08/07/2025
Each year, the Fort Smith International Film Festival honors the best documentary with something far more meaningful than a standard award, a unique hand painted snapping turtle trophy, transformed by the vision of a local artist. No two are alike, each piece a one-of-a-kind creation that captures the spirit of storytelling and the soul of our region.
This year’s masterpiece was brought to life by Rea Tedeton of the Community School of the Arts, and she does not disappoint. Set atop a rugged, beautifully grained slab of wood, the turtle bursts with color and character. Its fierce open mouth and outstretched limbs radiate energy, painted in a luminous turquoise with vibrant yellow and black speckles that echo both wild nature and abstract expressionism. The shell, a textured and jagged crown, is dusted with a subtle shimmer of glitter that catches the light like a constellation trapped in stone.
This isn’t just a trophy, it’s a sculpture and a story of its own. One lucky filmmaker will walk away not only with recognition, but with this bold, glimmering creature to remind them that their work left a mark.
