A Festival by
filmmakers
for filmmakers
Explore the 2026 POV Lineup
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Explore the 2026 POV Lineup •
Previously known as ARKANSAS SHORTS - A WEEKEND OF SHORT FILM, this year the festival will continue with its new name to reflect the evolution with the festival programming. What started 20 years ago as a single screening designed to only showcase films made by Arkansans, has now expanded to a 3 day event packed with 85+ films and a fun filled atmosphere that celebrates the art and the creator.
FEATURE FILMS!
Abigail Before Beatrice by Cassie Keet
An isolated woman is confronted by her past when a fellow former cult member reaches out with news that their leader has been released from prison early. *filmed in Arkansas
This is Pike County by Laura Paglin
Mounting pressures – including an unsolved family murder – test a close-knit rural community. Between the temptation to give up and the urge to hold on, the film lingers on what it means to come of age in a place left behind. “Haunting, quietly searing, hard to forget.” - Arlie Hochschild, Author, Strangers in Their Own Land
Locker Room Talk by Eva Tenuto & Beth Davenport
The docu-short Locker Room Talk follows the Kingston Tigers over the course of their football season, both on and off the field, as they seek the championship and redefine what it means to be men. Along the way, through the power of true storytelling, they face the cultural expectations of masculinity head-on and ultimately, share deeply personal stories about love, loss, and triumph. Whether or not the Tigers win the game, a bigger battle has been won: the team has changed the way they view women and themselves.
EXPLORE OUR SHORT PROGRAMS!
With 51 short films in the LINEUP, there is something for everyone!
A Round of Applause for Death by Stephen Irwin
Death takes centre stage and faceless spectators applaud the inevitable in a series of murderous dreams.
A Father’s Decision by Derrick Avant
A father must make a critical decision in the wake of his son's diagnosis.
Amarela by André Hayato Saito
On the day of the World Cup final between Brazil and France, Erika Oguihara, a Japanese-Brazilian teenager who rejects her family traditions, experiences a violence that seems invisible and plunges into a painful sea of emotions.
Angel by Benjamin Aaron
A live streamer records what might be the last moments of a man poised to leap from a bridge to end his life.
Broken Eggs by Melissa Johnson
Back in her childhood home, Iris finds that small rituals can mend what life has cracked.
Bruisers by Ashley Hayes
Two men sit on a cliffside discussing their dislike of assassin movies in this odd-couple-meets-pulp-fiction short comedy.
Brighter Days Ahead by Deb Fuller
A diverse group of people finds hope together as they unite in their fight for democracy.
Candy Bar by Nash Edgerton
A young girl thinks a man in the candy bar line looks like her dad.
Cardinal by Eudora A.
A young man questions his place in the world after one of his friends kills a deer.
Control by Avrey Della Rosa
Control is the illusion that we as humans are in "control" of our mind. This film aims to create a physical representation of the imagination of a human mind through extreme imagery and psychedelic music.
Couldn't Love Me by Annalee Drain
Music by Various Blonde. This music video tells the story of a relationship from end-to-beginning.
Death of a DM by Kyle Bargen
After the last two D&D sessions rescheduled at the last minute, an agitated yet hopeful Dungeon Master fights with his sanity as he prepares for the players to arrive.
Debaters by Alex Heller
Congressional debate attracts some of the most brilliant high school students in the country, and the most unqualified adults to judge. This is Anubhav’s first tournament and he’s terrified of speaking. When a bitter judge puts him on the spot about minimum wage, he must prove himself in front of a bloodthirsty chamber of debaters.
Did You Imagine It Different by Maddie Welborn
After receiving a message from a past partner, Drew spends her time reminiscing and gaining closure.
Doomscroller by Wyndham Wyeth
A world-weary young woman fights to retain her sanity as a barrage of increasingly terrifying news notifications emanating from her phone threatens to send her into a permanent spiral.
Embryo by Kristine Artymowski
What happens if doctors can edit genes in an embryo in Utero?
Fast by Clayton Henderson
Overweight Jake begins to lose his sanity after being put on an extended fast by his intense personal trainer.
For A Silver Dollar by Josh Baxter
A young writer tells the story of a man’s encounter with a notorious Southwest Louisiana outlaw, and how the promise of a silver dollar meant the difference between life and death.
Funeral for a Redneck by Xander Hill
Eddie, a petty criminal, tries to do the right thing by giving his deceased friend Earl a proper funeral, but when his redneck partner-in-crime, Jimmy, learns that ten thousand dollars has been stashed in the urn, he must ensure that the money is not stolen while resisting the urge to take it for himself.
House of Fawcett: Dripping in Talent by Carter Bowden
LA based drag artist, Mylique E. Fawcett, invites the audience into her intimate process. Take a peak behind the glam as this Black Queer artist defines her art, her way, in her own words.
I Wanted To Hear Your Voice by James Pellerito
After eight years of caring for his mother with severe dementia, a son struggles through their daily care routine. Recorded voicemails serve to show the progression of the disease, underscoring the frustration, isolation and burnout that comes with intensive caregiving.
Interruptions by Garrett Brenneman
A couple's anniversary dinner spirals into chaos when everyone else's drama takes over their night.
JJ by Mark Thiedeman
Strapped for cash in a declining industrial town, two young men perform in an amateur adult video, bringing up repressed feelings that could jeopardize their lifelong friendship.
Killed the Pussy by Johnathan Woodson
An angsty skater. The cool girl. A dead pussy cat on the front lawn. On a hot summer day, high-schoolers Marshall and Serah find love.
Leonard Heck by Michael Murray
Three burnouts from the Midwest attempt to rob a roller skating rink
Loving Memories by Priya C. James
A visual poem that studies nature, memories and adolescence.
Magic the Magician by John F. Clorus III
A kinda magician performs at a children's party.
Marzanna by Kira Marshall
Inspired by the polish tradition of burning or drowning of the Marzanna Doll, representing a goddess of winter, marking the turn from winter to spring. This film is meant to sort of portray my key actress as a living Marzanna doll who was not burned, mentioning the commentary on how not only is the tradition dying, but so is the transition from winter to spring.
Mother’s Influence by Meg Wriggles
Growing up with an unconventional single mother – an influencer navigating aging and body dysmorphia – Meg admires her but questions how it shaped her own self-image. Through laughter and vulnerability, they unpack identity, influence, and the complexities of their evolving relationship.
No Money Down by Terrell Case & Eric White
Chuck is down on his luck but hopes to make one last sale to save his skin. He just happens to knock on Everett's door at the worst possible time.
Out for Delivery by Chelsea Christer
When terminally ill Joanna makes the difficult decision to pursue end of life options through the Death With Dignity law, the systems set up to make her death peaceful and dignified become the opposite.
Punter by Jason Adam Maselle
Young Brett must navigate the underbelly of the Johannesburg gambling world as a seemingly harmless horse racing bet jeopardizes the surprise he’s prepared for his Father’s birthday.
Raccoon Soup by Janie Gentry
In 1973, an overworked waitress fights awful customers, a sexist boss, and a feral raccoon to earn a sponsorship to her local knife throwing contest.
Rescue by Jayshon Williams
A rescue dog brings new meaning to the phase!
Remember Me by Claire Titelman
A woman whose social skills have grown rusty—due to an extended period spent alone caring for her ailing father—rehearses for an upcoming date, her first in a long while.
Scratch-Off by Tara Sheffer
A home healthcare worker steals her dementia patient’s winning lottery ticket.
Snack Attack by Katie Sedgwick
A tasty surprise gone wrong when two forest creatures decide to enjoy a picnic when a Gator gets greedy for a bite. From the woods to the wild west. See if this Gator gets his claws on a tasty treat.
Somebody Cares by Julien Lasseur
A deadbeat brother finally finds compassion from his grumpy sister moments before being catapulted through the air by a 4-wheel drive Bronco.
Such Good Friends by Bri Klaproth
After ending a toxic friendship, a people-pleaser finds herself falling into old patterns with her ex-best friend's family.
Susana by Gerardo Coello Escalante & Amandine Thomas
Susan, a middle-aged American tourist, finds herself alone in Mexico City. When she encounters a group of young Americans, she jumps at the opportunity for a little adventure, discovering just how powerful her dollars can make her.
The Fundamentals by Kyle Yazzie
A young girl discovers her love for basketball, her father’s presence and the fundamentals.
The Game Camera by Emily Railsback
When a grieving woman installs a night-vision camera in her mini-horse's corral, the specter of a human intruder on her rural Kansas ranch makes her reconsider her husband's death.
The In-Between by Aidan Alexander Kolokithas
A teenaged boy resists manifestations of his own guilt in the wake of a traumatic event.
The Mirror by Benjamin Harrison
A loser cop finds himself as the last line of defense against a murderous sniper trying to free his serial killer partner.
The Show Must Go On by Shelley Rose
A psychological thriller of a showgirl.
Three-Ball by Jacob McKellar
Former best friends, Rick, Claire, and Benny have been running pool hustles on random people at bars for years, but when recognition and jealousy mix into this falsely platonic throuples life of pool, it comes down to the night of a pool match years later, where they have to physically and mentally dominate against each other for the world to see.
Tinted by John Sullivan
The school nerd, Paxton, falls for popular girl Charlotte. She’s not a very good person, so he puts on a pair of “rose-tinted glasses” and sees what he wants to see. Will Paxton and Charlotte work out in the end or will his tinted perspective doom their love?
Tits by Elvind Landsvik
Following an unpleasant run in at the beach, teenagers Oscar and Iben are left behind by their friends.
To Be an Astronaut by Carlie Crabtree
Set in the 90s, To Be an Astronaut tells a story of resilience as a young girl's dreams of becoming an astronaut suddenly become intangible overnight due to forces outside of her control.
Trixie, Darling by Erin Mitchell
Ramona will go to any lengths to have her beloved Trixie in her arms again.
View From the Floor by Megan Griffiths & Mindie Lind
In pursuit of a life on stage, a singer without legs confronts exploitation and imposter syndrome as she chases her dreams and those around her chase inspiration porn.
Virginia in the Woods by Charlie Chappell
Written by the Co-Creator of Lost, Virginia in the Woods is a psychological mystery about Virginia, a woman living in seclusion with her adult daughter in a remote forest home. As days blur together, Virginia experiences strange lapses in time—missing moments, shifting memories, and an unsettling sense that something is being kept from her. The deeper she searches for clarity, the more reality twists around her, leading to a chilling revelation about her daughter’s secret and the truth she may not be ready to face.
We Were The Scenery by Christopher Radcliff
The story of Hoa Thi Le and Hue Nguyen Che, who, in 1975, after fleeing the Vietnam War by boat and docking in the Philippines, were utilized as background extras in the filming of APOCALYPSE NOW.
ABOUT
POV
The festival will remain at its core focused on celebrating regional storytellers, but 2025 marked our inaugural year under our new name as we are expanding the programming to include feature films, documentaries, additional panels, workshops, parties and special guests. POV Fest is not just about showcasing films; it is about enriching our creative community. It is about providing a platform for filmmakers to connect, learn, and grow. By celebrating the art of filmmaking, we aim to foster an environment that encourages brave storytelling, nurtures talent, and sparks new collaborations.
Low Key Arts' Persistence of Vision Film Festival (POV Fest) will take place January 9-11, 2026, at the historic Arlington Hotel Resort in downtown Hot Springs.
