Dr. Bruce Hutchinson, a film professor at the University of Central Arkansas, has launched a new website called Art House Cinema to showcase grassroots, DIY, no-/low-budget, indie, and experimental films. The platform, which went live earlier this year, is designed to give overlooked filmmakers a space to screen their work without the gatekeeping often found in traditional distribution channels.
Hutchinson, who teaches in Conway but lives in Bentonville, built the site out of personal frustration with how difficult it is for small films to find an audience. He knows the struggle firsthand — his own indie drama “Mountain Flowers,” about two long-distance lovers spending their final day together, has screened at a handful of small festivals but otherwise had limited reach. Art House Cinema now hosts the film for free public viewing.
“I wanted to make something that wasn’t about algorithms or corporate taste,” Hutchinson said. “This is for the filmmakers who are doing it because they have something to say, not because they’re chasing a trend.”
The site doesn’t charge submission fees or require festival premieres, which can be expensive and inaccessible for many creators. Instead, filmmakers can upload their work directly and connect with viewers who are specifically seeking out alternative content. Hutchinson moderates submissions to maintain quality, but he’s intentionally kept the barrier to entry low.
So far, the platform features short films, experimental projects, documentaries, and narrative features from Arkansas and beyond. Content ranges from black-and-white silent films to nonlinear storytelling experiments. Some pieces run just a few minutes; others stretch past the hour mark. All are free to watch and available without ads or pop-ups.
A New Home for Independent Voices
For independent filmmakers in Northwest Arkansas, Art House Cinema offers something rare: a dedicated regional outlet that doesn’t require moving to a major market or paying for festival entries. Hutchinson hopes the platform can help foster a stronger local filmmaking community by giving creators a consistent place to share and discuss their work.
“We’ve got talent here,” he said. “But sometimes people don’t know where to start or how to get seen. If this site helps even one person feel like they’re part of a conversation, that’s a win.”
Hutchinson also sees the site as a complement to existing cultural institutions in NWA. He points to venues like the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute and local film festivals as important spaces, but says there’s room for a year-round digital platform that’s always open.
Unlike streaming giants or major festival circuits, Art House Cinema doesn’t operate on a profit model. It’s funded entirely by Hutchinson and runs on a basic server setup. He plans to keep costs minimal and accessibility high, with no plans to introduce subscription fees or advertising.
The site also includes a blog section where filmmakers can share behind-the-scenes stories or opinion pieces — Hutchinson himself writes a regular column titled “Film Scene | Opinion,” which originally appeared in the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
While the project started as a personal endeavor, Hutchinson has begun reaching out to local colleges, arts groups, and high school film programs to encourage submissions. He’s also exploring partnerships with libraries and community centers to host in-person screenings of selected works.
For now, Art House Cinema remains a one-person operation, but Hutchinson hopes it can grow into a collaborative space — both online and off — for filmmakers across Arkansas and beyond.
Source: NWA Democrat Gazette
