Fright Night, 1985 • Chris Sarandon, William Ragsdale, Amanda Bearse, Roddy McDowall.
The South Arkansas Arts Center is preparing to kick off the 2025 El Dorado Film Festival with an opening night extravaganza that will captivate film fans and arts aficionados on Wednesday, February 26.
The evening begins with an onstage performance blending art and music with composer and Arkansas native Amos Cochran, followed by a Sponsor’s Reception with heavy hors d’oeuvre for our guests in the gallery. Finally, El Dorado’s own William Ragsdale will join us for a screening of the beloved horror classic “Fright Night” in celebration of its 40th anniversary and a live Q&A afterwards.
Tickets for this celebration of film’s amazing role in El Dorado’s arts scene are on sale now! You can purchase an individual Opening Night event ticket for $50 to enjoy the evenings festivities or get the VIP festival pass for $150 which includes all the festivities from the Opening Night celebration on Wednesday to the closing Awards Ceremony on Sunday. Visit the SAAC’s online box office or call the South Arkansas Arts Center at 870-862-5474 for tickets.
2025 El Dorado Film Festival Opening Night Celebration
6pm • Special Musical Performance by Amos Cochran
7pm • Sponsor’s Reception, heavy hors d’oeuvre in the SAAC Galleries
8pm • 40th Anniversary Screening of “Fright Night” with introduction and Q&A with the star of the film, William Ragsdale.
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Amos Cochran is a two-time Emmy-Nominated composer, performer, and interdisciplinary artist, known for creating work that explores the psychological engagement of the viewer, offering modern experiences that invite deep personal reflection. He is also the founder of Edit/Score, a music library for dark/suspenseful and emotionally charged storytelling.
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William Ragsdale is an El Dorado native who made his first stage appearance in the West Woods Elementary School third-grade production of Charlotte’s Web. At the age of 10, he began to study with the children’s theatre group at the South Arkansas Arts Center and later went on to be in many SAAC main-stage productions. He is a graduate of El Dorado High School, where he performed in several productions and received the Best Thespian Award. He is also a graduate of Hendrix College with a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities.
In his first post-graduate film role, Ragsdale played Laura Dern’s boyfriend in the American Playhouse Production of Smooth Talk. He later played the lead role of Charley Brewster in Columbia Pictures’ Fright Night and Fright Night II with Roddy McDowall and Chris Sarandon. He then made a return to the theatre world by replacing Matthew Broderick in the Broadway production of Neil Simon’s Biloxi Blues. Many other theatrical productions followed, including the sequel to Biloxi Blues, Broadway Bound as well as Stephen Sondheim’s Getting Away with Murder. Ragsdale’s television credits include the starring role of Herman in Fox television’s Herman’s Head as well as many recurring roles on the shows: Ellen, Judging Amy, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Entourage, Desperate Housewives, The Mentalist and Justified. IMBD LINK
2025 El Dorado Film Festival February 26 – March 2
OPENING NIGHT Celebration Individual Ticket • $50
Amos Cochran performs live on stage, Sponsor Reception, “Fright Night” viewing with Bill Ragsdale with Q&A to follow on Wednesday Night
All Access VIP Festival 5-Day Pass • $150
includes Opening Night, Films, Workshops, Panels, Festival T-Shirt, Parties, Swag Bag, VIP Lounge, Awards Ceremony
Wednesday thru Sunday
3-Day Festival Film Pass • $75
All Film Showings, Workshops & Panels on Thursday thru Saturday
Individual Day Passes • $30
Film Showings, Workshops & Panels of the Day on Thursday, Friday or Saturday
Student Day Pass • $5
Film Showings, Workshops & Panels of the Day on Thursday, Friday or Saturday
Awards Ceremony
Sunday Event included with Filmmaker and VIP Festival Passes
