystery League*) will engage in a discussion on the role of sound in enhancing storytelling.

      *The Fetch* will also be among the films featured at this year's El Dorado Film Festival.

      **About the El Dorado Film Festival**

      Taking place from February 26th to March 2nd at the South Arkansas Arts Center, the festival will also see attendance from *MovieMaker*.

      This year's program includes H. Nelson Tracey’s *Break Up Season*, starring Chandler Riggs (*The Walking Dead*), along with Wendy Lobel’s documentary *Anxiety Club*, featuring Marc Maron, Mark Normand, Aparna Nancherla, and others. The festival will also showcase the best films from the Louisiana Film Prize located in nearby Shreveport, Louisiana, recognized as one of the 50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee.

      Cash prizes for winners will be awarded in several categories, including Best of Fest ($1,500), Pam Callaway Spirit of the Festival Award ($1,000), Best Narrative Feature ($500), Best Documentary ($500), Best Short Drama ($500), Best Short Comedy ($500), Best Arkansas Short ($500), and Best Southern Made Short ($500). Established in 2014, the El Dorado Film Festival features a variety of independent cinema and is hosted by the South Arkansas Arts Center, which boasts three gallery spaces, a ballet studio, a 207-seat theater, a scene and costume shop, classrooms, a photography studio, and more.

      Main image: (L-R) Picture Pool’s Nicholas Logan, Bridget Regan, and Brittany Fallow. Courtesy of Picture Pool.