2017 Bend Film Festival

directed by Jamie Brooks

Based on the true story of Brian Deneke, Bomb City is an intense and illuminating crime-drama about the cultural aversion of teenage punks and artists in a conservative Texas town. Their ongoing battle with a rival, more-affluent group of jocks leads to a controversial hate crime that questions the morality of American justice–especially relevant today.

Remark from the Jury:

“While it could have easily won in several categories – with gorgeous cinematography, amazing pacing and wonderful casting – all roads lead to its Director.”

directed by Renée Felice Smith and C.A. Gabriel

At an age when everyone around them is settling down and finding love, Beck and Liam are self-proclaimed loners. After bonding over their mutual disinterest in relationships, they decide to go away together on a ‘friend’ trip. And that’s when things get weird. Really, surreally weird.

directed by Noël Wells

After an auspicious death in her family, struggling LA-based comedian Emily Martin (Noel Wells, Master of None and SNL) returns to Austin. There she finds herself in the awkward position of staying with her ex and his new girlfriend until the funeral while trying to close old doors from her past.

directed by Skye Borgman

In 1974, in the quiet town of Pocatello, Idaho, 12-year-old Jan Broberg was kidnapped by her family’s best friend and neighbor. 18 months later, out on bail and awaiting trial for kidnapping, Robert Berchtold abducted Jan a second time, triggering a nationwide FBI manhunt.

Directed by Leah Warshawski and Todd Soliday

When Sonia Warshawski (90) is served an eviction noticefor her iconic tailor shop (in a dead Seattle mall), she’s confronted with an agonizing decision: either open up a new shop or retire. For a woman who admits she stays busy “to keep the dark parts away,” facing retirement dredges up fears she’d long forgot she had, and her horrific past resurfaces.

directed by Vern Moen

A young shepherd in Oregon’s Willamette Valley struggles with the life and death circle of his ancient job in a modern era.

Remarks from the Jury:

“For its ability to reveal the hardships and beauty of a way of life through a meaningful and heartfelt portrait, we would like to present a Special Jury Award to A Shepherd by Vern Moen.”

directed by Quentin Hamberham

Francis learns that what is right for himself may not be best for his son.

directed by Peter Edlund

Two young burnouts live in a world of mindless day jobs, petty drug deals, and wildly unconventional musical tastes.

directed by Ugla Hauksdóttir

Adapted from the Flannery O’Connor Award-winning short story by Mary Hood, How Far She Went takes an unflinching look at family, personal sacrifice, and the lengths we will go for those we love.

directed by Ben Knight

Maule Dhan Rai is the last man in the remote Nepal village of Saadi who has been visited in a dream by a spirit called Rongkemi. If no one else in the village has the dream, a generations-old tradition may die.

directed by Patrick Smith

A horned creature’s destructive rampage is halted by a stubborn adversary.

Remarks from the Jury:

“For its creatively rich depiction of a unique character, the Best Animated Short Film award goes to Pittari by Patrick Smith.”

directed by Carey Williams

Faced with an emergency, a group of young Black and Latino friends carefully weigh the pros and cons of calling the police.

Remarks from the Jury:

“For its ability to portray a powerful conflict through a tense, comic and cinematically flawless narrative, the Best Narrative Short Film award goes to Emergency directed by Carey Williams.”

directed by Konrad Tho Fiedler

An American Indian girl escapes from captivity in the oil fields of North Dakota and hitchhikes back to her home in Blackfeet country, Montana.

Directed by Amanda Kopp and Aaron Kopp

Five orphaned children in Swaziland collaborate to tell a breath-takingly beautiful story of perseverance drawn from their darkest memories and brightest dreams. Their fictional character’s journey to rescue her young twin brothers is interwoven with poetic and observational documentary scenes to create a genre-defying celebration of collective storytelling.