The 18th Annual BendFilm Festival is set to take place on October 7, 2021. Named as one of the “Top 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World” in 2019, BendFilm celebrates the “brave voice of indie film” by supporting independent artists who make them. Due to current and potential COVID regulations & limitations, this year’s festival will be a hybrid of virtual and drive-in screenings with most in-person events located in Bend’s historic downtown, near the Old Mill District – the waterfront hub for shopping and entertainment that’s conveniently nestled along the scenic Deschutes River.
Running until Sunday, October 17, the festival will be showcasing a wide variety of feature films, documentaries, and short films. Past festivals have screened over 120 movies with over half being features and the other half being shorts being directed by women. Submissions opened on January 4. To submit your film, visit https://filmfreeway.com/festivals/5512
Known as Central Oregon’s premier and internationally acclaimed festival, BendFilm has welcomed numerous artists, executives, journalists, and cultural leaders as part of the festival jury. Past jurors include cinematographer and documentarian, Peter Gilbert, Lara Jean Gallagher (Clementine, Red Mother), Patrick Creadon (Wordplay, Hesburgh, I.O.U.S.A.), Chris Eyre (Smoke Signals, Skins, Edge of America), and Sisterhood Media’s Samah Ali. Select jurors will also participate in panel discussions and the Future Filmmakers program for student storytellers.
Besides screenings, filmmaker discussions and masterclasses are also available online. Filmmakers have a chance to book mentor sessions with renowned artists from the industry, whether it be distinguished filmmakers, writers, or cinematographers. Additionally, filmmakers have a chance to win up to $11,500 in cash prizes including a $5,000 cash prize for “Best of Show!” All films accepted into the juried Documentary Feature, Narrative Feature, Environmental/Outdoor Feature, and Indigenous Feature competitions are eligible for this award.
Entry Fee Discounts are available on film freeway with opportunities for directors of color, student films, female directors, films produced in the Northwest, and returning filmfest alumni. For detailed information on qualifications, check their website.
Outside of the film festival, Bendfilm presents a Pop-Up Drive-In Series where you can enjoy watching movies outdoors from the comfort of your car. In collaboration with Lay It Out Events and Deschutes Brewery, last year’s series consisted of RAD, The Muppet Movie (1979), The Last Blockbuster, I Am Not Your Negro, The Dark Divide, and John Lewis: Good Trouble. Furthermore, in response to the county’s Extreme Risk level, Bend’s beloved venue Tin Pan Theatre started hosting a weekly film screening occurring every Thursday at 6:30pm. You can also live-stream these films through their virtual platform. Ticket packs are available for those who’d like to attend both the festival and the Outdoor Tin Pan Alley screenings.
To find out more about the festival, see https://www.bendfilm.org or follow @bendfilmfestival for updates!