Fort Smith International Film Festival Breaks Records and Lights Up the River Valley Arts Scene!
- The Local Vibe
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
The 2025 Fort Smith International Film Festival just had its best year yet! According to the City of Fort Smith Advertising and Promotion Commission, the festival brought in a whopping $260,000 in economic impact, filled 689 hotel rooms, and welcomed a record 1,083 guests, up from 800 last year.
“Our goal this year was 1,000, and we were cautiously optimistic, but we did better than expected,” said Brandon Chase Goldsmith, Executive Director of the Fort Smith International Film Festival. “I believe our screenings at the Bakery District, Club Kinkeads, Hero’s, and the Fort Smith Museum of History along with pairing movies with pottery classes and blues music put us over the top. Partnerships with other nonprofits and organizations are the key to success.”
Since kicking off in 2021, the festival has grown into a global event, with a media reach topping 2 billion and film submissions from more than 80 countries. This year’s lineup featured 160 films from over 30 countries and 17 Indigenous nations, and nearly half were made right here in Arkansas and Oklahoma.
The River Valley Film Society, which organizes the festival, isn’t stopping there. Through its new Border Town Live partnership with the city, they’re bringing even more entertainment to Fort Smith, think Broadway shows, concerts, and comedy. The first events, R.E.S.P.E.C.T. and Sesame Street Live, were big hits, and a full season of live shows is planned for 2026.
The Fort Smith International Film Festival is proving that film and the arts aren’t just fun, they’re helping fuel our local economy and putting the River Valley on the creative map.
Proud Media Sponsor of 2025 Fort Smith International Film Festival
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