The Confluence – Page 28 – The Oregon film community's official blog.

“The Mastermind” from Portland Based filmscience Goes to Cannes

Kelly Reichardt’s latest film “The Mastermind” has been announced as part of the main competition titles at the Cannes Film festival in May. Although shot in Ohio, the film was produced by Oregon based Neil Kopp and Anish Savjani (alongside partner Vincent Savino) and their filmscience label.

The film centers on an audacious art heist amidst the backdrop of the Vietnam War.

Many of Reichardt’s and filmscience’s previous films have been shot in Oregon.

See the whole Cannes line up here and more info on “The Mastermind” here.

Catalyst “Script to Screen” Grant Launches

Script to Screen, Catalyst Film Collective’s signature program that includes a $10,000 grant, wrap around production support, in-kind donations, and a whole collective of filmmakers ready to crew, is now open for submissions.

Submissions Open 4/4/25; Deadline 5/31/25

Get writing those scripts, and check out our website for all the fine print, and answers to all your FAQs. This grant is open to CFC members only, so make sure to join the Collective or update your membership if you haven’t yet.

“Splitsville” – Written & Starring McMinnville Resident – will Debut at Cannes

McMinnville resident, Kyle Marvin, has written and stars in the feature film “Splitsville” which will debut at the Cannes Film Festival in May. The film also stars Nicholas Braun and Dakota Johnson and is directed by Michael Covino. Marvin also directed “80 for Brady” and wrote and produced “The Climb” which also screened at Cannes.

See the full Cannes line up here.

Oregon Film Impact Grants for Short Films

The Oregon Film Impact Grants are designed to support filmmakers and projects that have the potential to make a positive and lasting impact on Oregon’s film industry.

There will be two submission phases for these grants. The first will be for short film projects (running time less than 40 mins) while the second will be for feature length projects. The first phase, short films, will open on April 16. The feature length project submission period will be later in the summer of 2025.

Scholarships Available for Beginning Filmmaker Class

In partnership with Desert Island Studios and Keys, Beats, Bars, local Portland filmmakers Martin Vavra and Aileen Sheedy are teaching an eight-week beginning film class starting May 1, 2025.

The class, which is capped at 12 students, is aimed at those who are interested in making their own films but may not know where to start. The class is structured with both a lecture/discussion portion as well as hands-on practice with film equipment, and covered topics include script breakdowns and storyboards; camera, audio, and lighting gear; and working with actors.

Cinema Unbound Awards Announce 2025 Honorees

On Friday, May 30, 2025, Portland Art Museum’s PAM CUT // Center for an Untold Tomorrow hosts the 6th annual Cinema Unbound Awards, honoring multi-disciplinary media artists at the forefront of innovation in arts and culture. A highlight of the West Coast cultural calendar, the evening showcases internationally renowned creative polymaths who share their unbound vision in fresh and innovative ways.

This year’s event honors Sarah Sherman, Marco Brambilla, Earl Ninsom, Carson Ellis, and Colin Meloy.

The evening benefits PAM CUT//Center for an Untold Tomorrow, a vital part of the Portland Art Museum dedicated to celebrating artists who defy labels or easy categorization in cinematic storytelling including film, series, audio storytelling, gaming, animation, and XR.

BendFilm Festival Submission – Discount Codes

Submit your film now for BendFilm and secure a discount on your submission fee.

BendFilm expands its support of Independent Film by refocusing its competition program, centered now on new North American-made independent work. With the inaugural success of our filmmaking retreat, BendFilm: Basecamp, we are doubling down on platforming emerging creators, creating a dedicated fall showcase for emerging narrative and documentary features. Films should have majority North American financing and/or should be shot in North American countries. They will be selected for originality of voice and quality of execution—an earmark of successful indie filmmaking.

Director Anthony Orkin shares latest work at Fertile Ground

Longtime Portland-based filmmaker and playwright Anthony Orkin (HELLO FROM NOWHERE) will be sharing his latest work of musical theatre in April at Fertile Ground festival of new works.

The Poison Squad is a musical comedy based on a true story, about men used as guinea pigs in a quasi-experiment on the effects of untested preservatives on the human body. In the early 1900’s, Dr. Harvey Wiley, head chemist at the Department of Agriculture, wanted to pass the Pure Food and Drug Act, and he needed some colorful evidence to persuade Congress.

Portland Post Production Grant 2025 – Opens March 26

In partnership with Travel Portland, the Office of Events & Film at Prosper Portland is excited to offer a grant opportunity for Portland-based independent film productions to support and offset the cost of the post-production process. Funding is designed to encourage the completion of local feature-length films and position local producers to build toward larger, more resourced productions.

Grant applications open on Wednesday, March 26. This year, grants of $8,500 each will be awarded.

Past recipients of the Post-Production Grant include Trash Baby, directed by Jacy Mairs (which premiered at the 2025 SXSW Film Festival), and G.

City Cast Portland: What Hollywood Wants From Portland, According to a Location Manager

Portland and Oregon are surprisingly popular locations to film in: There’ve been over 700 films and TV shows shot in our region! City Cast talked with Katie Rasmussen, a location manager who’s worked with big-budget movies and TV shows like “Grimm” and the upcoming Amazon Prime series “Criminal.” She’s discussing how the places we all know and love get translated onto the big screen, and why Oregon often has the favored locations for some darker-themed films and TV shows.

Listen here.

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