The Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival may be going virtual this year, but three drive-in movies will provide public showings of its three centerpiece films.
The opening, closing and centerpiece films of the festival will each be shown in the parking lot of the Hot Springs Mall. The opening film will be "Jimmy Carter, Rock & Roll President." The centerpiece film will be "Ottolenghi and the Cakes of Versailles," and the festival will close with "9 to 5: A Story of a Movement."
Karina Nagin, festival executive director, said their first drive-in screening earlier in the summer was a success.
"We handled our first drive-in back in May," she said, noting they were "one of the first film festivals in the country to host a large-scale drive-in."
"The Biggest Little Farm" was shown on May 29 and "sold out all tickets in 48 hours" to the screening, Nagin said. Calling the event fun, she said they "knew we wanted to hold (drive-ins) in the festival."
Nagin said they picked "three outstanding films" for the drive-in.
The Jimmy Carter documentary shows how Carter "forged a tight bond with musicians Willie Nelson, the Allman Brothers, Bob Dylan and more" while running for president, a news release said.
"Low on campaign funds and lacking in name recognition, Carter relied on support from these artists to give him a crucial boost in the Democratic primaries. The surprisingly significant role that music played throughout Carter's life and in his work becomes a thread in this engaging portrait of one of the most enigmatic presidents in American history," it states.
The opening night movie will be screened on Friday, Oct. 9.
On Tuesday, Oct. 13, the centerpiece film, "Ottolenghi and the Cakes of Versailles" will screen. The release said that "Celebrity chef Yotam Ottolenghi assembles a star-studded team of the world's most innovative pastry chefs to put on a Versailles-themed cake-filled culinary gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York."
The film "9 to 5: A Story of a Movement" will close the festival on Friday, Oct. 16. "Inspired by the Women's Liberation Movement, women started fighting back and banding together to force changes in their workplace. Their goals were simple: better pay, job descriptions, respect, advancement opportunities, and an end to sexual harassment," the release said.
"All of them are incredible films that have garnered rave reviews," Nagin said, noting each of the movies is also family friendly.
For the May event, they limited the number of cars to 200, she said, noting they are expecting "up to 300 cars" for the shows in October. Ticket prices have not been announced, but Nagin said tickets will be per vehicle, not per person.
All three of the events will be included in a VIP all-access pass.
The festival is partnering with Visit Hot Springs, The Hot Springs Mall, Low Key Arts and KUHS to bring these events to the public. The screenings will also feature live music and food trucks.