‘Rosemead’ Starring Lucy Liu Takes Top Prize at Bentonville Film Fest

The Bentonville Film Foundation, in collaboration with founding partner, Walmart, and presenting sponsor, Coca-Cola, announced the winners of its 11th Annual Bentonville Film Festival on Saturday.

“Rosemead,” starring Lucy Liu, took the top prize, winning the best narrative award for a feature film. In addition, Liu was presented with the Rising to the Challenge Award, given to artists who support independent film and “put their talent, passion and experience on the line in the service of empowering stories that are otherwise underrepresented.” Directed by Eric Lin, “Rosemead” premiered earlier this month at the Tribeca Film Festival and centers on a mother faced with an impossible choice. The film has received excellent reviews, particularly for Liu’s transformative performance. In a statement, the jury that voted on the prize noted: “Director Eric Lin sparks real-world conversations about the society we’re living in through an intimate, unflinching film based on true events in the San Gabriel Valley. The very essence of what great cinema can do.”

Other narrative awards presented included a special jury mention for ensemble cast to “Adult Children,” which held its world premiere on Thursday night at the fest. Written by Annika Marks and directed by Rich Newey, the comedy-drama centers on three adult siblings (Betsy Brandt, Thomas Sadoski and Aya Cash) and their teenage half-sister (Ella Rubin) who move in together to watch over their brother Josh (Sadoski), an addict. The film also stars Mimi Rogers as their mother and Olemich Tugas (in his film debut) as a young neighbor. Marks and Newey previously collaborated on the film “Killing Eleanor,” which won the top prize at the 2020 SCAD Savannah Film Festival. That film also balanced some serious topics with dark humor and humanity on display in “Adult Children.”

A special jury mention for directorial vision was presented to “Color Book,” writer-director David Fortune’s…