BendFilm, Inc announced the winner of its annual $20,000 BIPOC Woman Filmmaker Grant. This annual program created by BendFilm awards a filmmaking grant to a woman of color to promote diversity and inclusion in the film industry. The 2023 winner is director Faith Briggs for her project ‘Fruit of Soil’: a feature-length documentary that shares the story of two dreamers, Black farmers who are creating a ripple of change in the Black community of Portland, Oregon by growing food, investing in Black farmers and feeding Black people.
McMinnville Short Film Festival Announces 13th Festival Edition
This year marks the 13th edition of MSFF, and will feature events for pass holders and industry networking opportunities for visiting filmmakers in addition to screening its official selections:
- “HOW TO BUILD CAREER SUCCESS FROM YOUR SHORT FILM” PANEL, hosted by industry professionals.
New Trailer for Sci-Fi Winemaking Short
The trailer for a new sci-fi short film, set in Oregon wine country, is out now. The Winemaker, written and directed by Sarey Martin, tells the story of a winemaker with a cosmic secret, who must decide whether to run from her enemies or stay to finish the year’s vintage under threat of violence.
It stars Ayanna Berkshire as the lead, supported by Anna Telfer and Jeb Berrier. The fully local, and majority femme crew, includes Daria Matza as producer and Misty Eddy as cinematographer.
#OregonMade “Showing Up” Recognized as One of 2023’s Best
NPR’s film critic Justin Chang released his Top 10 films for 2023 and Kelly Reichardt’s #OregonMade film “Showing Up” made the list along with Andrew Haigh (#OregonMade “Lean on Pete”) for his film “All of Us Strangers.”
You can read the whole list here.
“Gasoline Rainbow” Special Cast & Crew screening on Monday 12/18
The film depicts five teenagers who have just graduated from high school and decide to go on a road trip before the dreaded approach of “real life” and all that it demands.
#OregonMade “It’s What’s Inside” to Premiere at Sundance 2024
The film tells the story of a pre-wedding party descending into an existential nightmare when an estranged friend shows up with a mysterious suitcase. The cast includes Brittany O’Grady, James Morosini, Alycia Debnam-Carey, Gavin Leatherwood, Reina Hardesty, Nina Bloomgarden.
You can see all of the projects selected by Sundance 2024, the 40th edition of the festival, here.
BendFilm Announces BIPOC Women Film Production Grant
Meet the 6 finalists for our BIPOC Women Film Production Grant! These amazing filmmakers were chosen out of 264 applicants!
Join us Dec 17th for a live pitch and announcement of the Grant recipient, determined by our three judges.
#OregonMade “Can’t Seem to Make You Mine” Screening and Q&A
The story revolves around a man recently released from prison as he tries to reconnect with his ex and become a father to his 6-year-old son, while he stays with a stripper he met through a prison pen-pal website.
Dear Producer Award: OPEN APPLICATION
In its ongoing commitment to amplify and support the role of the producer, Dear Producer is proud to be continuing the Dear Producer Award in 2024, and launching an open application for year three of the Award (in previous years, producers chosen for the Award were by industry recommendation only).
Four mid-career level producers will receive an unrestricted grant of $50,000 each, to be used at the producer’s discretion, and attend a retreat focused on rest and community-building with fellow Award recipients.
Call for Submission: FilmFort @ Treefort Music Fest 2024
Established at Treefort in 2014, Filmfort has been bringing a diverse slate of films and exceptional emerging and established filmmakers to Boise for over eight years. Notable feature films screened over the past couple of years include Jethica (2022), directed by Pete Ohs, Anchorage (2021) by Scott Monahan, as well as riveting shorts such as Weapons and their Names (2023) by Melina Valdez.