MID AMERICA FILM MARKET
About
Our Mission
Welcome to the Mid-America Film Market—a dynamic crossroads where the beating heart of film creation and sales meets the cultural soul of Fort Smith. Our mission is to propel cinematic dreams to the world stage, offering a platform that brings visions from the heartland and beyond into global focus. We connect filmmakers, distributors, and storytellers in an environment that celebrates our rich heritage while embracing the future of the industry.
Premiering alongside the prestigious Fort Smith International Film Festival from August 22nd to 24th, 2024, the Mid-America Film Market stands as a beacon of independent cinema and the timeless allure of storytelling. Join us in this pioneering era of film distribution and collaboration, where the glamour of Hollywood meets the charm of the heartland. Together, we are shaping the future of film, right here in Fort Smith.
The Mid-America Film Market stands at the forefront of the international film industry, creating a vibrant and inclusive platform for filmmakers of all genres and formats. From full-length feature films to innovative short-form content tailored for the dynamic world of social media, our market is designed to meet the evolving needs of the modern audience.
Nestled in the culturally rich environment of Fort Smith, Arkansas, the Mid-America Film Market offers a unique blend of tradition and innovation. This event is not just a marketplace but a meeting ground for cinematic artists, content creators, entertainment vendors, film buyers, press, and film enthusiasts. Here, you can forge meaningful connections with industry leaders, explore cutting-edge technologies, and discover new trends shaping the future of film and media.
The 4th Annual Fort Smith International Film Festival is entering the next frontier of the global movie industry with the launch of the MidAmerica Film Market, which will run alongside the festival, August 22 – 24, 2024 at TempleLive. While the first two years focused on exhibition, in 2023 the River Valley Film Society added distribution, an economic component, taking the first steps in transforming the film festival into a movie market. Sgt. Major Keith L. Craig (Retired) and Jeff Porter with Porter + Craig Film and Media Distribution were keynote speakers, provided a workshop, and offered licensing agreements to five films from the festival (2 Arkansas, 1 Oklahoma, 1 Florida, & 1 Canada).
In 2024, the transformation becomes a reality with the creation of the MidAmerica Film Market, which will alter the entertainment landscape locally, nationally, and globally. “We finalized a multi-year agreement making Porter + Craig Film and Media the exclusive distributor for the MidAmerica Film Market,” explains executive director Dr. Brandon Chase Goldsmith. “Through this partnership we will bring in buyers who work with the major theatrical companies and streaming services around the world. Essentially we are bringing Hollywood to the middle of the United States!” A six-hour radius from Fort Smith includes Dallas, Oklahoma City, Kansas City, St. Louis, Memphis, Jackson, and Shreveport with the closest other film market being South by Southwest in Austin.
MidAmerica Film Market
Our Values
Value
This is the space to introduce the business and what it has to offer. Define the qualities and values that make it unique.
Value
This is the space to introduce the business and what it has to offer. Define the qualities and values that make it unique.
Value
This is the space to introduce the business and what it has to offer. Define the qualities and values that make it unique.
Value
This is the space to introduce the business and what it has to offer. Define the qualities and values that make it unique.
Value
This is the space to introduce the business and what it has to offer. Define the qualities and values that make it unique.
Value
This is the space to introduce the business and what it has to offer. Define the qualities and values that make it unique.
Submissions Open Feb 2
Film submissions will open February 2 and run through May 24, with four deadlines (Early Bird March 1, Regular April 5, Late May 3, and Extended May 24). Three categories, Narrative Feature, Documentary Features and Episodic, will be eligible for both the film market and festival. The remaining categories are only eligible for the festival: People of Color Shorts, Indigenous Shorts, Music Videos, Animation, High School & College Student, and all genre of short film with no date limits on production. Everyone is welcome to submit at FilmFreeway or they can visit FortSmithFilm.com
Growing Global Event
Meltwater, one of the world’s top media analysis companies calculated the aggregate reach of all the online news, social media, print, and broadcast stories about the Fort Smith International Film Festival. The 2021 inaugural year reached 254 million, 2022 increased to 265 million, and the 2023 festival had a media reach of 827 million producing a total of 1.3 billion. “I had them rerun the numbers,” exclaims Dr. Brandon Chase Goldsmith executive director of the festival. “Our marketing team and media partners did incredible work. We implemented an international strategy sending out press releases to cities around the globe where we have festival winners and alumni filmmakers. The world is learning about Arkansas film and our region’s growing movie industry.” In the first three years, the festival has received 1213 film submissions from over 75 countries, nations, and tribes.
Arkansas Film Industry
The Arkansas Economic Development Institute recently released “An Economic Analysis of the Arkansas Film Production Industry: Impacts and Incentives,” which showed that for every $1 million spent on the film rebate, $4 million was returned to the state’s economy. It also revealed that there has been a lack of workforce development over the past 13 years as “employment in Motion Picture and Video Production generally trended downward from 2010 to 2020, rebounding in 2022 to total 260 employees,” with our best year being 2010 with over 300 employees. While Arkansas’ rebate incentive has had a significant impact on the economy, in terms of jobs the state’s film production industry has declined.
In recent years, the world of cinema has seen a remarkable surge in independent film production. With advancements in technology and the increasing accessibility of filmmaking tools, more and more aspiring filmmakers are creating unique and thought-provoking stories outside of the Hollywood realm. However, despite this rise in indie films, the distribution process remains a complex and challenging task. This is where the Mid-America Film Market plays a crucial role, serving as a bridge between filmmakers and audiences.
The Mid-America Film Market is dedicated to addressing the challenges faced by independent filmmakers. “With countless films being produced each year, it becomes increasingly difficult for individual filmmakers to gain recognition and secure the right licensing deals on their own,” says a representative. “That's why we ensure that our expertise and industry connections help them find the right audiences for their films.”
The Mid-America Film Market team has successfully found distribution and financing for numerous films and television shows, managed production sets, and overseen the logistics of theatrical releases. They have cultivated relationships with major domestic and international distributors and sales agents, driven by the satisfaction of helping filmmakers and producers create the best content and find distribution and audiences for their works. “By collaborating with our market, filmmakers can focus on what they do best – telling captivating stories – while leaving the intricacies of distribution in our hands,” notes a market executive. “Ultimately, it is this collaboration that ensures that indie films find their rightful place in the global cinematic landscape and reach the masses.”
The Mid-America Film Market identifies the best platforms for distribution, whether it be theatrical release or streaming services, and tailors the approach according to genre. They provide an understanding of the intricacies of licensing, marketing, and revenue-sharing agreements, which can be overwhelming for independent filmmakers.
