ashland | The Confluence

Ashland Is On The Oregon Film Trail With Two New Signs!

October 14, 2020October 14, 2020 Oregon Film #OregonMade, Oregon Film Trail "Coraline", Ashland, Film Southern Oregon, Oregon Film Trail, Oregon Made, Oregon Made Creative Foundation, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, WildLeave a Comment

The 18th and 19th signs on the Oregon Film Trail are now installed in the City of Ashland – they celebrate the town’s starring role in “Wild” and the historic Oregon Shakespeare Festival as inspiration for “Coraline”. The signs are now located in the Downtown Plaza, and at the intersection of Pioneer Street and East Main Street in front of OSF’s Black Swan Theatre and the Ashland Chamber of Commerce.

Historic downtown Ashland featured prominently in “Wild”, the highly acclaimed 2014 film adaptation of the best-selling book, starring Reese Witherspoon as Oregon author Cheryl Strayed. Continue reading... “Ashland Is On The Oregon Film Trail With Two New Signs!”

How the Classic #OregonMade Film “Coraline” Came To Be Set In Ashland, OR

October 12, 2020October 12, 2020 Oregon Film Uncategorized "Coraline", Ashland, Henry Selick, LAIKA, Oregon Film TrailLeave a Comment

“Coraline,” the first feature created by Hillsboro-based animation studio, Laika, was released in 2009 to much critical acclaim and box office success. Recently, Oregon Film reached out to the film’s screenwriter and director, Henry Selick, to find out how the movie, based on a book by Neil Gaiman, came to be set in the small southern Oregon town of Ashland.

Selick said, “I began writing my screenplay for “Coraline” years ago at my home in Northern California.

Ashland Independent Film Festival: Varsity World Film Week

September 30, 2020 Oregon Film UncategorizedLeave a Comment

The Ashland Independent Film Festival is expanding Varsity World Film Week, its annual fall festival of new international films, into a two-week “Varsity World Film Weeks – Virtual Edition.” The festival will run online from Oct. 2 through Oct. 15 via the organization’s website: ashlandfilm.org, and is co-sponsored with Coming Attractions Theatres. Thirteen film selections can be viewed throughout the United States, while two films (The End of Love and Kuessipan) are available only to Oregon viewers.

Erica Thompson, Executive Director of AIFF, released a statement addressing the organization’s response to the recent tragic fires in Ashland and neighboring towns: “We have questioned just how relevant a film festival is in a difficult time for our community that has endured such significant loss. Continue reading... “Ashland Independent Film Festival: Varsity World Film Week”

Ashland Makes MovieMaker Magazine “Best Online Film Fest” List 2020

May 18, 2020 Oregon Film #OregonMade, Film Festivals Ashland independent film fesitval, MovieMaker, Virtual Film FestivalLeave a Comment

Film festivals are not alone in having to innovate the way they are doing business these days and going forward the on-line festival format is making a lot of sense. MovieMaker Magazine highlighted a handful of festivals that seem to be doing it well, including the Ashland Independent Film Festival.

The virtual festival begins May 22nd and runs through June 14th. Learn how it works here. Continue reading... “Ashland Makes MovieMaker Magazine “Best Online Film Fest” List 2020”

Ashland Independent Film Festival Releases Program for Virtual Festival

May 1, 2020 Oregon Film UncategorizedLeave a Comment

The 19^th annual Ashland Independent Film Festival released its schedule for an interactive virtual festival that will capture the intimacy and magic of the annual Southern Oregon event popular with filmmakers and audiences.

Richard Herskowitz, AIFF Executive and Artistic Director, in a special 30-minute video available at www.ashlandfilm.org, will preview highlights of the 30 feature films and over 100 short films accepted to the annual April festival, which was cancelled by the coronavirus but which quickly moved to an expanded online event. Continue reading... “Ashland Independent Film Festival Releases Program for Virtual Festival”

Ashland & Portland Make MovieMaker’s 2020 Best List

January 31, 2020February 4, 2020 Oregon Film #OregonMade filmmakersLeave a Comment

Oregon cities Ashland and Portland have (once again) been named among the Best Places to Live and Work as a Filmmaker in North America (well, yes, Montreal, Toronto and that other city across the border to our north [but not the one in Washington] are on the list too).

We knew this all along, but it’s certainly nice to be properly recognized. If you haven’t seen the complete list you can check it out for yourself here. Congrats to all the hard working and talented filmmakers, actors, crew and wonderful creatives that help make it happen, every day. Continue reading... “Ashland & Portland Make MovieMaker’s 2020 Best List”

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

December 2, 2019December 4, 2019 Oregon Film Film and Media Industry, Film Festivals, Uncategorized Ashland Film Festival, Ashland Independent Film FestivalLeave a Comment

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.

Ashland Independent Film Festival Announces 2019 Juried & Audience Award Winners

April 18, 2019April 19, 2019 Emily McPeck Award, Film Festivals Ashland Independent Film Festival, film festivalLeave a Comment

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 18^th 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

April 10, 2019April 24, 2019 Emily McPeck Award, Film Festivals Ashland Independent Film Festival, film festival, film festivalsLeave a Comment

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

April 3, 2019 Emily McPeck Film Festivals Ashland Independent Film Festival, film festival, film festivalsLeave a Comment

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”