Hot Springs Film Fest: A Doc Powerhouse

Hot Springs, Arkansas, renowned for its national park and historic bathhouses, also hosts the longest-running nonfiction cinematic event in North America: the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival (HSDFF). The festival recently concluded its 35th edition, presenting world premieres and notable films considered contenders for the Academy Awards.

This year's HSDFF featured a collaboration with Deadline for its first Documentary Roundtable, gathering distinguished filmmakers in the awards race. Festival executive director Ken Jacobson shared insights into the event's beginnings, which were rooted in a partnership with the Motion Picture Academy to highlight Oscar-nominated and winning documentaries.

Jacobson also addressed the challenges of curating the nine-day festival, emphasizing his goal to attract global filmmakers while also showcasing Southern talent. He provided commentary on the evolving Academy Awards documentary shortlists as voting neared. The festival's Forum also took place this year, notably without support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.