BendFilm Future Filmmakers Program
Video Contest for Young Filmmakers
The BendFilm Future Filmmakers program encourages youth to share their voices and talents through film.
Future Filmmakers was founded in 2006 by Michelle Alvarado of Wahoo Films and has grown to become a very popular part of the Bend Film Festival. This Central Oregon video contest is open to students in grades 5 through 12. Students create short films during the year and submit them for consideration.
The program showcases films of one to five minutes made in the last year. Audience vote determines winners for each competition, who receive a cash prize. The jury of film and video professionals also selects a Central Oregon-based winner of the cash prize. The jury also provides each submitter critical feedback of their work to help mentor them in their craft.
PAST WINNERS
2023
FUTURE FILMMAKER WINNERS
The 2023 Jury Award and $100 prize goes to Milan Anderson for his film, “The Last Dodo Hunter”
The 2023 Audience Award and $100 prize goes to Sienna Dummann, Mack Green, Jessica Engun and Sam McCaulou for their film, “What’s the worst that Could Happen”
2022
FUTURE FILMMAKER WINNERS
The 2022 Jury Award and $100 prize goes to Milan Anderson for his film, “Escape”
2019
FUTURE FILMMAKER WINNERS
The 2019 Jury Award and $100 prize goes to Emily Hopper for her film, “Parents Inc.”
The 2019 Audience Award and $100 prize goes to Bella Moon for her film, “On My Mind.”
2018
FUTURE FILMMAKER WINNERS
The 2018 Jury Award and $100 prize goes to Dakota Callicott for his film, “A Lesser You.”
The 2018 Audience Award and $100 prize goes to Emily Hopper for her film, “Best Enemies.”
2017
FUTURE FILMMAKER WINNERS
In 2017, the Future Filmmakers showcase took place on October 15th at McMenamins during the BendFilm Festival. BendFilm Festival Jurors, BendFilm Programmer Erik Jambor and Director Todd Looby attended to give our young filmmakers the full festival treatment. As always, the event was free and open to the public.
All of the participants are talented and promising young filmmakers. We cannot wait to see their Future Films! Congratulations to:
Audience Award Winner:
The Essence of Travel
Directed by Dakota Callicott
Jury Grand Prize Winner:
DO NOT DISTURB
Directed by Braxton Haugen
BendFilm Director, Todd Looby, said, “It is very interesting that both of the winning filmmakers told stories that centered around disengaging from technology and the material world in order to search for a more meaningful existence. These films embody the full spirit of the Future Filmmakers program which provides a great forum and outlet for young seekers to make better sense of their worlds while questioning the status quo. It was a thread that ran through all of this year’s films and I applaud all of the filmmakers for having the courage to put themselves out there to the community in the ways that they did.
2016
FUTURE FILMMAKER WINNERS
Coming soon
2015
FUTURE FILMMAKER WINNERS
This year, the Future Filmmakers showcase took place on October 10th at McMenamins during the BendFilm Festival. All of our aspiring filmmakers were treated like the Kings and Queens they are. And by including Future Filmmakers during the festival, our visiting filmmakers like Shirlyn Wong, Director of a BendFilm 2015 official selection served as a judge, giving our young artists the full treatment of a Festival filmmaker. As always, the event was free and open to the public.
We were so amazed by the young and talented filmmakers who participated this year! Congratulations to:
2015 Juror Award Winner:
Madison Boll for “Cacophony”
2015 Audience Award Winner:
Claire & Chase McDonald for “Revenge of the Pumpkin”
2014
FUTURE FILMMAKER WINNERS
The 10th Annual Oregon Student Video Contest!
2014 Juror Award Winner:
Chris Choyce, “Camping Misadventrures”
2014 Audience Award Winner:
Mackenzie Hice, “Technicolor”
2013
FUTURE FILMMAKER WINNERS
Deschutes Public Library hosted the 2013 BendFilm Future Filmmakers screenings at the Downtown Branch. The presentation showcased many of the young filmmakers who were on hand to answer questions about their submissions. The program was free and open to the public.
2013 Juror Award Winners:
Makenzie Hice, “The Audition”
1st Runner-up: Natalie & Lauren Meier, “Summer Bully”
2nd Runner-up: Benjie Higgins, “The Hat”
2013 Audience Award winners:
Morgan Tien, “Woodward Experience”
1st Runner-up: Cooper Anderson, “The Choice”
2nd Runner-up: Makenzie Hice, “The Audition”
