The Bentonville Film Festival Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization focused on promoting underrepresented voices in the entertainment industry through research, education, and the support of inclusive content production and distribution. The primary research partner of the Foundation is the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media. The Foundation believes that by convening the media ecosystem – content creators talent and influencers, advertisers and content distributors real action will be taken in support of media that accurately reflects the gender balance and diversity of our country. Our goal is to create a seismic change in how we media inspires young minds to do great things.

Working in partnership with the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, the foundation seeks to support research which proves it is not only the right thing to do it is also commercially beneficial to support a systemic change in the way gender and diversity are portrayed in the media. BFF engages content creators and media industry leaders to actively support and create content that showcases positive female and diverse role models and eliminates negative or unconscious bias and stereotyping. The Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media has clearly evidenced that the media children consume has an overwhelming influence in shaping their view of the world and their place in it.

BFF also partners with schools and community institutions, working with children to educate on the challenging effects of stereotyping, unconscious bias and gender imbalance; and utilizing media-based tools and content to build positive association and equality based learning models.

BFF is focused on working with its partners to assure it influences positively and fosters inclusivity.