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Bentonville Film Festival 2026 Spotlights Emerging Producers Championing Diverse Stories
June 15‑21 in Bentonville, Arkansas, will host the 12th Bentonville Film Festival, a two‑week showcase that brings a fresh wave of producers to the forefront of independent cinema.
The event, organized by the BFFoundation, is backed by founding partner Walmart, presenting partner Coca‑Cola and a partnership with Variety’s Producers to Watch. Walmart’s long‑standing commitment to inclusion dovetails with Coca‑Cola’s history of supporting community‑based film initiatives, while Variety’s Producers to Watch program—established in 1998—provides a respected industry platform that highlights producers shaping the future of cinema.
At its core, the festival’s focus on diversity echoes Walmart’s corporate values and reflects a broader industry trend toward original storytelling and representation. The lineup features a slate of up‑and‑coming producers who have built careers around projects that emphasize originality, emotional depth, and representation.
Among the highlighted producers are Taylor Shung, Emily Korteweg, Joshua Beirne‑Golden, Apoorva Charan, Galen Core, India Flint, Luca Intili, Matthew Miller, Rachel O’Connor, and Stephanie Roush. Each has cultivated a reputation for selecting material that pushes creative boundaries.
Taylor Shung, the mind behind Sundance‑winning “Josephine” and A24‑distributed “Peaked,” argues that “originality is all you have” in a saturated market. He stresses that “good storytelling and talent rises to the top” and that he seeks projects that connect personally and feature a filmmaker with a strong perspective.
Emily Korteweg, a Dutch‑born producer who studied finance and literature in London, frames her approach as a search for either “material with enough gravitas to carry genuine prestige potential, or a fresh concept.” She emphasizes the importance of stories that demand active audience participation and that “cut through” to entertain.
Joshua Beirne‑Golden, whose debut feature “Josephine” captured both the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, stresses the value of under‑represented voices. He notes that “Almost any film made by queer people, in a weird way, becomes a queer movie to me,” and he seeks projects that reflect the experiences of those who create them.
Apoorva Charan, producer of Amazon MGM Fiction Producer’s Award‑winning “Take Me Home” and the 2022 Pakistani film “Joyland,” highlights the need for a “very, very strong emotional core” and a “reminder of shared humanity.” She is building a pipeline of projects that allow creative risk while aiming for sustainability.
Galen Core, known for “Club Kid” and “Lurker,” points out that “script first” is the key to choosing material, and that he looks for writers who are ready to partner and have a distinct point of view.
India Flint, who has worked with Working Title and is producing the upcoming “Sense and Sensibility,” says she focuses on stories that “tell compelling, personal narratives” and believes “classic adaptations are in demand among younger audiences.”
Luca Intili, a New York‑based producer, has worked on documentaries and character‑driven dramas. He says he seeks long‑term creative collaborators and remains optimistic about audiences’ appetite for ambitious, challenging films.
Matthew Miller, based in Toronto, has produced titles such as “BlackBerry” and “Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie.” He emphasizes sustaining excitement over the long development cycle and notes that his projects often explore male friendships.
Rachel O’Connor, a former studio executive turned producer, has credits on “Project Hail Mary” and the Spider‑Man franchise. She stresses the importance of films that “touch people, entertain them, and make them laugh and cry.”
Stephanie Roush, producer of “Union County” and “Act One,” highlights the necessity of projects that “couldn’t be made by anyone else” and that reflect the unique perspective of the filmmaker.
The festival’s lineup—featuring the producers’ recent works and upcoming projects—underscores a broader industry shift toward originality and diverse representation. Panels and discussions will explore the evolving role of producers in a shifting cinematic landscape.
As the 12th edition of the Bentonville Film Festival approaches, the highlighted producers demonstrate how fresh voices and original narratives can thrive even amid a saturated market. Their projects, ranging from Sundance‑award winners to new A24 releases, illustrate the potential for independent cinema to resonate with audiences and shape the future of film.
The event, organized by the BFFoundation, is backed by founding partner Walmart, presenting partner Coca‑Cola and a partnership with Variety’s Producers to Watch. Walmart’s long‑standing commitment to inclusion dovetails with Coca‑Cola’s history of supporting community‑based film initiatives, while Variety’s Producers to Watch program—established in 1998—provides a respected industry platform that highlights producers shaping the future of cinema.
At its core, the festival’s focus on diversity echoes Walmart’s corporate values and reflects a broader industry trend toward original storytelling and representation. The lineup features a slate of up‑and‑coming producers who have built careers around projects that emphasize originality, emotional depth, and representation.
Among the highlighted producers are Taylor Shung, Emily Korteweg, Joshua Beirne‑Golden, Apoorva Charan, Galen Core, India Flint, Luca Intili, Matthew Miller, Rachel O’Connor, and Stephanie Roush. Each has cultivated a reputation for selecting material that pushes creative boundaries.
Taylor Shung, the mind behind Sundance‑winning “Josephine” and A24‑distributed “Peaked,” argues that “originality is all you have” in a saturated market. He stresses that “good storytelling and talent rises to the top” and that he seeks projects that connect personally and feature a filmmaker with a strong perspective.
Emily Korteweg, a Dutch‑born producer who studied finance and literature in London, frames her approach as a search for either “material with enough gravitas to carry genuine prestige potential, or a fresh concept.” She emphasizes the importance of stories that demand active audience participation and that “cut through” to entertain.
Joshua Beirne‑Golden, whose debut feature “Josephine” captured both the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, stresses the value of under‑represented voices. He notes that “Almost any film made by queer people, in a weird way, becomes a queer movie to me,” and he seeks projects that reflect the experiences of those who create them.
Apoorva Charan, producer of Amazon MGM Fiction Producer’s Award‑winning “Take Me Home” and the 2022 Pakistani film “Joyland,” highlights the need for a “very, very strong emotional core” and a “reminder of shared humanity.” She is building a pipeline of projects that allow creative risk while aiming for sustainability.
Galen Core, known for “Club Kid” and “Lurker,” points out that “script first” is the key to choosing material, and that he looks for writers who are ready to partner and have a distinct point of view.
India Flint, who has worked with Working Title and is producing the upcoming “Sense and Sensibility,” says she focuses on stories that “tell compelling, personal narratives” and believes “classic adaptations are in demand among younger audiences.”
Luca Intili, a New York‑based producer, has worked on documentaries and character‑driven dramas. He says he seeks long‑term creative collaborators and remains optimistic about audiences’ appetite for ambitious, challenging films.
Matthew Miller, based in Toronto, has produced titles such as “BlackBerry” and “Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie.” He emphasizes sustaining excitement over the long development cycle and notes that his projects often explore male friendships.
Rachel O’Connor, a former studio executive turned producer, has credits on “Project Hail Mary” and the Spider‑Man franchise. She stresses the importance of films that “touch people, entertain them, and make them laugh and cry.”
Stephanie Roush, producer of “Union County” and “Act One,” highlights the necessity of projects that “couldn’t be made by anyone else” and that reflect the unique perspective of the filmmaker.
The festival’s lineup—featuring the producers’ recent works and upcoming projects—underscores a broader industry shift toward originality and diverse representation. Panels and discussions will explore the evolving role of producers in a shifting cinematic landscape.
As the 12th edition of the Bentonville Film Festival approaches, the highlighted producers demonstrate how fresh voices and original narratives can thrive even amid a saturated market. Their projects, ranging from Sundance‑award winners to new A24 releases, illustrate the potential for independent cinema to resonate with audiences and shape the future of film.
