(The Falconer | Photo courtesy of BendFilm)
New This Year! BendFilm is Now an Oscar Qualifying Festival for Short Films!
BendFilm is getting ready for their 18th annual film festival and has announced their Competition, Spotlight and Local Focus films selected to screen in-person and or virtually during the 18th annual BendFilm Festival running October 7-17. BendFilm will host a hybrid in-person and virtual festival, and will present more than 40 feature films and 75 short films.
New this year, BendFilm Festival is now recognized by The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as one of 64 film festivals in the world (27 festivals in the USA) that is Oscar-qualifying for short films. This acknowledgement from The Academy comes after the recent recognition from Movie Maker Magazine that BendFilm is among the Top 25 Coolest Festivals in the World and Top Festivals Worth The Entry Fee.
BendFilm will continue its filmmaker-focused efforts to award over $11,500 in prizes directly to independent filmmakers in these competition categories including $5,000 for Best Of Show. Passes are on sale now for the in-person festival events October 9-10, and the streaming events October 7-17.
“We are honored to kick off the festival season with new recognition from The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, that our curation is deemed among the most cutting-edge in the industry,” said Todd Looby, director of BendFilm. “I’m also incredibly impressed at the quality of filmmaking represented this year. I know many of these films were made under extraordinary circumstances, and to have them be as good as they are is really remarkable. I’m humbled each year by the artists we showcase. Selin and her team had a very tough job, and they put together what is potentially our best lineup yet.”
“Film is a unifying force, and this year’s lineup is full of uplifting and powerful themes to connect audiences,” Selin Sevinc, BendFilm head programmer said. “From films that showcase youth taking a courageous stand, to political movements with heart, and movies that shine a light on the importance of mental health, there are countless stories that will inspire, delight and get people talking.”
SAFETY UPDATE
BendFilm is implementing extra safety procedures this year for the health and safety of the wider community, and with our brave healthcare workers in mind. All guests for in-person events must show digital or hardcopy proof of vaccination OR show proof of a negative COVID-19 test 72 hours before the festival. All guests must wear masks inside Festival venues, regardless of vaccination status. The Festival is scaling back the in-person events significantly, hosting events on two days instead of four, reducing capacity in venues to 65 percent and screening films in its largest venues — The Tower Theatre and Regal Cinemas — to allow for social distancing.
NARRATIVE FEATURES COMPETITION
7 Days (USA) | directed by Roshan Sethi
West Coast Premiere
Ravi and Rita meet on a date arranged by their traditional Indian parents that turns both awkward and enlightening when they find themselves trapped inside together for a week.
Cinema of Sleep (Canada) | directed by Jeffrey St Jules
Northwest Premiere
A refugee’s plans for a new life in the U.S. are threatened when he finds a dead body in his motel room.
Everything in The End (Iceland/USA) | directed by Mylissa Fitzsimmons
Central Oregon Premiere
Stranded in an Icelandic village during Earth’s final days, a man seeks solace in the brief human connections he encounters.
The Falconer (USA / Oman) | directed by Seanne Winslow & Adam Sjoberg
West Coast Premiere
Inspired by true events, two best friends, Tariq, an Omani boy and Cai, a privileged Westerner, conspire to steal animals from the zoo and sell them on the black market to raise money for Tariq’s sister’s divorce from an abusive marriage. They are forced to wrestle with morally complex choices that reveal the vast distance between their worlds.
Grasshoppers (USA) | directed by Brad Bischoff
World Premiere
Star-crossed immigrant lovers roam their gated community drink-by-drink in search of the perfect house.
A Hard Problem (USA) | directed by hazart
Northwest Premiere
After the death of his mother, Ian must pack up the house where he cared for her in her waning years. A strained relationship between him and his sister leads Ian to discover there are complicated circumstances behind the life he didn’t realize he was living.
Neolovismo (Italy) | directed by Susanna della Sala & Mike Bruce
U.S. Premiere
Isolated in a house on an Italian island, a couple struggles to find the bond that once united them. As they attempt to reconnect with each other, they decide to stage their relationship dynamics in front of the camera as a way to dispel their fears and insecurities.
Sin La Habana (Canada) | directed by Nabatian
Oregon Premiere
When an Afro-Cuban couple whose dreams are not satisfied in Havana cross paths with an Iranian born Canadian woman, the passionate love triangle that ensues between them gives way to a complex dance of desire and need.
DOCUMENTARY FEATURES COMPETITION
Alaskan Nets (USA) | directed by Jeff Harasimowicz
Oregon Premiere
Off the coast of Alaska lies a remote island that’s home to the Tsimshian Indians of Alaska’s last native reserve, Metlakatla. For more than a century, two sacred traditions have defined Metlakatla: fishing and basketball. In an improbable journey, two cousins lead their team and town in search of their first state championship in more than 30 years—the only thing that will bring life back to an island that has been rocked by tragedy.
American Gadfly (USA) | directed by Skye Wallin
Central Oregon Premiere
Teenagers run a presidential campaign for a former U.S. Senator in the 2020 election. Opening Night Film.
AIDS DIVA: The Legend of Connie Norman (USA) | directed by
Dante Alencastre
Northwest Premiere
Seizing her power as she confronts her mortality, trailblazing trans activist Connie Norman evolves as an irrepressible, challenging and soulful voice for the AIDS and queer communities of early 90’s Los Angeles.
Buried: The 1982 Alpine Meadows Avalanche (USA) | directed by Jared Drake & Steven Siig
Northwest Premiere
A motley crew of thrill-seeking ski patrollers living the outdoorsman’s dream face a reckoning with Mother Nature when the Alpine Meadows avalanche of 1982 strikes, leaving eight people missing during a raging storm.
Chasing Childhood (USA) | directed by Eden Wurmfeld and Margaret Munzer Loeb
Education professionals and reformed helicopter parents offer solutions to combat unprecedented childhood anxiety and depression in today’s world. What can parents, societies and even governments do to restore confidence and joy in childhood?
From Here (Germany/USA) | directed by Christina Antonakos-Wallace
Oregon Premiere
A decade-long portrait of four artists and activists from immigrant families coming of age in an era of rising nationalism.
My So Called Selfish Life (USA) | directed byTherese Shechter
Motherhood: a subject so deeply ingrained in the fabric of our society we take it for granted as part of the natural order. It’s assumed that all women want children —
that motherhood is not only a biological imperative but the defining measure of womanhood. Titled after one of the myths it challenges, this entertaining, inspiring and thought-provoking film draws upon a heady mix of culture, science and history to reveal the rich lives of a diverse group of people saying no to having children — and the forces that have marginalized them in society.
The Oxy Kingpins (USA) | directed by Brendan FitzGerald and Nick August-Perna
Oregon Premiere
The untold story of how a network of pharmaceutical manufacturers, distributors and retailers worked together to orchestrate and perpetuate the opioid crisis that has killed over half a million people in America.
OUTDOOR / ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES COMPETITION
Almost an Island (USA) | directed by Jonathan VanBallenberghe
Oregon Premiere
Almost an Island is a cinematic portrait of the Goodwins, an Inupiaq family living above the Arctic Circle in Kotzebue, Alaska. Through observing three generations of one family over the course of four years, Almost an Island explores what it means to be indigenous in the dramatically changing Arctic.
Havana Libré (Cuba/USA) | directed by Corey McLean
Central Oregon Premiere
After years of surfing being illegal, a diehard group of Cuban surfers rises up against their government to legitimize their biggest passion. Havana Libré chronicles their fight in the face of political oppression, confronting borders and outdated ideologies along the way.
Operation Wolf Patrol (USA) | directed by Joe Brown
Central Oregon Premiere
Witness an eco-activist Rod Coronado’s attempt to end wolf hunting in the United States. Over the course of three years, we watch Rod work to redefine his activism in an era — post 9/11, where some have called him an “eco-terrorist.” The film comes to a climax when Coronado’s “Wolf Patrol” is met with a tightening of “hunter harassment” laws that prohibit photography on public lands.
The River Runner (USA) | directed by Rush Sturges
Northwest Premiere
Legendary kayaker Scott Lindgren attempts to complete an extreme, unprecedented whitewater expedition 20 years in the making.
Youth v. Gov (USA) | directed by Christi Cooper
Central Oregon Premiere
Youth v. Gov is the story of America’s youth taking on the world’s most powerful government. Armed with a wealth of evidence, 21 courageous leaders file a ground-breaking lawsuit against the U.S. government, asserting it has willfully acted over six decades to create the climate crisis, thus endangering their constitutional rights to life, liberty and property. If these young people are successful, they will not only make history, they will change the future.
SPOTLIGHT DOCUMENTARY FEATURES:
Becoming Cousteau | directed by Liz Garbus
Two-time Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Liz Garbus takes an inside look at Jacques-Yves Cousteau’s life, iconic films, inventions and the experiences that made him the 20th century’s most unique and renowned environmental voice —
and the man who inspired generations to protect the Earth.
For the Left Hand | directed by Gordon Quinn & Leslie Simmer
At age five, Norman discovered he was a natural at the piano. Tragically, when he turned ten, his father attacked him with a hammer to the head, leaving him paralyzed on his right side. Undaunted, Malone began a lifelong quest to reclaim his place at the piano and launched a much-delayed, triumphant concert career.
No Straight Lines: The Rise of Queer Comics | directed by Vivian Kleiman
Five scrappy queer comic book artists journey from DIY work and isolation to the cover of Time Magazine and the international stage, offering a fascinating window into everything from the AIDS crisis and workplace discrimination to the search for love and a good haircut.
The First Wave | directed by Matthew Heineman
The first wave of the pandemic. One of New York’s hardest hit hospital systems. A group of doctors, nurses and patients’ distinct storylines each serve as a microcosm through which we can view the emotional and societal impacts of the pandemic, and are a testament to the strength of the human spirit.
The Rescue | directed by E. Chai Vasarhelyi & Jimmy Chin
An outing to explore a nearby system of caves after soccer practice transformed into a two-week saga of survival and a story that would capture the world’s attention. The story of the imagination, determination and unprecedented teamwork displayed during this heroic edge-of-your-seat mission with life-or-death stakes. Closing Night Film.
Torn | directed by Max Lowe
In Torn, National Geographic Explorer Max Lowe turns the lens on his own family, as the body of his father is uncovered 17 years after his death.
The Capote Tapes | directed by Ebs Burnough
Using the tapes, animation and new on-camera interviews with people who knew him, the film explores the impact of Capote’s explosive unfinished novel Answered Prayers.
SPOTLIGHT NARRATIVE FEATURES:
Bergman Island | directed by Mia Hansen-Løve
A couple retreat to the island that inspired Ingmar Bergman to write screenplays for their upcoming films when the lines between reality and fiction start to blur.
Language Lessons | directed by Natalie Morales
Adam’s (Mark Duplass) husband surprises him with weekly Spanish lessons. When tragedy strikes, his Spanish teacher, Cariño (Natalie Morales), becomes a lifeline he didn’t know he needed.
Paris, 13th District | directed by Jacques Audiard
Paris, 13th District today. Émilie meets Camille who is attracted to Nora, who crosses the path of Amber. Three girls and a boy redefine what modern love is.
The Humans | directed by Stephen Karam
Erik Blake has gathered three generations of his Pennsylvania family to celebrate Thanksgiving at his daughter’s apartment in lower Manhattan. As darkness falls outside and eerie things start to go bump in the night, the group’s deepest fears are laid bare. The piercingly funny and haunting debut film from writer-director Stephen Karam, adapted from his Tony Award-winning play, The Humans explores the hidden dread of a family and the love that binds them together.
The Novice | directed by Lauren Hadaway
An obsessive novice rower climbs the ranks of her college’s rowing team.
LOCAL FOCUS FEATURE/SHORT FILMS:
Films made by Central Oregon filmmakers, stories with local themes or filming locations.
Built to Burn | directed by Courtney Campbell
Can we ready ourselves to manage fire, or will we continue to scramble in disbelief? Either way, the fires are coming.
Farm to Families | directed by Katherine Roselli
Here’s how Rogue Valley community volunteers collaborated to address food insecurity in the 2020 Summer of COVID.
Getting A Head | directed by Jacob Logan Barth
An absurd and dark-comedic tragedy about a man, his best friend and their new roommate.
Link Sar | directed by Graham Zimmerman
An elite American alpinist navigating his relationships and motivations while attempting to climb and survive one of the world’s most challenging unclimbed peaks: Link Sar, in the high mountains of Pakistan.
Near/Miss | directed by Benjamin Higgins & Dan Attias
The prelude to a love story which focuses on the serendipitous encounters and dream life of a young man and woman.
Tai Chi Spirit | directed by Tim Cash
There are three levels of Tai Chi: the physical, the mental and the spiritual. This documentary follows martial art students from Bend to China as they learn that to pursue your passion takes perseverance, understanding and heart, with guidance from a local master from China.
Make plans to join us October 7-17, 2021 for in-person and virtual cinema plus filmmaker workshops, panels and more. Tickets are now available to all.
bendfilm.org • 541-388-3378