The 2024 El Dorado Film Festival makes its highly anticipated return from hiatus next month, opening Thursday, February 8th and going through Sunday the 11th. The event will be held at the South Arkansas Arts Center (110 East 5th St. in El Dorado, Arkansas). Tickets are available to be purchased now at the Arts Center box office and online.

Established in 2014, the EDFF offers a curated selection of independent cinema, narrative and documentary features as well as short films from around the world. The festival recently announced this year’s exciting slate of regional, national, and international feature length and short films.

Read the official press release below…

EL DORADO, Jan. 9, 2023 — The El Dorado Film Festival (EDFF) has announced its 2024 line-up for this year’s event taking place on Feb. 8-11, 2024, at the South Arkansas Arts Center (SAAC), located at 110 East 5th St. in El Dorado, Arkansas. This year’s festival includes films starring Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite), Billy Zane (Titanic) and Anthony Rapp (RENT). Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online or at the SAAC box office.

“The El Dorado Film Festival has spawned so many great conversations, collaborations and relationships in previous iterations,” said Executive Director Alexander Jeffery. “We are thrilled to bring this event back to South Arkansas after a three-year hiatus. What’s wonderful about these films is they are all created by truly independent filmmakers who had to get incredibly creative to get their work made and seen. No big studios, no big theatrical releases, you as the audience get to discover these gems and help the filmmakers spread the word about their achievement.”

The 2024 El Dorado Film Festival line-up includes:

The Special Presentation Feature Film, Tapawingo, directed by Dylan K Narang, starring Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite), Billy Zane (Titanic), and Gina Gershon (Brooklyn Nine-Nine). The film is the story of an oddball who becomes the bodyguard for a misfit teenager and finds himself in the crosshairs of the town’s family of bullies.

The Arkansas Premiere of Shudderbugs, directed by Johanna Putnam. In the film, a woman unravels in the wake of her mother’s mysterious death, following her suspicions to dangerous ends. Shudderbugs has been widely recognized across the film festival circuit with over 16 awards and nominations. 

Feature Film Scrap, directed by Vivian Kerr. EDFF originally screened the short film of Scrap in 2019 and now Kerr is back with the feature film. Directed by Kerr, Scrap stars Anthony Rapp from the Broadway sensation RENT. 

EDFF is also connecting with filmmakers south of the state line with a block of seven films from the Louisiana Film Prize Founders Circle. These films are: “The Candy Lady” (winner), “The Capitalist,” “Clownfish” (directed by Smackover native Clayton Henderson), “Caught on Tape” (co-directed by Alexander Jeffery), “Dead Flesh,” “Off-Sides” and “Pink Suit, Black Suit.”

Tamra Corley Davis, chair of the film committee, believes a cross-borders partnership is a fantastic way to grow the film industry regionally.

“Beyond being excited to be a part of bringing back the EDFF, I am proud that we are able to partner with the Louisiana Film Prize to bring some of the 2023 award winning Prize films,” she said. “Over the years I have realized the film community is really small like a family. And no doubt over the weekend in February at the EDFF, new friendships will be made and collaborations formed that you will see for years to come at future festivals like ours and the Prize.”

The Arkansas made or connected films include:

• “Criterion” by Jeremy Enis
• “Pretty Canoe” by Nicholas Holland
• “The Book Club” by Jonnie Brannon
• “Banana Triangle Six” by Marc E Crandall
• “Mama Love” by Mary McDade
• “Arkansas Maternal Health” by Ringo Jones
• “How Do I Tell You This” by Lara Hill
• “The Hill We Climb” by Raeden Greer
• New West by Jordan Mears

EDFF also features national and international films such as: “Break,” “Wheel,” “Beer Club,” “Smoke,” “Credit,” “They Grow Up So Fast,” “Purgy’s,” “Music for a While,” “Florence in Customer Care,” “Outpost,” “The Last Thing Lost,” “The Bathtub” (Spain) and “Chairs”  (United Kingdom).

French director Benoît Delhomme (“At Eternity’s Gate”, “The Theory of Everything”) is joined by two Academy Award winning actresses in his remake of Olivier Masset-Depasse’s 2018 psychological thriller “Mothers’ Instinct”. The film stars Jessica Chastain and Anne Hathaway, a duo who immediately makes this a must-watch movie. The film’s newly released first trailer only confirms it.

The story is an adaptation of Barbara Abel’s 2012 novel “Derrière la haine”. In it Chastain and Hathaway play two 1960s housewives, mothers, neighbors, and close friends. The relationship begins to crumble following an unspeakable tragedy. Jealousy, suspicions, perhaps even something more sinister – it’s all teased in the impressively well done trailer. I can’t wait to see how this story uncoils and both Chastain and Hathaway look to be perfectly cast.

“Mothers’ Instinct” has been picked up by NEON and is coming soon. Check out the trailer below and let me know if you’ll be seeing it or taking a pass.

Today I’m wrapping up my look back at the best performances of 2023 with what may be the strongest category of the bunch – Lead Actor. It’s a group filled with exciting contenders, and (once again) it was a tough one to narrow down to only five. But that’s how these silly lists work so let’s get to it. Here are my five favorite Lead Actor performances along with some worthy honorable mentions.

Honorable Mentions:

Bradley Cooper (“Maestro”), Benicio del Toro (“Reptile”), Adam Driver (“Ferrari”), Denzel Washington (“The Equalizer 3”), Michael Fassbender (“The Killer”), Zac Efron (“The Iron Claw”), Jason Schwartzman (“Asteroid City”), Joel Edgerton (“Master Gardener”), Jorma Tommila (“Sisu”), Keanu Reeves (“John Wick: Chapter 4”), Willem Dafoe (“Inside”), Tony Leung (“Hidden Blade”), Anthony Hopkins (“Freud’s Last Session”), Enzo Vogrincic Roldán (“Society of the Snow”), Joaquin Phoenix (“Napoleon”), David Strathairn (“A Little Prayer”), Tom Cruise (“Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One”), Nicolas Cage (“Dream Scenario”)

#5 – Callum Turner (“The Boys in the Boat”)

One of the most surprising performances of the year came in one of the most surprising movies of the year – Callum Turner in George Clooney’s “The Boys in the Boat”. For my money not enough people are talking about his strong and inspiring lead turn. It’s a breakout performance that sees Turner working at another level, bringing both grit and heart to the film’s remarkable true story. I was really drawn to this movie and Turner is a key reason for it.

#4 – Jeffery Wright (“American Fiction”)

It’s great seeing more people talking about Jeffrey Wright. It’s something that should’ve been happening for a while but is now unavoidable thanks to his outstanding performance in “American Fiction”. He’s the glue that holds this smart but at times frustrating film together. As cliche as it is to say, Wright tends to make every movie he’s in better. His latest is yet another testament to that truth. Please give him more meaty roles like this.

#3 – Mads Mikkelsen (“The Promised Land”)

It’s quite possible that Mads Mikkelsen is the sturdiest and most consistent actor working today. He’s always good which is why it’s no surprise that he again delivers in the terrific period epic “The Promised Land”. This is a tough character to portray yet it seems like a role custom-made for Mikkelsen’s many strengths. He’s steely and stoic and few can say as much through an ice cold, granite-hard stare as the 58-year-old Dane.

#2 – Paul Giamatti (“The Holdovers”)

Now here’s a performance that was an instant “Best of the Year” contender. Paul Giamatti is an actor whose brilliance is too often overlooked. Hopefully people are realizing that after seeing him in Alexander Payne’s fantastic “The Holdovers”. He gives us a character who can be interesting, funny, infuriating, and sympathetic, sometimes at the same time. Giamatti fits so perfectly into the role and he deserves all the accolades he has received so far.

#1 – Cillian Murphy (“Oppenheimer”)

If there ever was an actor who deserved a starring role as rich and meaty as this it’s Cillian Murphy. He gets the material of a lifetime in “Oppenheimer”, the spellbinding latest film from Christopher Nolan. The acclaimed filmmaker certainly picked the right guy to play the theoretical physicist who oversaw The Manhattan Project. Murphy is magnetic, capturing the brilliance and complexity of J. Robert Oppenheimer with startling clarity. It’s a masterclass performance and my very favorite of the year.

And that wraps up another celebration the best performances of the year. Thanks for following along. I’d love to hear what would have made your list in the comments section below.

With the supporting performances in the books, today we began the task of looking back at the very best lead performances from 2023. As usual we’ll start with lead actress, a category chock-full of amazing talent. There were some REALLY good leading ladies to consider making this a challenging category to narrow down. But such is the nature of these silly lists so let’s get to it.

Honorable Mentions:

Sophie Marceau (“Everything Went Fine”), Virginie Efira (“Revoir Paris”), Cailee Spaeny (“Priscilla”), Abby Ryder Fortson (“Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret”), Alma Pöysti (“Fallen Leaves”), Sandra Hüller (“Anatomy of a Fall”), Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor (“Origin”), Kate Beckinsale (“Prisoner’s Daughter”), Dianna Agron (“Acidman”), Phoebe Dynevor (“Fair Play”), Thomasin MacKenzie (“Eileen”)

#5 – Carey Mulligan (“Maestro”)

“Maestro” was a compelling yet slightly frustrating biographical sketch of Leonard Bernstein. But the film’s heart and soul (an overused phrase, I know) was the great Carey Mulligan. Though much less showy than Bradley Cooper’s performance, it’s Mulligan who stands out most, bringing empathy and authenticity to Leonard’s wife, Felicia Montealegre.

#4 – Jessica Chastain (“Memory”)

Among the most consistently good performers in movies today is Jessica Chastain. So it’s really no surprise that she’s once again terrific in the heartfelt adult drama “Memory”. Writer-director Michel Franco gives Chastain a meaty role with many emotional layers and she just kills it. Sadly she’s gone largely unnoticed this awards season. That’s a shame.

#3 – Natalie Portman (“May December”)

I’ve always been a little back and forth on Natalie Portman. That uncertainty doesn’t apply with her latest performance – a gripping and beguiling turn in Todd Haynes’ “May December”. Portman is superb as an ambitious actress researching for an exciting yet troubling new role. It’s such a cryptic and captivating performance that (dare I say) is the best of Portman’s already successful career.

#2 – Greta Lee (“Past Lives”)

Oh how I loved Greta Lee in the beautiful yet aching drama “Past Lives”. She gives such a resonating performance in this bittersweet story of two childhood friends and the romance they may have let slip through their fingers. Lee is enchanting yet strikingly grounded and authentic. She gives the movie its emotional charge while also rooting it firmly in reality. She’s simply fantastic.

#1 – Lily Gladstone (“Killers of the Flower Moon”)

To me Lily Gladstone fits better in the Supporting category, but either way she would be in my #1 spot. Gladstone gives an eye-opening, breakout performance in Martin Scorsese’s epic “Killers of the Flower Moon”. She’s the beating heart of the movie – our emotional connection to an otherwise dark and gritty historical crime drama. She has us in the palm of her hand from the very first moment she arrives on screen. Spectacular.

And that takes care of the Lead Actress category. See something I miss? Let me know in the comments. There’s only one category left – Lead Actor.