BendFilm will present some of our best short films from the 15th Annual Festival in 2018 at the NW Film Center in Portland, Oregon. Last year’s shorts lineup was one of the best the Festival showcased and included two Academy-nominated films. This shorts program covers all genres in order to give Portland film fans a taste of what the BendFilm Festival offers each year.
Before the program, BendFilm Executive Director Todd Looby will give a brief overview of the exciting news that we have planned for BendFilm’s 16th Annual Festival. Save the date to attend Central Oregon’s Indie Film Festival on October 10-13, 2019.
Hula Girl
Directed by Amy Hill & Chris Riess
11 min. | Documentary Short
In the late 1950’s, when a newly minted American mother of four, Joan Anderson, saw a bamboo hoop being used by Australians while on a visit, a fad was born. Hula Girl is the true story of her “friend” that brought the hoop and name to Wham-O in 1958 and cut her from the story. Joan, now 93 and active and endearing, is finally able to set the record straight about the untold story of Whamo.
Beneath the Ink
Directed by Cy Dodson
13 min. | Documentary Short | BendFilm Winner-Best Documentary Short
In a time when society’s belief systems are seemingly changing, or even reverting in time, one Ohio tattoo artist Billy Joe White is challenging his community by saying: “bring me your mistakes.” Beneath the Ink is a timely look at hate and racism in the western foothills of the Appalachian region that reveals heartfelt stories of change and redemption.
Armor Del Amor
Directed by Kirk Kelley
2 min. | Animated Short
From world-renowned animation studio HouseSpecial and director Kirk Kelley comes Armor del Amor – a kind of nature “documentary” that follows the mating rituals of Dasypus novemcinctus (nine-banded female armadillo) to discover the dark underbelly of modern mammalian dating.
The Road Between Us
Directed by Joanne Feinberg & Katherine Roselli
15 min. | Documentary Short
A father and son bicycle 2,701 miles across America on Route 66. They discover that the road between them is the life path that connects them.
Weekends
Directed by Trevor Jimenez
15 min. | Animated Short
2019 Oscar Nominee, Weekends, is the story of a young boy shuffling between the homes of his recently divorced parents. Surreal dreamlike moments mix with the domestic realities of a broken up family in this hand-animated film set in 1980’s Toronto.
Gloria Talks Funny
Directed by Kendall Goldberg
19 min. | Narrative Short
When struggling voice actress, Gloria, discovers her agent failed to tell her that her claim-to-fame cartoon is being remade, she sets her sights on reprising her role as the famous BioBoy.
Two Balloons
Directed by Mark C. Smith
Animated Short | 10 min.
Two adventurous lemurs navigate their dirigibles halfway around the world to a place where happenstance and fate threaten to disrupt their reunion.
Get your tickets here to see this selection of the best and award-winning short films from the 2018 BendFilm Festival! Partnering with the Northwest Film Center, BendFilm will present this shorts program and talk about the what’s in store for the 2019 BendFilm Festival, October 10-13th. Attendees get special Pass discounts!
Get your film festival passes today to see Shelton screen Bull Durham and revisit some of his classic films at this year’s festival OCT 10-13 in Bend, Oregon.