San Clemente Director Wins at Bentonville Film Festival

In a small Arkansas town, where neighbors still meet at the local square, audiences believed in a “little film that could.” Autumn McAlpin and her first feature film, MISS ARIZONA, premiered and won the Audience Awardfor “Best Narrative Film” at the Bentonville Film Festival. Co-founded by actress Geena Davis & Inclusion Companies CEO Trevor Drinkwater, the six-day, one of a kind festival champions female and diverse voices in media.

Now, the filmmakers behind MISS ARIZONA plan to make a big impact in the conversation about the power of women both in Hollywood and every town across America.

“Premiering at Bentonville was a strategic choice for us as our film's mission is so aligned with BFF's -- to promote entertainment that includes and empowers women and people of color,” explains McAlpin. “70% of our cast and crew are female, and we love Geena Davis' message to young females: 'If you can see it, you can be it’."

MISS ARIZONA follows a former pageant queen turned housewife who is trapped in a less-than-ideal marriage and mourning the independence of her 10-year-old son. But when she accepts an invitation to teach a life skills class at a women’s shelter, an all-night adventure begins with four unlikely friends. They embark on a quest through LA’s darkest streets and wildest drag club, all while discovering their own strength and the power of female friendship.

Agitated by the way women were being portrayed in the media after the 2016 presidential election, McAlpin became focused on making a “pro-women” film. She was further motivated by the Women’s March and an experience she had while teaching a life skills class at a women’s shelter. In less than a year, she succeeded in writing, director and co-producing MISS ARIZONA.

"The most fulfilling moments in Bentonville took place during and after our Q&A’s with the many women present in our audience who had been in crisis themselves or worked in shelters helping others,” explains McAlpin. “The storyline became a reality and with this film, we hope to provide awareness for the organizations that help those in crisis.”

Miss Arizona features the powerful song “Quiet” by MILCK (also dubbed the unofficial song of the Women’s March) and additional music by female powerhouse voices P!nk, Lorde, Shania Twain, Donna Summer, and Kacey Musgraves, and Jillian Jacqueline -- who performed live at the fest.

The all-female ensemble cast features Johanna Braddy (Quantico, Unreal), Dana Wheeler-Nicholson (Friday Night Lights, Nashville), Robyn Lively (Teenwitch, Karate Kid3), Otmara Marrero (StartUp, Off the Rails) and Shoniqua Shandai (Bodied, Sing It!). Additional cast members include Steve Guttenberg, Missi Pyle, Kyle Howard, Kevin Heffernan, and alums of RuPaul’s Drag Race,Willam Belli and Ginger Minj.

MISS ARIZONA is produced by McAlpin’s Side Gig Productions and DeAnna Cooper of Stitch Entertainment. For more information about the film, please visit www.missarizonamovie.com.