Arkansas Cinema Society adds new members to board, Christina McLarty Arquette to serve as president

The Arkansas Cinema Society board of directors elected a new slate of officers for 2022.

Producer Christina McLarty Arquette will succeed Larry Stone as board president. Stone served in the position for the last two years.

Graham Gordy, a screenwriter and long-time board member, was elected Vice-president after previously serving as Secretary. Filmmaker and former Little Rock Film Festival director Jack Lofton will assume the role of Secretary.

Two new board members include cinematographer Ayana Baraka and real estate advisor Alicia McDonald. Both women recently moved to Arkansas and are eager to see the film industry grow in state.

“Our board of directors are the grassroots backbone of our organization,” said ACS Executive Director Kathryn Tucker. “Having the guidance of award-winning industry professionals along with Arkansas business and community leaders has allowed us to grow more than we’d ever envisioned back in 2017. Each member brings a different resource and perspective that guides us on our mission to diversify and grow our impact and network through the tenants of watch, learn and make. We are thrilled and grateful that Ayana and Alicia are willing to commit their time and talents to ACS, along with the continued devotion from filmmakers like Christina and Graham that continue to give ACS critical access to the film industry right here at home.”

The full slate of 2022 Board officers are as follows:

• Chairman: Jeff Nichols
• President: Christina McLarty Arquette
• Past President: Larry Stone
• Vice President: Graham Gordy
• Treasurer: Pattie Weed
• Secretary: Jack Lofton
• Member-at-large: Skip Rutherford
• Member-at-large: Mayor Frank Scott, Jr.
• Member-at-large: Alison Williams
• Member-at-large: Rett Tucker

McLarty Arquette said she is excited for the potential ACS has to make an impact within the state.

“Storytelling has been a part of my life for my entire career,” McLarty Arquette said. “Ever since attending Filmland for the first time in 2018 with a documentary I produced, I fell in love with the mission of the Arkansas Cinema Society and want to do everything I can to grow filmmaking within the state. Serving as President of the ACS Board is an honor and a great way to do all I can to expose more Arkansans to films and the growing industry in their own backyard.”

“When Jeff and Kathryn first asked me to be on the board, I said I would love to if my role can focus on outreach,” Gordy said. “I’m so glad to see that the educational and community programs have grown so much over the last few years, despite Covid. This was always about trying to give young Arkansans some things we didn’t have growing up here. I’m proud to be a small part of that and now serve as Vice President.”

ACS is a non-profit committed to building a film community in Arkansas.