The Confluence

Case Study: Navigating the Film Festival Circuit

Case Study: Navigating the Film Festival Circuit with H. Nelson Tracey

Introduction

Film festivals are often the gateway to an indie filmmaker’s success – at least, that’s the dream. But the reality is that submitting to festivals, especially the A-list ones like Sundance, SXSW, Berlin, and Cannes, is a long shot. As H. Nelson Tracey, director of Breakup Season, will tell you, getting into these festivals is akin to winning the lottery. After all, the odds of making it are slim, and the process is more competitive than most realize.

Women in Film PDX Vision Award: Narrative Film Winner Fuchsia Lin Is Finishing Up Her Film

Future Cosmos Flow, a 25-minute fantasy narrative film which features fashion and dance, is in the last month of post-production.

The fate of two parallel realms is in the hands of a precocious girl. Journey through a fantastical world of fashion, dance and stunning natural landscapes! This film is modern mythology that brings us a fresh perspective of hope and inspiration to our current climate crisis.

We’ve launched our fundraising campaign through Seed & Spark to raise the final funds to finish this film of eleven years.

Laika Talks to Indiewire

Oregon based animation company Laika recent spoke to Indiewire about its past, present and future. We’re looking forward to that future and “Wildwood” especially.

From that article:

“Wildwood” is as good of a re-introduction as any. The fantasy film is based on the first in a trilogy of YA novels by Colin Meloy, better known as the lead singer and songwriter for the Portland-based indie rock band The Decemberists. But the project is also right at home for Laika, as it’s set in a secret forest just outside of Laika’s home in Portland and follows a girl whose baby brother is taken into the forest, only to discover an exotic world of talking animals and bandits.

EOFF Wraps Up Filmmaker Field Trips

EOFF just wrapped its first Filmmaker Field Trip, hosting the team behind Bad Day for Bigfoot for a week of scouting, story-building, and local inspiration. From forest roads to dive bars, town hall to swimming holes—this creative residency lit a fire under pre-production and brought our region’s cinematic potential to life.

Filmmaker Field Trips are supported by Oregon Film through the Creative Opportunity Program.

Field Trip Report • Project Support Page • Filmmaker Field Trip Program

🚨 Last Call for Entries!

Short Film Impact Grants Awarded

The inaugural Oregon Film Impact Grants for short films were awarded to five projects – “Here’s to the Girls,” “Javelina: Ingredients of Return,” “Machaca,” “Portland’s Cotton Club: The Only Place On The West Coast With Wall To Wall Soul,” and “The Impeccable Art of Never-Ending Wellness.”

The Impact Grants were designed to support filmmakers and projects that have the potential to make a positive and lasting impact on Oregon’s film industry. These grants are intended to help grow the state’s film scene, provide opportunities for local talent and crew, and bring people together through storytelling that celebrates Oregon’s unique culture, history, and landscape.

More Screenwriting Workshops Start July 7

Hi all.

I’m going to be teaching my usual two screenwriting workshops starting July 7 and July 8.

Both remote/virtual.

You can find out more and sign up here: https://www.jeffsrutherford.com/workshops

All are welcome!

We’ve been building a great community through these and some great projects have been developing. Many folks that have taken both Essential Screenwriting and Feature Writing + Development now have a solid full draft of a feature script.

You can read some testimonials here: https://www.jeffsrutherford.com/wkshptestimonials

You can reach out to me directly too: [email protected]

Oregon Film Impact Grants – Feature Film – Submissions June 23 to July 25

Oregon Film is excited to announce the Feature Film Impact Grant, designed to support film projects that can make a positive impact on Oregon’s film industry. This grant aims to help grow Oregon’s film scene, create local job opportunities, and bring people together through stories that celebrate Oregon’s culture, history, and landscape.

Projects should have a clear plan, be financially viable, and make a meaningful contribution to Oregon’s film industry. This grant encourages diverse perspectives and focuses on elevating underrepresented voices in filmmaking.

Dallas Joins the Oregon Film Trail

Dallas has joined into a partnership with the Oregon Film Trail, highlighting the history that film has in the city.

Dallas joins more than 40 physical signs and hundreds of digital scene locations across Oregon that celebrate and recognize this history with the installation of a sign highlighting the location where filming occurred, and more about the film and the people behind it.

Downtown Dallas served as a location for the movie “Promise,” starring James Woods and James Garner. The film, released in 1986, highlighted the struggles that families face caring for loved ones who are diagnosed with mental health conditions.

“ParaNorman” Getting Halloween Re-Release in 3D

Laika’s beloved stop-motion film “ParaNorman” is returning to theaters this Halloween for a one-week engagement, now in a newly remastered RealD 3D format. The limited run, announced at the Annecy Animation Festival, will also feature the world premiere of a brand-new CG short film, “ParaNorman: The Thrifting,” starring Anna Kendrick and Finn Wolfhard.

“ParaNorman,” originally released in 2012, was nominated for an Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe, and took home multiple Annie Awards. Directed by Chris Butler and Sam Fell, the film will screen globally starting Oct.

#OregonMade “Horsegirls” Producer Talks Production on The Industry Podcast

Tribeca Festival – “Horsegirls” Co-Producer Blair Skinner

The Industry recently had a chat with producer and line producer Blair Skinner (“Duster,” “Transparent”) on her latest film, “Horsegirls,” which shot in Oregon and recently premiered at Tribeca.

You can watch the whole interview here.

“Horsegirls” tells the story of Margarita (a revelatory Lillian Carrier) who must reluctantly grow up as her mother, Sandy (Gretchen Mol), grapples with an uncertain diagnosis.

They do a deep dive into how she put together the budget for the film, shooting in Oregon and her approach to line producing.

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