Bentonville Film Festival: ‘Rosemead,' ‘The Librarians,' ‘Sovereign' Win Awards, Lucy Liu Receives Rising to The Challenge Honor

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It's shaping up as an award-winning summer for actress-producer Lucy Liu.
On Saturday night Liu received the Rising to the Challenge Award at the Bentonville Film Festival in Arkansas, an honor that 'recognizes artists who champion storytelling that breaks barriers and broadens representation.'
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It wasn't her only award of the night. Her new drama Rosemead, directed by Eric Lin, won Best Narrative at the 11th edition of the festival chaired by Geena Davis. Liu produced the film and stars as 'Irene,' a Chinese immigrant who simultaneously faces a personal health crisis and the alarming descent of her son into schizophrenia.
'Rosemead captures the terrifying realities of motherhood in our contemporary era,' wrote the jury, comprised of filmmaker Marie Jamora (guest artistic director of AFI's Directing Workshop for Women) and filmmaker Bomani J. Story (The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster). 'When culture, society, and healthcare break down, how can a mother protect her own child? With a powerhouse performance from the often underused Lucy Liu, you understand every choice she makes. Director Eric Lin sparks real world conversations about the society we're living in through an intimate, unflinching film based on true events in the San Gabriel Valley. The very essence of what great cinema can do.'
Scroll for the full list of awards.
Speaking with Deadline just before the ceremony began, Liu called the Rising to the Challenge Award 'very meaningful because it's something that's about diversity and about bringing stories to the forefront. Knowing that this particular story [Rosemead] is all about that is exactly connected and so it's aligned in the best way possible.'
The film premiered earlier this month at Tribeca Festival. Deadline's Damon Wise praised Lin and screenwriter Marilyn Fu, writing in his review that they afford Liu 'the headspace she needs to deliver a performance of quiet power, selling us on the desperation that drives Irene to the limits of her always practical-minded sanity.'
In August, Liu will receive the Career Achievement Award at the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland, where Rosemead will hold its international premiere.
At Saturday night's Bentonville Film Festival Awards ceremony, The Librarians won Best Documentary. The film directed by Kim A Snyder and executive produced by Sarah Jessica Parker examines attempts by librarians in Florida and Texas and elsewhere to combat book banning efforts, while simultaneously facing unhinged attacks from right wing zealots accusing them of grooming children.
'This extraordinary film is powerful, timely and needed,' wrote the jury comprised of director-producer Kathryn Everett (founder of 5D Studios), James Faust (artistic director, Dallas International Film Festival), and producer-actor Pallavi Sastry (co-director of programming, iSAFF). 'It enrages and saddens, with not a second missed. The storytelling does not discriminate in its coverage, making its points thoroughly, in a scary, chilling and necessary exploration. These librarians are heroes.'
The inaugural Homegrown Award went to Sovereign, a drama directed by Christian Swegal and produced by Nick Moceri that was partly filmed in nearby Fayetteville.
'Under the visionary direction of Christian Swegal, this bold story is elevated by a cast whose performances bring depth and authenticity to every scene,' wrote jurors Joshua Dahlman (program director of shorts & MN features, Twin Cities Film Festival); producer Nicole Shipley (co-founder and CEO of Safe Space Pictures Foundation), and Claire Taylor (chief program officer, SeriesFest). 'Sovereign bravely opens a window into a side of American culture that is often difficult to discuss. The film invites viewers to confront complex realities with honesty and compassion, sparking important conversations that linger long after the credits roll.'
In a statement, BFF chair Geena Davis said, 'These awards reflect the passion and drive of storytellers, whose work will continue to broaden perspectives and engage audiences throughout the year. We congratulate our BFF award winners and we're so thankful to every filmmaker here for their contributions to the success of this year's BFF!'
This is the full list of winners and special jury mentions:
Best Narrative
Jury: Marie Jamora (Director; Guest Artistic Director of AFI's Directing Workshop for Women), Bomani J. Story (Director, The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster)
Best Narrative:
(Director, Eric Lin; Writer, Marilyn Fu; Producers, Mynette Louie, Andrew Corkin, Lucy Liu)
Jury Statement: 'Rosemead' captures the terrifying realities of motherhood in our contemporary era. When culture, society, and healthcare break down, how can a mother protect her own child? With a powerhouse performance from the often underused Lucy Liu, you understand every choice she makes. Director Eric Lin sparks real world conversations about the society we're living in through an intimate, unflinching film based on true events in the San Gabriel Valley. The very essence of what great cinema can do.
Special Jury Mention for Directorial Vision:
(Director/Writer, David Fortune; Producers, Kiah Clingman, Kristen Uno, Autumn Bailey-Ford)
Jury Statement: David Fortune's 'Color Book' makes daring choices through form and subject matter. In a stripped down tale of a father just trying to get his son to a baseball game, the film unearths profound themes about the world we live in with a consistent command of beautiful visuals, performances, and crisp storytelling. Fortune's vision speaks through a confident hand like he's done this many times before.
Special Jury Mention for Ensemble Cast:
(Director/Producer, Rich Newey; Writer/Producer, Annika Marks; Producers, Angie Gaffney, Thomas Sadoski)
Jury Statement: In these times, the world needs to laugh, and 'Adult Children' dispenses the chuckles effortlessly through its superb ensemble playing a maladjusted family colliding back together. The film speaks to a generational stuntedness that makes us realize that we're all faking it as grown ups.
Best Documentary
Jury: Kathryn Everett (Director/Producer; Founder of 5D Studios), James Faust (Artistic Director, Dallas International Film Festival), Pallavi Sastry (Producer/Actor; Co-Director of Programming, iSAFF)
Best Documentary:
(Director/Producer, Kim A. Snyder; Producers, Janique L. Robillard, Maria Cuomo Cole, Jana Edelbaum)
Jury Statement: This extraordinary film is powerful, timely and needed. It enrages and saddens, with not a second missed. The storytelling does not discriminate in its coverage, making its points thoroughly, in a scary, chilling and necessary exploration. These librarians are heroes.
Special Jury Mention (Documentary):
(Director/Producer, Sam Feder; Producers, Amy Scholder, Paula Mendoza)
Jury Statement: 'Heightened Scrutiny' is a film that humanizes an issue that's become increasingly political, making it a story about people. A quintessential example of journalistic storytelling, the Jury found it uplifting, heart centered, factual, human and necessary. It beautifully contextualizes the war on trans people and the undue stress and scrutiny they face just to be themselves.
Best Homegrown
Jury: Joshua Dahlman (Program Director of Shorts & MN Features, Twin Cities Film Festival), Nicole Shipley (Producer; Co-founder and CEO of Safe Space Pictures Foundation), Claire Taylor (Chief Program Officer, SeriesFest)
Best Homegrown:
(Director/Writer, Christian Swegal; Producer, Nick Moceri)
Jury Statement: Under the visionary direction of Christian Swegal, this bold story is elevated by a cast whose performances bring depth and authenticity to every scene. 'Sovereign'bravely opens a window into a side of American culture that is often difficult to discuss. The film invites viewers to confront complex realities with honesty and compassion, sparking important conversations that linger long after the credits roll.
Special Jury Mention (Homegrown):
(Directors/Producers, Brock Wagner, Tim Johnson; Producers, Jason Williams, Uriah Nazario, Bianca Montoya, Brian Carlson, John Hunter)
Jury Statement: For its powerful storytelling that uplifts under-recognized voices and celebrates resilience. The film also shines a light on Northwest Arkansas as a growing hub for inclusion and accessibility.
Best Episodic
Jury: Joshua Dahlman (Program Director of Shorts & MN Features, Twin Cities Film Festival), Nicole Shipley (Producer; Co-founder and CEO of Safe Space Pictures Foundation), Claire Taylor (Chief Program Officer, SeriesFest) (same as Homegrown)
Best Episodic: (Director, Carlos Cardona)
Jury Statement: This pilot excels in capturing intimate moments with authenticity and nuance, showcasing exceptional filmmaking craft. It creates a world that is dramatic, compelling, and rock and roll to the core—a universe we want to see more of. 'Born 2 Lose' is clearly just the beginning of what promises to be a remarkable journey for this talented team. We eagerly look forward to what's next, both on screen and behind the camera.
Best Short Film
Jury: Anne Alvergue (Editor/Director, The Martha Mitchell Effect), Michelle Krusiec (Writer/Director/Actor; Nian), Toks Olagundoye (Actor, Frasier)
Best Short Film: (Director, day)
Jury Statement: A haunting short with deeply felt performances that achieved excellence in interweaving singular moments into a narrative that stayed with us all after the film was over.
Special Jury Mention (Short Film): (Directors, Megan Griffiths, Mindie Lind) Special Jury Mention (Short Film): (Director, Anndi Jinelle Liggett)
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