Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival

Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival Welcome to the official fan page of the Hot Springs Documentary Film Institute! Donate or Volunteer now! Visit us at www.hsdfi.org.

The Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival (HSDFF) is the oldest non-fiction festival in North America and an Academy-qualifying festival in the category of Documentary Short Subject. Veteran actor James Whitmore lent his presence to festival's first year and the following year, actor James Earl Jones proclaimed, “I see the 1990's as holding the promise of an unparalleled era of popularity for nonf

iction film and video, with the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival as one of the genre’s most important venues.” In 1992, the Hot Springs Documentary Film Institute (HSDFI) incorporated as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization and remains one of the few film institutes in the United States dedicated solely to the documentary film genre. Each year the Institute presents the annual Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival with the help of over 500 dedicated volunteers, the institute’s board, and staff members.

The short film Love Birds tells a fascinating story of the 1972 discovery of female seagull couples on the Channel Islan...
06/05/2026

The short film Love Birds tells a fascinating story of the 1972 discovery of female seagull couples on the Channel Islands and its impact on the early gay rights movement.

The media storm that followed changed the lives and relationship of George Hunt and Molly Warner, the married biologists who made the discovery.

With Love Birds, directors Elliott Kennerson and Angel Morris have given us a rich story of science, politics, and relationships. It's moved audiences in more than 30 festivals, including .

is proud to share films that center the LGBTQ+ community, in all of its diversity, complexity, and humanity. Throughou...
06/03/2026

is proud to share films that center the LGBTQ+ community, in all of its diversity, complexity, and humanity.

Throughout the month, we'll be highlighting q***r short and feature-length documentaries from that tell moving and fascinating stories. Films like--

Just Kids
Come See Me in the Good Light
Hold Me Close ()
Love Birds (.movie)

More to come. Happy Pride Month! 🏳️‍🌈

***rdocumentary 🌈

We did it! 🎉Thanks so much for all the generous donations in support of . Your support, your attendance, and your commu...
06/01/2026

We did it! 🎉

Thanks so much for all the generous donations in support of . Your support, your attendance, and your community spirit have kept us going for 35 years, and we can't wait to share another festival with you this fall!

Although our May matching challenge has ended, we are still raising money to meet our annual goals. If you would like to give, it's not too late! Check our link in the comments for more info.

We're still soaring from Wednesday's screening of Give Me The Ball! at ! Thanks to everyone who came out and celebrated ...
05/29/2026

We're still soaring from Wednesday's screening of Give Me The Ball! at !

Thanks to everyone who came out and celebrated tennis, Billie Jean King, and with us!

Photos:

1. supporter Stephen Raborn and Executive Director Ken Jacobson

2. Former HSDFI Board Chair Susan Altrui and Ken

3. HSDFF supporter Debra Fuller and Ken

4. Stephen, Ken and company gathering before the show

5. Managing Director Cade Bethea

6.Cade, Programming and Exhibitions Manager Gavin Hargrove, and Ken introducing the film

7. BJK!!

HSDFF mourns the loss of Clarence B. Jones, lawyer, organizer, and speechwriter for Martin Luther King Jr.We were honore...
05/27/2026

HSDFF mourns the loss of Clarence B. Jones, lawyer, organizer, and speechwriter for Martin Luther King Jr.

We were honored last month to share the moving, funny, and inspiring short film about his life, The Baddest Speechwriter of All, at University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.

We're grateful for his profound contributions to the Civil Rights Movement and hope more people discover the story of this extraordinary American.


Thanks so much to for including in its top 50 festivals worth the entry fee! We're proud to be included in such estee...
05/26/2026

Thanks so much to for including in its top 50 festivals worth the entry fee!

We're proud to be included in such esteemed company.

Our late entry deadline is coming up on June 15. Filmmakers, submit today!

Thanks so much to Suzie Durbin for hosting last night's Donor Appreciation Party at her gorgeous lakeside home!It was su...
05/22/2026

Thanks so much to Suzie Durbin for hosting last night's Donor Appreciation Party at her gorgeous lakeside home!

It was such a special night to celebrate Hot Springs and documentary films!

05/22/2026

Get to next Wednesday, May 27th for our screening of GIVE ME THE BALL! Co-presented with and .

Screening starts at 6:30 PM and is a rousing portrait of Billie Jean King, a true champion of tennis, women’s equality, and the LGBTQ+ community.

The movie is a celebratory joyride and you don’t want to miss it!

🎟️ Tickets at link in comments
Adults: $15
Children and Seniors: $13

AMFA, 501 E. 9th Street, Little Rock

Our class in collaboration with is almost full! If you’ve ever wanted to try your hand at documentary filmmaking, regis...
05/19/2026

Our class in collaboration with is almost full! If you’ve ever wanted to try your hand at documentary filmmaking, register now to work with acclaimed filmmaker this summer.

In this class you’ll direct, produce, and edit your own documentary (3-10 minutes). Finished films will premiere at the 35th Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival in October and the Persistence of Vision Film Festival in Hot Springs, AR in January 2026.

Register at the link in comments today!

05/12/2026

This Girl Scout is a PRO when it comes to cookies! 🍪

Watch Shannon Elizabeth talk about her favorites and what it's like to be in a big movie!

She and her mom Amanda are joining us this Saturday for a special Q&A after the 2 PM screening , along with Cinematographer Antonio Cisneros ().

Join us this Saturday, catch a fun movie the whole family can enjoy, and even get a cookie from inspired by the original 1917 cookie recipe from Muskogee's Mistletoe Troop!

Get tickets at the link in comments. See you there!

🍪

Address

PO Box 6450
Hot Springs, AR
71902

Telephone

+15015380452

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival:

Shortcuts

Share

Category