Media Contact:
Tracy Pfiffner
Tracy@Bendfilm.org
(971) 230-8669

For Immediate Release:

BendFilm Selected By a Panel Of Eight Filmmakers and Industry Executives

Avoid FOMO: Passes On Sale Now For 16th Annual BendFilm Festival, Oct. 10 – 13, 2019

 

Bend, OR – BendFilm announced today it has been designated one of the “Top 25 Coolest Film Festivals In The World” by leading film trade MovieMaker Magazine. This honor comes just months after BendFilm was listed as one of the “Top 50 Film Festivals Worth The Entry Fee.” The 16th annual BendFilm Festival runs October 10 – 13 and will present 25 feature films, 70 short films, 30 pre-screening concerts, 10 panels, and a variety of virtual reality stories. Legendary director Ron Shelton (Bull Durham, Tin Cup) is a confirmed guest with more exciting programming updates coming in the near future.

Finalists were selected by a panel of judges including Matt Grady, film distributor; Eric Allen Hatch, programmer; Bing Liu, director; Jillian Mayer, visual performance artist; David Ninh, publicist; Ina Pira, curator; Adam Piron, curator; and Sandi Tan, director. One panelist said this about BendFilm,“The audiences are some of the most engaged you’ll find and have led to some of the best Q&As I’ve ever seen. Films are shown in their historic movie theater downtown and even inside a craft brewery. You feel like you’re in a utopian bubble.”

BendFilm shares the honor with festivals in towns including New Orleans, Miami, Warsaw, San Francisco International Film Festival and more. The full list of the ‘Top 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World’ can be found on the MovieMaker Magazine site.

Todd Looby, BendFilm Executive Director, said, “We are humbled that MovieMaker Magazine recognized the passion our entire team and this town gives to create a special and unique festival for filmmakers and audiences now all year-round. Our goal has always been to give filmmakers, Bend residents, and visitors, experiences they will never forget. We hope this recognition will invite more filmmakers and film fans to join us this year and in future years to see the magic for themselves.”

Erik Jambor, BendFilm Head of Festival Programming, said, ”Bend is truly a special place and the town and its people were a huge part of why Festival was recognized by MovieMaker. We share this honor with the BendFilm audience, our volunteers, board members, loyal supporters and of course our filmmakers. You are what makes BendFilm cool, eclectic and unique.”

For those new to BendFilm, the Festival takes place in the scenic town of Bend, Oregon which is regularly included in the Best Towns roundup for Outside Magazine. BendFilm fully embraces its town and gorgeous surroundings which features craft breweries, breath-taking hiking trails, a whitewater park in the middle of town, miles of paths along the Deschutes river, and a historic district full of delectable dining.

In turn, the town of Bend, Oregon fully embraces the festival which is home to a thoughtful community of cinephiles who religiously attend films and proudly support the last Blockbuster in the world (see Todd Looby at the 5 minute mark). The festival venues are among the most unique of any event: from the art deco antique Tower Theater on Main Street, to BendFilm’s own 30-seat boutique microcinema located in “Tin Pan Alley,” to the Old St. Francis Theater which seats 120 people on plush couches and serves the most mouth-watering cajun tots and craft beer during the show.

###

About BendFilm:
BendFilm hosts an annual independent film festival, year-round film exhibitions and programs and is the new owner of the Tin Pan Theater. The organization is designed to support and nourish filmmakers and enrich the cultural life of Central Oregon while also providing an economic benefit to the region. Celebrating its 16th year, BendFilm is proud to bring diverse voices and visions to the Bend community. The BendFilm Festival runs every October in downtown Bend, Oregon, at The Oxford, McMenamins – Old St. Francis, Regal Cinemas, The Volcanic Theater, Cascades Theatrical Company, and the historic Tower Theatre. Make plans now to attend (October 10-13, 2019) for four days of inspiring independent cinema, panels and parties, in beautiful Bend, a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts, foodies, beer lovers and stunning natural scenery. BendFilm is made possible by a dedicated crew of volunteers and generous sponsors. For more information, call (541) 388-3378 or visit bendfilm1dev.wpengine.com. Connect with BendFilm on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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.