Ashland Independent Film Festival Announces 2018 Program Details

AIFF Varsity Theatre
The 17th Annual Ashland Independent Film Festival runs April 12-16, 2018.  photo by Al Case

The Ashland Independent Film Festival has announced its lineup for the five-day festival, April 12-16, 2018, screening in venues across Ashland and—for the first time—Medford. The year’s lineup includes over 120 films chosen from nearly a thousand films submitted to the festival, or specially selected by AIFF Artistic and Executive Director Richard Herskowitz. The entire program, including information about show times, live performances, art exhibits, filmmaker TalkBack panels, children’s programs, Community Conversations, and more is now online at ashlandfilm.org Continue reading... “Ashland Independent Film Festival Announces 2018 Program Details”

#OregonMade 50th Anniversary Film Series – “My Own Private Idaho” April 2nd

#OregonMade Film Series

To put it simply, there have been a lot of great movies made in Oregon. Going back more than 100 years to “The Fisherman’s Bride” in Astoria, through to Buster Keaton’s, “The General”  shot in Cottage Grove; then moving into the westerns that took advantage of the diverse locations of Central Oregon and Mt. Hood – “True Grit”, “The Way West”, and “Bend of The River.”  These were followed by musicals like, “Paint Your Wagon,” and classic indies like, “One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest,” “Drugstore Cowboy,” and “Sometimes A Great Notion.” Continue reading... “#OregonMade 50th Anniversary Film Series – “My Own Private Idaho” April 2nd”

Ashland Independent Film Festival to Announce Full Line-up at Festival Preview Night and Offers a Sneak Peek at 10 Highlights

Film Still - ON CHESIL BEACH
Adapted by Ian McEwan from his bestselling novel, ON CHESIL BEACH centers on a young couple of drastically different backgrounds in the summer of 1962. Photo courtesy of the Ashland Independent Film Festival.

The Ashland Independent Film Festival will announce its 2018 film and event lineup at their Festival Preview Night at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 20 at the SOU Music Recital Hall in Ashland. This is the first chance to see clips from festival films, pick up the Pocket Guide, and get insider information on special guests and new events for AIFF2018. Continue reading... “Ashland Independent Film Festival to Announce Full Line-up at Festival Preview Night and Offers a Sneak Peek at 10 Highlights”

RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARCHIVE Tandem Hearts (Jon Garcia, 2012)

This week our intrepid Archivist takes us into the heart and soul of Portland indie filmmaking with a recent classic, made on a proverbial shoestring, from prolific filmmaker Jon Garcia. If you don’t know Jon’s work, it’s worth starting with this one and then taking in his “The Falls” trilogy – making a day/night of it (see links below).

And if that’s not enough, Raider/Contributor Phil Oppenheim leaves us with a timeless classic quote from Abbey Road (which immediately precedes “Her Majesty’s a pretty nice girl, but she doesn’t have a lot to say…”). Continue reading... “RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARCHIVE Tandem Hearts (Jon Garcia, 2012)”

#OregonMade “Leave No Trace” Acquired By Sony Worldwide + Bleecker Street

Debra Granik (“Winter’s Bone”) directed the #OregonMade “Leave No Trace”  premiered at Sundance at the end of last month.  After the rave reviews Sony Pictures Worldwide was quick to acquire international rights, and Bleecker Sreet has aquired North Americn rights. “Leave No Trace,” set in Portland’s Forest Park, tells the tale of  Will and his teenage daughter, Tom, who “have lived off the grid, blissfully undetected by authorities in a vast nature reserve on the edge of Portland. Continue reading... “#OregonMade “Leave No Trace” Acquired By Sony Worldwide + Bleecker Street”

Karen Doesn’t Dream (2018) – Teaser

 

Over the course of the last year, Portland State University Television (PSUTV) has been creating a feature film: Karen Doesn’t Dream.

This psychological drama follows Karen, a 27 year-old porn store employee and Seaside resident. Karen’s job has always been dreary and monotonous, serving the tourists and tenants of Seaside. But that was before she found the sleep tapes… To what extent will Karen feed a growing addiction, and what will this addiction bring out of her?

Produced and created by PSU Students, the project involved over 150 volunteers and thousands of hours of work. Continue reading... “Karen Doesn’t Dream (2018) – Teaser”

Portland and Ashland Voted Best Places To Live + Work By MovieMaker

MovieMaker Magazine has annouced their “Best Places to Live and Work as a moviemaker” with Portland coming in at #11 in the “Big Cities” category, and Ashland at #5 in the “Small Cities” category.  Ashalnd was  beaten out by New Orleans, Savannah, Santa Fe, and Pittsburg, and Portland by Atlanta, Vancouver (BC), Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Albuquerque, Boston, Toronto, Austin and Montreal.

Director Alessandro Circiello shoots Magic Carpet, the Search for Now in Ashland.
Continue reading... “Portland and Ashland Voted Best Places To Live + Work By MovieMaker”

Doxx Magazine Focuses On Women Documentary Filmmakers

Doxx Magazine is a new digital publication dedicated to women documentarians. The online hub is a designated and creative place for the stories, work, and thoughts of female and non-binary nonfiction media makers. To enrich the local and national documentary communities, the magazine will archive filmmakers from Oregon and beyond.

Each issue will include interviews, profiles of historic documentary legends, field notes (submit here), industry-relevant articles, and a watch-list. A short teaser issue was launched last week, and includes conversations with Directors Lana Wilson (After Tiller, The Departure) and Amy Nicholson (Beauty School, Muskrat Lovely, The Zipper, Pickle). Continue reading... “Doxx Magazine Focuses On Women Documentary Filmmakers”

Coming Soon, #OregonMade “The Competition Movie”

Thora Birch (American Beauty), and Chris Klein (American Pie) star in this #OregonMade indie feature that shot last year.  A new website has just been released and now is gearing up for a release. KPTV’s More Good Day Oregon has a first look#thecompetitionthefilm Continue reading... “Coming Soon, #OregonMade “The Competition Movie””

Praise for 24 Hour Comic

Comic-Con screening follows national distribution for Oregon comics doc

Cartoonist-stars Paul Guinan and David Chelsea join filmmaker Milan Erceg to celebrate 24 Hour Comic screening at San Diego Comic-Con International Independent Film Festival.
Cartoonist-stars Paul Guinan and David Chelsea join filmmaker Milan Erceg to celebrate 24 Hour Comic screening at San Diego Comic-Con International Independent Film Festival.

The biggest little indie feature doc in Oregon, 24 Hour Comic, screened at the San Diego Comic-Con International Independent Film Festival this July. Director Milan Erceg, whose film documents a marathon of comic book creation, says the recognition from Comic-Con film festival “is about the biggest honor we could have.” Continue reading... “Praise for 24 Hour Comic”