Filmmaker Ross Macartney screened Ocean City  at the Fort Smith International Film Festival, a short film that follows an aging entertainer reflecting on his life as a clown. Set against the backdrop of the ocean, the story explores themes of identity, false selves, and the essence of being, culminating in a symbolic shedding of the mask and a return to one’s core spirit. Beyond filmmaking, Ross has launched Reverie Studios Inc., a creative company based in Arkansas focused on building stories from the ground up. Its first project, the comic book Wonderland Q , will lead a slate of titles eventually expanding into graphic novels, animation, and live-action features, including the planned series The Keys of Atlantis . Updates and projects from Reverie Studios can be found at reveriestudiosinc.com , where fans can also join the studio’s Discord community to follow its growing universe of stories. Click Below to Watch the Interview Proud Media Sponsors of the Fort Smith International Film Festival

The skies over Northwest Arkansas will come alive once again as the 6th Annual SOAR NWA, presented by Sam’s Furniture, returns to the Benton County Fairgrounds for two unforgettable days of adventure, entertainment, and community spirit. Whether you’re a first-time attendee or a seasoned SOAR fan, this year’s event promises more excitement than ever with something for all ages to enjoy. 🗓 Event Details 📍 Location: Benton County Fairgrounds, Bentonville, AR 📅 Dates: Friday, August 15 & Saturday, August 16, 2025 🎟 Tickets & Info:  www.soarnwa.com Click here to Watch the Mission Behind the Balloons 🌅 Hot Air Balloon Glows & Tethered Rides As the sun sets, prepare to be mesmerized by the breathtaking sight of glowing hot air balloons lighting up the evening sky. Guests can also take part in thrilling tethered rides (weather permitting) for a unique bird’s-eye view of the fairgrounds. 🎡 Kid Zone Adventures Bring the little ones for a day full of laughter and fun at the Kid Zone, packed with games, inflatables, and hands-on activities designed to keep young adventurers entertained for hours. 🎪 Circus Performers That Amaze From juggling and acrobatics to jaw-dropping stunts, circus acts will dazzle audiences of all ages. Don’t miss the chance to see these skilled performers bring energy and spectacle to the stage. 🍺 Beer Garden Bliss For guests 21 and over, the Beer Garden offers a perfect spot to relax and enjoy a selection of refreshing beverages while soaking in the festival atmosphere. 🎶 Live Music Headlined by Buster Clifton Davis The event’s live music lineup features talented local and regional acts, all leading up to Saturday night’s headliner, Buster Clifton Davis! 🚗 Car Exhibit Auto enthusiasts will love the car exhibit, showcasing a stunning mix of vehicles. It’s a great opportunity to admire craftsmanship, design, and maybe even snap a few photos with your dream ride. 🗺️Map for event below- Go here for more information on the schedule SOAR NWA has become a beloved tradition in Northwest Arkansas, offering a unique blend of spectacular sights, live entertainment, family-friendly fun, and community connection. This year promises even more ways to create lasting memories. So gather your family and friends, pack your sense of adventure, and get ready to SOAR ! Go Here for Tickets Proud Sponsors of Soar NWA

Parrot Island Waterpark is celebrating the men and women who serve our country with Military Appreciation Day on Saturday, August 23, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Active-duty military members, veterans, and their families are invited to enjoy a day of fun and relaxation at the park. As a thank-you for their service, current and former military personnel will receive FREE admission, plus 50% off admission for up to three immediate family members. Regular admission prices apply for the general public. The event will feature a full day of waterpark excitement along with special activities, including the VFW Annual Duck Day Race at 1:00 p.m., where hundreds of rubber ducks float down the lazy river in a fun and family-friendly competition. Guests can also stop by the Service Dogs of Distinction booth to learn how service animals are making a difference in the lives of veterans every day. “We are honored to host Military Appreciation Day at Parrot Island,” said Drew Peterson, General Manager of Parrot Island Waterpark. “This is our way of recognizing the courage and dedication of our service members while giving families a day to relax, connect, and enjoy time together.” For more information, please visit www.parrotislandwaterpark.com Parrot Island Waterpark is also on Facebook at www.facebook.com/parrotislandWP . About Parrot Island Waterpark Located in Ben Geren Park, Parrot Island Waterpark is the ultimate destination for aquatic fun and family adventure. The waterpark boasts the region’s only 2-person tube slide, a FlowRider surf simulator, a wave pool, a lazy river, and four exciting water slides. Families with young children can enjoy the themed aquatic play area and activity pool. Parrot Island Waterpark offers over 410,000 gallons of water attractions, 800 complimentary deck and lounge chairs, 250 complimentary water tubes, and plenty of shaded areas like party pavilions and cabana rentals. Guests can also enjoy the food concessions, expansive lawns, and other amenities. Open Memorial Day through September 14th, it’s a must-visit destination during the summer season. www.parrotislandwaterpark.com

The NASCAR Xfinity Series is set to light up the night at Daytona International Speedway, where speed, strategy, and split-second decisions define every lap. This Friday, the high banks of the World Center of Racing will host one of the most electrifying events of the season—and fans can catch every pulse-pounding moment live on The Arkansas CW at 6 pm. Daytona’s 2.5-mile tri-oval is built for drama. Its sweeping, steeply banked corners invite bold drafting, pack racing, and momentum swings that can shuffle the running order in an instant. At nearly 200 miles per hour, the field often runs inches apart, and one daring move can be the difference between a career-defining triumph and heartbreak. It’s the type of racing that demands patience until it suddenly doesn’t—when the final laps explode into a high-speed chess match at full throttle. Here are some fun facts about Daytona International Speedway: Frontstretch is about 3,800 feet; backstretch is about 3,000 feet—built for pack racing and drafting. The first Daytona 500 (1959) ended in a disputed photo finish; Lee Petty was declared the winner three days later. Night racing arrived in 1998; the July Cup race under the lights quickly became a beloved tradition. Bill Elliott set a blistering 210.364 mph qualifying lap in 1987—the fastest NASCAR lap at Daytona before restrictor plates. The stakes couldn’t be higher. With playoff spots on the line, drivers are willing to risk it all to secure a win and lock in their postseason hopes. Fans should be ready for intense side-by-side battles and bold passes as the closing laps compress the field into a single, roaring blur. Daytona finishes are legendary, and this one could be decided by thousandths of a second at the stripe. Catch every lap, every battle, and every heart-stopping moment—live Friday at 6 PM CDT on The Arkansas CW. Get ready, racing fans—it’s time for Daytona! Where You Can Watch The Race in NW Arkansas & The River Valley Antenna: 29.2 or 40.2 Cox Cable: 4 or 2004    AT&T U-verse: 30 or 1030     DirecTV: 41     DISH: 21 Where You Can Watch Qualifying  Qualifying for the NASCAR  Xfinity Series Wawa 250 Powered By Coca-Cola  will take place Friday, August 22nd, at 3 PM CDT. Qualifying is available for FREE to watch through the CW Streaming app. Entry List for the Wawa 250 Powered By Coca-Cola Entry Car Number Driver Race Team 1 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing 2 2 Austin Cindric Team Penske 3 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing 4 4 Noah Gragson Front Row Motorsports 5 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports 6 6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing 7 7 Justin Haley Spire Motorsports 8 8 Kyle Busch Richard Childress Racing 9 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports 10 10 Ty Dillon Kaulig Racing 11 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing 12 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske 13 16 AJ Allmendinger Kaulig Racing 14 17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing 15 19 Chase Briscoe Joe Gibbs Racing 16 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing 17 21 Josh Berry Wood Brothers Racing 18 22 Joey Logano Team Penske 19 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing 20 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports 21 33 Austin Hill (i) Richard Childress Racing 22 34 Todd Gilliland Front Row Motorsports 23 35 Riley Herbst 23XI Racing 24 38 Zane Smith Front Row Motorsports 25 41 Cole Custer Haas Factory Team 26 42 John Hunter Nemechek LEGACY MOTOR CLUB 27 43 Erik Jones LEGACY MOTOR CLUB 28 44 Joey Gase (i) NY Racing Team 29 45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing 30 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. HYAK Motorsports 31 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports 32 51 Cody Ware Rick Ware Racing 33 54 Ty Gibbs Joe Gibbs Racing 34 60 Ryan Preece RFK Racing 35 66 Casey Mears Garage 66 36 71 Michael McDowell Spire Motorsports 37 77 Carson Hocevar Spire Motorsports 38 78 BJ McLeod (i) Live Fast Motorsports 39 88 Shane van Gisbergen Trackhouse Racing 40 99 Daniel Suarez Trackhouse Racing

Premiering at the Fort Smith International Film Festival, Until Death is a powerful short film brought to life by co-writers Veronique Scurry and Nick Hodge. In this interview, the duo shares the inspiration behind the story, which explores grief, resilience, and the choice to keep living for loved ones even after devastating loss. Drawing from personal experiences and strengthened by the support of Oklahoma’s close-knit film community, they reflect on the challenges of independent filmmaking and their hope that audiences leave reminded to cherish life, honor memories, and keep moving forward despite hardships Click Below To Watch Interview If you want to follow the journey of Until Death  can find updates on the film’s official Instagram page, @UntilDeathFilm . The filmmakers plan to share news there about the festival circuit and, eventually, the online release so that wider audiences can experience the film Proud Media Sponsor of the Fort Smith International Film Festival

We caught up with Bill Volland with the Hot Springs International Horror Thriller Sci-Fi Film Festival at the Fort Smith International Film Festival. We to talk about what fans can expect at this year’s event. Now in its 14th year, the festival promises an exciting weekend filled with celebrity guests, live music, film screenings, costume parties, and plenty of spooky fun for horror and sci-fi enthusiasts. To learn more about the festival and how to attend, visit their page on FilmFreeway or follow them on Facebook at Hot Springs Horror Film Festival. Website:   hotspringshorrorfilmfestival.com Click Below To Watch Interview Proud Media Sponsors of the Fort Smith International Film Festival

At this year’s Fort Smith International Film Festival, we sat down with Dan Robinson, owner and executive producer at New Harvest Creative, an Arkansas-based production company dedicated to empowering local filmmakers. Robinson discussed the team’s award-winning documentary Colbert: All Students Can Learn, which took home Best People of Color Film at the festival. The film tells the inspiring story of Dr. Colbert, the first African-American superintendent in Arkansas, and Robinson also highlighted the company’s collaborations on other Arkansas-made films like Bruisers, Conscious, and The Mirror, celebrating the creativity and resilience of local storytellers. Click Below To Watch Interview If you want to learn more about Colbert: All Students Can Learn  and other projects by Dan Robinson’s team can visit newharvestcreative.com , where New Harvest Creative highlights their films and collaborations with Arkansas creators Proud Media Sponsor of the Fort Smith International Film Festival

The documentary Bluff City Chinese  made a powerful impression at the Fort Smith International Film Festival, offering audiences a glimpse into 150 years of Chinese American history in Memphis, a story many had never heard before. Directed by Tom de Tai, with historian Emma at the helm of the research and Caesar Wong as writer and producer, the film captures not only a historical narrative but also a deeply personal journey of friendship and discovery. At its heart, the project shines a light on Emma’s decades-long effort to uncover and preserve the genealogy of Memphis’s Chinese community, bringing visibility to a history that was nearly lost. In our interview, the filmmakers discuss the challenges of condensing generations of stories into one documentary, while also addressing the urgency of representation in today’s climate. Click Below To Watch Interview Official Website: bluffcitychinese.com Instagram and Facebook under the handle @BluffCityChinese Proud Media Sponsors for the Fort Smith International Film Festival

The Fort Smith International Film Festival welcomed filmmaker Joshua Irwin, who brought with him a unique vision rooted in one of science fiction’s most beloved franchises, Star Trek . Irwin’s fan production, La Morte De La Guerre  (translated as The Death of War ), captivated audiences with its cinematic scope, compelling storytelling, and deep respect for Gene Roddenberry’s legacy. The Fort Smith International Film Festival continues to highlight diverse voices in film, and Irwin’s project stands as a shining example of how storytelling can unite communities, inspire creativity, and keep iconic worlds alive for years to come. Click Below To Watch Interview A lifelong Star Trek  fan, Irwin has spent the past seven years building the Avalon Universe, a series of fan productions available on YouTube. He credits the Star Trek  community for its support and passion, even as he navigates the unique challenges of fan film guidelines and funding. You can find out more about Joshua Irwin and other Fan Productions here: fanfilmfactor.com or you can find his work on YouTube @avalonuniverse6327 Proud Media Sponsor of Fort Smith International Film Festival

At this year’s Fort Smith International Film Festival, we had the chance to sit down with filmmaker Pauline Angelina, whose creative vision and storytelling are making waves on the independent film scene. Pauline Angelina, the writer, director, production designer, and editor of Love is Like a Mountain . Inspired by her personal relationship with her late father, Pauline’s film explores themes of family, communication, and the search for recognition while reminding audiences of the importance of cherishing loved ones. Her heartfelt storytelling has moved viewers to tears and sparked meaningful reflections about reconnecting with parents. Click Below To Watch Interview You can learn more about Pauline and her work by visiting her film’s Facebook page, “Brothers Love is Like a Mountain Short Film”, her Instagram, @lovelikeamountain, or by connecting with her directly on Facebook under Pauline Angelina. Proud Media Sponsors of the Fort Smith International Film Festival

This summer, floods in Kerr County, Texas, damaged homes and destroyed ballfields where children learned the game and made friendships. The Ingram Little League, one of the hardest-hit programs, now faces the challenge of rebuilding. The Northwest Arkansas Naturals, along with every club in the Texas League, are stepping in to help. Starting later this month, teams across the league will launch fundraising campaigns to aid Kerr County families, restore local fields, and get young athletes back on the diamond. For fans in Northwest Arkansas, the chance to get involved will come on Friday, September 5. The Naturals’ jersey auction is part of a larger Texas League initiative, with support from Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball, the Houston Astros, Texas Rangers, and the Nolan Ryan Foundation. Across the league, clubs will host online and in-stadium jersey auctions, donate portions of 50/50 raffle prizes, sell special t-shirts, and even pass the boot at games to collect fan donations. Here’s when fans can catch their favorite clubs wearing the Hill Country jerseys: August 29  – Tulsa Drillers, Amarillo Sod Poodles, Wichita Wind Surge August 30  – Frisco RoughRiders September 4  – Arkansas Travelers September 5  – Northwest Arkansas Naturals September 6  – Midland RockHounds September 9  – Springfield Cardinals September 12  – Corpus Christi Hooks The San Antonio Missions held an earlier fundraiser on August 9, also benefiting the Kerr County effort. For more information on the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund, please visit their site HERE .

At the Fort Smith International Film Festival, film composer DeWayne Adcock sat down for an engaging interview where he discussed his work on The Fight . Adcock shared how he approached crafting the score to heighten the film’s emotional intensity and storytelling impact. His insights gave festival-goers a fascinating glimpse into the art of film composition and the role music plays in bringing a director’s vision to life. Click Below To Watch Interview You can find out more about Film Composer DeWayne Adcock at setapartcreative.online Proud Media Sponsor of the Fort Smith International Film Festival