Ashland Independent Film Festival’s New Film Center on Main Street

The Ashland Independent Film Festival announced today the opening of the AIFF Film Center, the newest addition to Ashland’s vibrant visual and literary arts scene on East Main Street.

The new AIFF Film Center will serve as a year-round social hub for film lovers and provide expanded office space for the growing organization. During its annual flagship festival in April, the center will also serve as a gathering space for members and volunteers.“We are excited by the opportunity to start offering screenings and workshops year round,” said Richard Herskowitz, executive and artistic director of AIFF.

Continue reading... “Ashland Independent Film Festival’s New Film Center on Main Street”

Ashland Independent Film Festival Announces 2019 Juried & Audience Award Winners

Director Asher Jelinsky took home the juried and audience awards for Best Narrative Short for their film Miller & Son. Photo by Kyle Asher, courtesy of the Ashland Independent Film Festival
Director Asher Jelinsky took home the juried and audience awards for Best Narrative Short for their film Miller & Son. Photo by Kyle Asher, courtesy of the Ashland Independent Film Festival

ASHLAND, Ore. – The Ashland Independent Film Festival (AIFF) wrapped its 18th annual edition, which ran April 11-15, 2019, screening over 150 films to audiences of over 17,000. On April 14 at its Awards Night celebration, the juried and audience award-winning films were announced.

The James Blue Award was presented to directors Alyssa Fedele and Zachary Fink of The Rescue List. Continue reading... “Ashland Independent Film Festival Announces 2019 Juried & Audience Award Winners”

Ashland Independent Film Festival to Present 2019 Pride Award to B. Ruby Rich and Rogue Awardto Alex Rivera and Cristina Ibarra

Ashland Independent Film Festival to Present
2019 Pride Award to B. Ruby Rich and Rogue Award
to Alex Rivera and Cristina Ibarra

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences “FilmWatch” Grant
will support “Queer Intersectionality”
series curated by B. Ruby Rich


ASHLAND, OR. – The Ashland Independent Film Festival (AIFF), scheduled for April 11-15, 2019, is presenting two special awards this year—the Pride Award to film critic B. Ruby Rich and the Rogue Award to artists Alex Rivera and Cristina Ibarra, directors of the Sundance NEXT Jury and Audience award winner, The Infiltrators. Continue reading... “Ashland Independent Film Festival to Present 2019 Pride Award to B. Ruby Rich and Rogue Awardto Alex Rivera and Cristina Ibarra”

Ashland Independent Film Festival Unveils Complete 2019 Program Details

Film Still - Moonlight Sonata: Deafness in Three Movements
Moonlight Sonata: Deafness in Three Movements

The Ashland Independent Film Festival has announced its lineup for the eighteenth annual festival, April 11-15, 2019, screening in venues across Ashland. The year’s selections include over 150 films chosen from more than eight hundred 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, and more is now online at ashlandfilm.org. Continue reading... “Ashland Independent Film Festival Unveils Complete 2019 Program Details”

Ashland Independent Film Festival To Announce Full Line-Up At Festival Preview Night & Offers A Sneak Peek At 10 Highlights

The Ashland Independent Film Festival has unveiled ten film selections from its 18th annual edition. The full line-up will be released at Festival Preview Night, to be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 20 at the SOU Music Recital Hall in Ashland. Heading the list of early highlights is the world premiere of Ashland filmmakers Gary and Annie Lundgren’s Phoenix, Oregon, starring James Le Gros and Jesse Borrego as two friends who, defying midlife haze, seize an unlikely opportunity to reinvent their lives, quitting their jobs to restore an old bowling alley and serve the “world’s greatest pizza.” Continue reading... “Ashland Independent Film Festival To Announce Full Line-Up At Festival Preview Night & Offers A Sneak Peek At 10 Highlights”

Ashland #6 In MovieMaker Magazine’s Best Places To Live & Work As A Moviemaker: Small Towns & Cities

At a cabin on Hyatt Lake, 12 miles east of Ashland, the crew sets up a scene for the pilot episode of The Stem starring Abby Wathen, Marlyn Mason and Clive Rosengren. Photograph by Ray Nomoto Robison

For the 6th year in a row Ashland is in MovieMaker Magazine’s top group of small and cities and towns in which to be a filmmaker – congrats!

Coming in at #6. Ashland, Oregon

Here is what MM had to say about Ashland:

The smallest city on our list, with a population of 21,117, Ashland in Southern Oregon punches far above its weight. Continue reading... “Ashland #6 In MovieMaker Magazine’s Best Places To Live & Work As A Moviemaker: Small Towns & Cities”

Ashland Independent Film Festival Launches Year-Round “Best of the Fests” Film Series with the Oregon Premiere of YOUNG MEN AND FIRE, on Oregon Wildland Firefighters

 

Young Men and Fire Film Still
Young Men and Fire

The Ashland Independent Film Festival is expanding its year-round programming with a new series, Best of the Fests, which will offer audiences a second chance to see some of the best and most requested films from the most recent AIFF, along with other films generating excitement on the film festival circuit. The series will launch with a “Best of the Fests Weekend” September 21-23 at the Varsity Theatre in Ashland and the Collaborative Theatre Project in Medford and continue with screenings at Eugene’s Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art in October and November. Continue reading... “Ashland Independent Film Festival Launches Year-Round “Best of the Fests” Film Series with the Oregon Premiere of YOUNG MEN AND FIRE, on Oregon Wildland Firefighters”

Ashland, Bend + Portland Film Fests Again Make MovieMaker’s “Best 50 Film Fests Worth The Entry Fee”

Ashland International Film Festival, BendFilm, and Portland Film Festival all made the cut for the MovieMaker 2018 “50 Best Film Festivals Worth The Entry Fee.”

Here is what MM had to say about each:

AIFF: “Submitting to screen at this five-day Southern Oregon fest comes with the promise that your film will be viewed and evaluated by more than one screener. Ashland Independent Film Festival’s crowd of over 7,000 fills out the art-deco Varsity Theatre, historic Ashland Armory, and other venues to take in over 90 doc, feature, and short selections. Continue reading... “Ashland, Bend + Portland Film Fests Again Make MovieMaker’s “Best 50 Film Fests Worth The Entry Fee””

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”

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”