“In Case You Missed It…” BendFilm will present LIYANA, the winner of both the Jury’s Best of Show and the Audience Award from last year’s festival. In this genre-defying masterpiece, five orphaned children in Swaziland collaborate to tell a deeply moving 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 painterly animation and documentary settings to create a spirited testament to the power of creativity. Doors open at 4:30 pm. TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE.
News
BendFilm and COCC Present…JAMES BEARD: AMERICA’S FIRST FOODIE
FILM FOOD FUSION!
On Monday, February 5th, BendFilm and Central Oregon Community College’s Culinary Institute will partner to screen JAMES BEARD: AMERICA’S FIRST FOODIE. The Culinary Institute will serve James Beard-inspired hors d’oeuvres at a pre-screening reception at COCC’s Elevation Restaurant from 4:00-5:30pm, followed by the film at McMenamins Old St. Francis School at 6:00pm. A Q&A with Director Elizabeth Federici and Culinary Institute Chef Instructor Thor Erickson will follow the screening.
Join us for a celebration — with food and film — of James Beard, the eccentric and brilliant Oregon native who recognized the importance of locally sourced food long before that concept was part of our culinary consciousness. He also simply loved to eat and shared his passion by hosting the first television cooking show (1946), writing 22 cookbooks and countless magazine articles, and running an acclaimed cooking school in his townhouse in New York City.
Culinary Reception: Elevation Restaurant at COCC | 4-5:30 pm
Film: McMenamins Old St. Francis School Theater | 6 pm (doors at 5 pm) **Seats will be reserved for ticket holders attending the reception.
Trailer: https://vimeo.com/
In Case You Missed It | Big Sonia
“In Case You Missed It…”, a staple of BendFilm’s Year-Round Programming, is presenting Award Winning documentary BIG SONIA. An astonishing story of a 91-yr-old seamstress who is determined to share the horrific experiences of her internment in concentration camps in order to inspire compassion in her community. Her spirit is indomitable as she commutes daily to her tailor’s shop wearing bright red lipstick in a leopard print lined car. This is a Holocaust survivor film unlike any you’ve seen, told with love by a filmmaker who does not hesitate to include the quirky and humorous sides of her grandmother. The film has been a hit around the country and gets an Audience Score of 99% on the Tomato Meter.
Event Details
Where: McMenamins Old St. Francis School
When: Monday, January 11th @5:30 pm (doors open 4:30 pm)
Tickets: $12 general admission. Available online.
Trailer: Big Sonia
BendFilm Announces Short and Feature Film Awards for the 2017 BendFilm Festival
14 Films Received Awards including Liyana which won $5,000 for Best of Show and also won the Audience Award
Bend, Oregon – BendFilm announced today the 14 films and filmmakers awarded the jury-recognized and the audience-voted prizes at the 2017 BendFilm Festival. Awards were selected by a jury of industry professionals as well as the 8,000 attendees of the BendFilm Festival.
Todd Looby, Director of BendFilm said, “I want to thank everyone who came to contribute to the creative culture of the 14th annual BendFilm Festival. The filmmakers, jurors, panelists, bands, volunteers, technical producers and of course the audiences, everyone added a special mark to an incredible event. I know the conversations sparked by these films will live on well past these 4 days.”
Erik Jambor, Festival Programmer for BendFilm said, “This year’s Festival was one of BendFilm’s funniest, deepest, most adventurous and most heartfelt programs to date. Though the awards could only go to a few, we are honored to have been able to screen and share all 105 with the our festival audience. Through dialogue and sharing stories together we strengthen our sense of community locally and around the world.”
Jurors for the Festival include: Danielle DiGiacomo, Vice President of Acquisitions at The Orchard; Don Lewis, Editor of Hammer to Nail, Erin Maddox, producer (Neptune) and festival programmer; Peter Gilbert, producer/cinematographer (Hoop Dreams, Prefontaine); Ian McCluskey, director (Voyagers without Trace); Amy Nicholson, director (Muskrat Lovely); Selin Sevinc, scriptwriter (MagicOfStory.com); Ted Speaker, producer (Humpday); and Paul Sturtz, Co-Founder/Co-Director of the True/False Festival.
The 2017 BendFilm Festival Jury Award recipients are:
Best of Show ($5,000) – (Presented by Brooks Resources since 2004)
Liyana – 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.
Best Director ($500) – (Made possible by Independent WOMEN for Independent Film)
Bomb City – 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.”
Best Cinematography
Relationtrip – 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.
Best Narrative Feature ($1,000) – (Made Possible by Jay and Sheila Luber)
Mr. Roosevelt – 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.
Best Documentary Feature ($1,000) – (Made Possible by JL Ward Co. and Business for BendFilm)
Forever ‘B’ – 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.
Special Documentary Jury Award for Most Lovable Character
Big Sonia – 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.
Special Short Film Jury Award
A Shepherd – 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.”
Special Short Film Jury Award
Homegrown – directed by Quentin Hamberham
Francis learns that what is right for himself may not be best for his son.
Special Short Film Jury Award
Mixtape Marauders – directed by Peter Edlund
Two young burnouts live in a world of mindless day jobs, petty drug deals, and wildly unconventional musical tastes.
Best Student Short ($500) – (Made possible since 2005 by Dan Wieden and Priscilla Bernard Wieden on behalf of Caldera Arts)
How Far She Went – 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.
Best Documentary Short ($500) – (Made possible by Independent WOMEN for Independent Film)
The Last Honey Hunter – 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.
Best Animated Short ($500) – (Made possible by Independent WOMEN for Independent Film)
Pittari – 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.”
Best Narrative Short ($500) – (Made possible by Independent WOMEN for Independent Film)
Emergency – 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.”
Best of the Northwest Short ($500) – (Made possible by Business for BendFilm)
Running Eagle – 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.
The 2017 BendFilm Katie Merritt Audience Award winner is:
Liyana – 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.
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The Bend Film Festival is supported in part by a grant from the Bend Cultural Tourism Fund, Oregon Arts Commission, the Roundhouse Foundation, and the Oregon Cultural Trust
About BendFilm:
BendFilm hosts an annual independent film festival as well as year-round film exhibitions and programs. 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 14th 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, Tin Pan Theater, The Volcanic Theater, The Old Stone Performing Arts Center and the historic Tower Theatre. Make plans now to attend October 12-15, 2017, 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 www.bendfilm.org. Connect with BendFilm on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Virtual Reality Lounge at the 2017 BendFilm Festival
- With the Programming Power of Impossible Engine, BendFilm Brings Audiences the Future (and Present) of Storytelling
- Lounge is FREE and Open to Anyone on Friday Oct. 13 and Saturday Oct. 14 from Noon – 4 PM
Bend, Oregon – BendFilm announced today the first round of virtual reality projects that will be offered during the 2017 BendFilm Festival. Audiences can experience life as a 3-Michelin-Starred chef, explore Oregon’s Volcanic wonders, see a 19th-century Oregon mining town and so much more. There will be a few program additions for audiences to discover when the VR lounge opens on Friday.
The BendFilm Virtual Reality Lounge is located at the Impossible Engine office (15 NW Franklin Avenue) and is free for anyone to experience. The hours of operation are Friday October 13th and Saturday October 14th from Noon – 4:00 PM.
Todd Looby, Director of BendFilm, said, “Storytelling is at the heart of how we process current events and imagine possible futures. With virtual reality we are allowing audiences to experience a new and exciting form of storytelling that just might stretch your imagination.”
Scott Oliphant, Owner and Creative Director of Impossible Engine said, “Our lineup of videos reflects a broad swath of what’s new in Virtual Reality today. From live action to animated, interactive to experiential, these videos showcase some of the greatest strengths and most exciting features offered by a new, groundbreaking technology. VR puts viewers inside the story for an immersive and intimate experience unmatched by traditional media. The connections are deeper, the experiences more impactful, as viewers live each story as it unfolds.”
The 2017 BendFilm Festival Virtual Reality Line Up:
BeefeaterXO
Directed by Future Light House
BeefeaterXO is an interactive experience inside the creative mind of the 3-Michelin-starred chef DABIZ MUÑOZ, where we’ll travel through 4 different cities in order to find the secrets behind the most avant-garde cocktails ever made.
Deschutes Black Butte Porter
Directed by Impossible Engine
Part of a VR film series for Deschutes Brewery here in Bend, join the team on a hike to the top of Black Butte in celebration of one of their most popular beers, Black Butte Porter. Stunning views from the summit will make you feel like you’re there.
In The Pines
Directed by Impossible Engine
An in-house animated VR production from Impossible Engine — meet Louise, a little girl in a 19th-century Oregon mining town. Things get a bit spooky after she starts drawing some strange pictures.
Directed by Studio BDH
Magritte VR is an official celebration of the life of one of the world’s greatest artists, René Magritte. Made to mark a half-century since his death, Magritte VR is the centerpiece of the Magritte Experience in the glamorous Belgian beach resort of Knokke-Heist.This breath-taking 360° virtual reality production is a shared experience for a large audience. 50 headsets are triggered simultaneously, using 3D binaural sound, adding another dimension. The VR film is presented in a giant bowler hat in a specially constructed VR cinema on the beach.
Melita
Directed by Future Light House
Melita is a human journey to find a new home, but also an inner journey to find out what does it mean to be human. In 2026, the world is collapsing due to climate change. Anaaya, an Inuit brilliant female scientist, is appointed to find a planet that humans can inhabit.
Melita, an advanced AI, is sent to help her on the task. Together, they will embark on a journey against time and preconceptions to save humanity from extinction.
Ray
Directed by Future Light House
Ray is modern fairytale about Lucy, a young girl with mighty dreams, and a nosy beam of light called Ray who comes to play with her. One night, Lucy wakes up to a strange light creature called Ray. While trying to understand each other through a whimsical dance of light, they find themselves trapped in a dilemma of trust. Should she keep Ray forever?
Snatch VR
Directed by Future Light House
Inspired by a real life heist in London, Crackle’s new series “Snatch” centers on a group of twenty-something, up-and-coming hustlers who are suddenly thrust into the high-stakes world of organized crime.
Be part of the great diamond heist with Charlie (Rupert Grint), Albert (Luke Pasqualino), Billy (Lucien Laviscount) and Lotti (Phoebe Dynevor) while they attempt to crack the safe before Sonny’s goons arrive.
Volcanic Monument Series
Directed by Impossible Engine
Experience the Newberry National Volcanic Monument as part of this ongoing VR series for the U.S. Forest Service. Stand inside a lava tube at Lava River Cave, explore Paulina Falls and the many other volcanic wonders of this amazing park.
Directed by Studio BDH
An interactive virtual reality experience inside the womb, voiced by the brilliant Samantha Morton (Academy Award nominee). Made for Oculus Rift and Gear VR and will be on their app stores in September. Users are immersed inside the womb, journeying through stories about the development of the senses; touch, taste, smell, sound and sight. You can interact with a realistic 35 week old foetus, getting reactions by tickle its feet, playing sounds in the womb and release smells into the amniotic fluid. At 35 weeks you can smell what your mother can smell, taste what your mother tastes and develop an individual like for music.
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The Bend Film Festival is supported in part by a grant from the Bend Cultural Tourism Fund, Oregon Arts Commission, the Roundhouse Foundation, and the Oregon Cultural Trust
About BendFilm:
BendFilm hosts an annual independent film festival as well as year-round film exhibitions and programs. 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 14th 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, Tin Pan Theater, The Volcanic Theater, The Old Stone Performing Arts Center and the historic Tower Theatre. Make plans now to attend October 12-15, 2017, 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 www.bendfilm.org. Connect with BendFilm on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About Impossible Engine
Talking robot? Fire-breathing monster? Virtual Reality? No problem. Since firing up our engines in 2010, our Bend and Austin-based team of writers, designers and animators have been busy creating animated, live-action and VR films for a wide range of companies — from tech giants like Dell, Motorola, and Twitter, to local craft beer icon Deschutes Brewery.
Legendary Producer and Cinematographer Peter Gilbert Selected to Lead ‘First Features’ Panel at the 2017 BendFilm Festival
- First Features Program Established to Continue BendFilm’s Efforts To Discover and Support New Filmmaking Talent
- Festival to Host a 20th anniversary Screening of ‘Prefontaine’ and Post-Film Discussion
Bend, OR – BendFilm announced today that producer and cinematographer Peter Gilbert (Hoop Dreams, Prefontaine) will moderate the second annual First Features panel on Saturday October 14, designed to pair an established filmmaker with emerging talent breaking into the business. Moderated by Peter Gilbert (Hoop Dreams, Prefontaine), panelists include first-time featured directors Jamie Brooks (Bomb City), Kate Brooks (The Last Animals), Josh Crockett (Dr. Brink & Dr. Brinks), and Jen Heck (The Promised Band). Gilbert will cover issues specific to his filmmaking journey as well as industry-wide issues emerging filmmakers may face today. To complement the highly anticipated panel, BendFilm Festival organizers will also host a 20th anniversary screening of Prefontaine and a post film discussion.
Todd Looby, Executive Director of BendFilm, said, “Hoop Dreams made an indelible mark on the independent film community and we are honored to hear from Peter Gilbert about his journey from producing his first film to his highly anticipated narrative Prefontaine. The accompanying panel is not just for filmmakers, it will also be an illuminating conversation for any film lover who wants to make a film, but doesn’t know where to start.”
Peter Gilbert and Steve James rocketed to acclaim with the Sundance premiere of a genre-defining documentary, Hoop Dreams in 1994. In 1996, they were presented with an opportunity to make another sports-centric film. This time in the narrative world. They jumped at the chance, but knew it was a big gamble. The film they rolled the dice on was Prefontaine (1997) which cast Jared Leto in his first major feature film lead role as Oregon’s favorite running son, Steve Prefontaine. Upon its release, the film received a big “Two Thumbs Up” endorsement from Siskel and Ebert and enjoyed widespread critical recognition. The only hiccup was that there was another Steve Prefontaine film, Without Limits, scheduled to be released at virtually the same time. That film was helmed by Chinatown scribe Robert Towne and starred Billy Crudup–whose career was fast on the rise. 20 years later, both Duck fans and cinephiles alike still argue about which film is better. Peter will settle this argument at the Prefontaine screening.
About the ‘First Features’ Panel:
First Features, Then What?
Saturday, October 14, 2017 12:45 PM
McMenamins
NON-TICKETED EVENT
PanelView all events tagged “Panel”
Taking that big leap into the great unknown world of feature filmmaking is an incredibly difficult step. Even some our most cherished directors often failed miserably in their first attempt. The filmmakers on this panel somehow got it right in their first try. Join us to hear how these filmmakers assembled the courage and resources to make their first features and their plans for making a career in film.
Moderated by: Peter Gilbert (Hoop Dreams, Prefontaine); panelists include: Jamie Brooks (Bomb City), Kate Brooks (The Last Animals), Josh Crockett (Dr. Brink & Dr. Brinks), and Jen Heck (The Promised Band)
Screening of Prefontaine at 2:45 PM, Sat. 10/14 @ The Tower:
Directed by Steve James
Produced by Peter Gilbert
Starring: Jared Leto, R. Lee Ermey, Ed O’Neill, Lindsay Crouse, and Laurel Holloman
106 min. | 1997
$11 in advance / $10 at the door
Prefontaine opens in the 1960s, with Steve (Jared Leto) as a kid whose short stature and “bad hand-eye coordination’’ make him the most hapless player on the football team. Determined to be good at something, he turns to track and uses sheer determination to win. Soon he’s being scouted by the legendary Oregon coach Bill Bowerman (R. Lee Ermey), who manufactures track shoes in his garage, using his wife’s waffle iron to mold the rubber treads. Bowerman goes on to co-found Nike, and Pre goes on to hold almost every American record at the longer distances. – Roger Ebert.
About BendFilm’s First Features program:
The BendFilm Festival discovers and supports new filmmaking talent. BendFilm programs several feature films each year by first-time filmmakers who display mature and original filmmaking technique and ability. These filmmakers are navigating a very crowded field of new and experienced filmmakers. They now have a much harder time establishing filmmaking careers in comparison to the celebrated independent filmmakers who came to prominence before the digital age. BendFilm brings in established independent filmmakers to share their experience to help mentor emerging filmmakers breaking into the industry. The inaugural event brought in iconic filmmakers Maggie Renzi and John Sayles.
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The Bend Film Festival is supported in part by a grant from the Bend Cultural Tourism Fund, Oregon Arts Commission, the Roundhouse Foundation, and the Oregon Cultural Trust
About BendFilm:
BendFilm hosts an annual independent film festival as well as year-round film exhibitions and programs. 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 14th 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, Tin Pan Theater, The Volcanic Theater, The Old Stone Performing Arts Center and the historic Tower Theatre. Make plans now to attend October 12-15, 2017, 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 www.bendfilm.org. Connect with BendFilm on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Save your stubs! Discounts in Downtown Bend
Bend, Oregon is known for many things like beer, outdoor adventure, culture, good food, beer and more. Did we say beer? But one of the best surprises Bend offers is just how friendly the town is to locals and visitors alike. Let us show you just how awesome our downtown businesses are with a few handy discounts you can take advantage of with a BendFilm ticket or pass from October 12 – 15. We will add more in the coming week. Happy browsing:
Outside In (845 NW Wall St.):
Kick off you’re Bend Film experience with a complimentary Happy Hour at Outside In from 4:30-6 on Thursday, October 12th. Come browse the store and enjoy a complimentary beer or wine before the opening night film starts! (exclusively for BendFilm ticket holders)
Dudley’s Bookshop Cafe (135 NW Minnesota Ave):
Flash your pass or ticket stub and get:
$1 off all espresso drinks
10% off all books
Oregon Bath and Body (1019 NW Wall St):
Show your ticket stuff or pass and get:
10% off purchases of anything in the store!
Jeffrey Murray Photography (118 NW Minnesota Ave.)
Offering 10% off select items during BendFilm Festival weekend.
BendFilm Announces Jurors for the 2017 BendFilm Festival
Nine Artists, Journalists and Industry Executives Were Summoned For Jury Duty To Give Out $10,500 in Prizes Throughout the BendFilm Festival
Bend, Oregon – BendFilm announced today the nine members of the 2017 jury who will award $10,500 in cash, including $5,000 cash for “Best of Show.” In addition to awarding prizes, many jurors will also share their knowledge during panels and moderate post screening discussions with filmmakers. BendFilm is thrilled to welcome back several jury members for a second year or usher in familiar faces who have screened in the Festival to now stay involved in a new way.
The 14th Annual BendFilm Festival will take place October 12-15 and tickets are on sale now. In competition for this year’s cash prizes are 10 Narrative Features, 10 Documentary Features and 68 Shorts. For a full lineup of films and jury bios visit: bendfilm.org.
Narrative Features Jury
Danielle DiGiacomo is VP of Acquisitions at The Orchard, overseeing the acquisition of independent films for distribution across cinemas and digital platforms worldwide. Some of her acquisitions include 2015 Oscar-nominee Cartel Land and Sundance 2017 Grand Jury winner Dina. She is responsible for the company’s pre-buys / financing of films, such as the upcoming documentary 11/8/16 and the comedy Under the Eiffel Tower, and oversees the acquisition of 5 to 6 non-theatrical films a month.
Don Lewis is the Editor of Hammer to Nail and was previously Managing Editor at Film Threat. His short documentary films Stringers and Drag King have played numerous film festivals, as has his documentary feature on the World’s Ugliest Dog Contest, Worst in Show. Don lives in Northern California where he holds a Masters Degree in Cinema Studies from San Francisco State.
Erin Maddox earned her first feature film credit as a producer on Neptune (BendFilm 2016), and puts her passion for film to work as a programmer for a number of film festivals. By day Erin is an Independent Producer based in the mid-west. By night, she loves bowling & travel; after BendFilm, you’ll find her aboard the Empire Builder enjoying 50 glorious hours across the northern US.
Documentary Features Jury
Peter Gilbert is a director, producer and cinematographer best known as one of the filmmakers of the groundbreaking documentary Hoop Dreams. Other notable works include: Brother Number One, and At the Death House Door and Prefontaine. Recently, Peter has produced films by acclaimed indie filmmakers Joe Swanberg, Alex Ross Perry and Zach Clark while also being a Professor of Practice at Wake Forest’s Documentary Film Program. This is his second year on the BendFilm jury.
Ian McCluskey is a documentary filmmaker and four-time Bendfilm Festival alum, most recently with Voyagers without Trace (BendFilm 2016). Currently, Ian travels to remote areas of Oregon to gather stories for Oregon Public Broadcasting. Before that, he founded and ran NW Documentary, an arts non-profit in Portland that teaches others to craft their own stories. His work, which also includes the documentary feature Eloquent Nude (BendFilm 2007), has appeared in international film festivals, art centers, and museums.
Amy Nicholson is a filmmaker and commercial director. Her documentaries, including Muskrat Lovely, Zipper, and Pickle (BendFilm 2016), have garnered many awards. Amy has been lucky enough to be broadcast on PBS multiple times and somehow managed to wrangle several theatrical runs. She counts dog groomers, muskrat skinners, and grizzled carnies as some of her closest friends. Amy is currently working on a short film about garden statuary and a longer project featuring the denizens of a waterfront trailer park.
Short Film Jury
Selin Sevinc is a screenwriter and script consultant at her own magicofstory.com. A member of The International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) and a Berlinale Talents Screenwriters alumna since 2009, she participated in international film festivals (including Cannes and Berlin) as a film critic and served as a jury member at national film festivals and a nationwide screenwriting contest in Turkey. She holds two degrees in Film and TV Production, writes film articles and blogs about the craft of screenwriting.
Ted Speaker is a film producer, sometimes editor, sometimes composer. He spent his indie film salad days as an associate producer on Lynn Shelton’s Humpday and co-producer on Dusty Bias’ Prairie Love. Ted produced Alison Bagnall’s Funny Bunny and Dusty Bias’ The Great and the Small (BendFilm 2016). Last year, he produced Josh Crockett’s Dr. Brinks & Dr. Brinks (BendFilm 2017). Most recently, Ted co-produced Daniel Scheinert’s (Swiss Army Man) newest feature from A24 Films, currently in post-production.
Paul Sturtz co-founded the Ragtag Film Society with David Wilson in 1998, and since 2000 has worked as the head programmer at Ragtag Cinema. With David Wilson, he co-founded the True/False Film Festival in 2004 and has served as its co-director since. His short documentary “Dear Valued Guests” premiered in 2013. Paul was selected along with David as one of 40 “visionaries that are changing the course of film” in the inaugural “Indiewire Influencers” list.
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The Bend Film Festival is supported in part by a grant from the Bend Cultural Tourism Fund, Oregon Arts Commission, the Roundhouse Foundation, and the Oregon Cultural Trust
About BendFilm:
BendFilm hosts an annual independent film festival as well as year-round film exhibitions and programs. 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 14th 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, Tin Pan Theater, The Volcanic Theater, The Old Stone Performing Arts Center and the historic Tower Theatre. Make plans now to attend October 12-15, 2017, 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 www.bendfilm.org. Connect with BendFilm on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Short Films Selected for the 14th Annual BendFilm Festival
Bend, OR – BendFilm is pleased to round out a robust feature film lineup with the 68 short films selected to screen at the 2017 BendFilm Festival running October 12 – 15, 2017.
Erik Jambor, BendFilm Festival Programmer, said, “Short films are bold stories told in a brief timeline that dares the audience not to blink. Short film programs are great ways to audiences to be exposed to a wide variety of stories, artists and styles.”
Shorts Block One: Narratives
The Boy by the Sea (directed by Vasily Chuprina / 7 min. / Netherlands) – The story of an unlikely friendship between a young boy and an old lighthouse keeper.
So Much Yellow (directed by Erica Milsom / 10 min.) – A sister’s perspective on the day she lost her little brother, Bruce, who has Down syndrome.
Fireflies (directed by Raouf Zaki / 16 min.) – As a withdrawn Middle Eastern man begins frequenting a café, the headwaiter grows increasingly suspicious about the true nature of his visits.
Unbound (directed by Maggie Mahrt / 13 min.) – In turn-of-the-century Japan, a young girl sacrifices her freedom to save her ailing father. She soon becomes entangled in an unexpected metamorphosis.
Real Artists (directed by Cameo Wood / 12 min.) – Sophia Baker just scored her dream interview at a world-famous animation studio. But she soon learns all is not as she expected behind the curtain.
Leo Johnson (directed by Evan Bluestein / 20 min. / American Film Institute) – A couple joins their friend to steal an engagement ring from his ex-fiancée’s house.
Shorts Block Two: Narratives
Acid Test (directed by Jennifer Waldo / 14 min.) – When Jenny tells her parents she’s tripping on acid, the hallucinogenic parental meltdown unravels the family dynamic as she discovers the power of rebellion.
Game (directed by Jeannie Donohoe / 15 min.) – A new kid in town tests the limits at the high school basketball tryouts.
How Far She Went (directed by Ugla Hauksdottir / 13 min. / Columbia University) – An unflinching look at family, personal sacrifice, and the lengths we will go for those we love.
A Whole World for a Little World (directed by Fabrice Bracq / 15 min.) – A woman tells her baby a great story.
Mrs. Drake (directed by Caitlin FitzGerald / 15 min.) – Overworked and overstressed, Laura is a single mother struggling to maintain her equilibrium while raising her frequently difficult son.
Panic Attack! (directed by Eileen O’Meara / 3 min.) – A hand-drawn animation that explores anxiety, obsession, and one woman’s slippery hold on reality.
Shorts Block Three: Northwest Wonders
Above the Fray (directed by Graham Zimmerman / 7 min.) – The story of Beth Rodden, one of the greatest climbers in history, beginning with her terrifying expedition to Kyrgyzstan.
At What Price (directed by Tommy Day / 12 min.) – Professional adventure and climbing photographer John Price explores the myth of ‘the perfect life’ that’s so pervasive in social media.
Haskell (directed by James Allen Smith / 11 min.) – Three moments in the life of Haskell Carlston, who was born with the ability to manipulate time.
Iron (directed by L. Gabriel Gonda / 17 min.) – A young woman joins the labor force working on the railroad during WWI.
Mixtape Marauders (directed by Peter Edlund / 17 min.) – Two young burnouts live in a world of mindless day jobs, petty drug deals, and wildly unconventional musical tastes.
North & Nowhere (directed by Scott Ballard / 12 min.) – A girl, a gun, and a last chance.
Portlandia Squirrels (directed by Rob Shaw / 4 min.) – Three rats try to figure out what makes humans treat their cousins, the squirrels, so nice while they get the short end of the stick. Featuring the voices of Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein.
Sticker Shock (directed by Taylor Morden, Popmotion Pictures / 3 min.) – Jury award-winner of BendFilm and Scalehouse’s 72-Hour Filmmaker Scramble.
Shorts Block Four: Documentary
Invading Giants (directed by Kevin Fraser / 12 min.) – Every year residents of Newfoundland and Labrador look to the north with baited breath hoping the Atlantic Ocean will deliver to them a parade of ancient icebergs.
The Last Honey Hunter (directed by Ben Knight / 30 min.) – 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.
Slacker (directed by Max Lowe / 9 min.) – Slacklining to many is a mystery, a line where impossible and possible collide. For Terry Acomb it’s simply a way of life.
The Strongest I’ll Ever Be (directed by Phil Ebiner / 15 min.) – After being handed a heartbreaking diagnosis of ALS, award-winning photographer Anthony Carbajal confronts the disease that robs him of his abilities and his future.
Water Town (directed by Maya Craig / 24 min. / University of California, Berkeley) – The current and three former mayors of Weed, California fight to win back the spring water they believe the corporations are stealing from them.
Shorts Block Five: Family
All I Want (directed by Venika Mitra / 7 min. / India) – A street urchin’s single minded and unwavering pursuit to buy one mango.
Dempsey the Diabetic Superhero (directed by Kendall Goldberg / 13 min. / Chapman University) – Meet Dempsey Foxson, a spunky, 10-year-old competitive gymnast who refuses to let her Type 1 Diabetes affect her dreams.
Doctor B (directed by David Chen / 8 min.) – Professional yo-yoer Jonathan Best (AKA Doctor B) returns to one of the largest yo-yo championships in America.
Homegrown (directed by Quentin Haberham / 9 min. / National Film and Television School, UK) – Francis learns that what is right for himself may not be best for his son.
Just, Go! (directed by Pavel Gumennikov / 11 min. / Latvia) – A young man who lost both legs in a childhood accident comes to the rescue of the girl next door.
New Toy (directed by Rogerio Boechat / 7 min. / Brazil) – A baby gets a new toy bear from his mom.
Scrap Dolls (directed by Aude Cuenod / 13 min.) – An 11-year-old boy, grieving over the loss of his best friend, encounters an artist who makes art out of abandoned objects.
Wishing Box (directed by Wenli Zhang & Nan Li / 6 min.) – After years of sailing, pirate Derek and his monkey have found a magic treasure chest.
Shorts Block Six: Late Night
Don’t Ever Change (directed by Don Swaynos / 10 min.) – A reunion between a woman and her estranged daughter is interrupted by a stranger with an unusual request.
Evocation of a Nightmare (directed by Wally Chung / 2 min.) –
Entering what seems to be a deserted building, a man explores and finds an unwanted guest.
Home Education (directed by Andrea Niada / 25 min. / London Film School, UK) – An inquisitive girl is convinced by her mother that her dead dad will resurrect if they show how much they miss him.
Jouska (directed by Wynter Rhys / 6 min.) – A man’s hypothetical conversation that he plays out compulsively in his guilty mind.
Meanwhile in Space (directed by Cameron Burr & Donald Ian Black / 2 min.) – A dramatic moment on an intergalactic freighter.
Second to None (directed by Vincent Gallagher / 7 min. / Ireland) – Frederick Butterfield has always been runner up to his twin brother Herman.
Shy Guys (directed by Fredric Lehne / 8 min.) – Two strangers confront one of the most insidious scourges afflicting mankind while standing at public urinals with their willies out.
Unexpected Company (directed by Kerry Vaughn Miller / 17 min.) – An unexpected visit exposes a dark secret two reclusive sisters are trying to hide.
Shorts Screening With Features
After the Smoke (directed by Nick Waterman / 9 min.) – A town gathers for the local rodeo in a remote outback mining station.
Screens with The Scent of Rain & Lightning
Alison (directed by David Lester / 13 min. / Canada) – A dysfunctional night with his girlfriend challenges Jay to evaluate whether the rewards of intimacy and commitment are worth it.
Screens with Dr. Brinks & Dr. Brinks
Buttercup (directed by Megan Brotherton / 12 min.) – As Maggie struggles with her mother’s death, a surprise visitor helps her find joy again.
Screens with For Now
The Collection (directed by Adam Roffman / 11 min.) – Two friends stumble upon the holy grail of movie memorabilia in the most unlikely of places.
Screens with Perfect Bid: The Contestant Who Knew Too Much
Cop Dog (directed by Bill Plympton / 6 min.) – A plucky guard dog has a new job patrolling our airports sniffing for illegal drugs.
Screens with Revengeance
Dancing in Limbo (directed by Amanda Larsh, Hannah Bradford, Caroline Roffe & Nick McDonald / 14 min. / Chapman University) – When dance becomes the only way to express yourself and forget your troubles as a refugee, true passion emerges.
Screens with Liyana
The Day Before (directed by Geoff Marslett / 15 min.) – The losses are literal when a pre-wedding hunting trip in the Colorado mountains spins out of control.
Screens with Infinity Baby
Dress in Black (directed by Daniel Daly / 10 min.) – Hoping to come to terms with why she is unable to get out of bed, Olivia explores her memories and imagination.
Screens with The Sounding
Dressed (directed by Sydney O’Haire / 7 min. / DePaul University) – After her engagement collapses, Mags’ mourning is interrupted by her little sister, recently out and seeking her support at a Pride protest.
Screens with The Promised Band
Election Night (directed by Ryan Scafuro / 8 min. / UK) – An international crowd gathers until the early morning to watch the US election at a pub in London.
Screens with The Misogynists
Emergency (directed by Carey Williams / 11 min.) – Faced with an emergency, a group of young Black and Latino friends carefully weigh the pros and cons of calling the police.
Screens with Bomb City
Finding Balance (directed by Luke Seile, Paul Williams & Matt Katsolis / 5 min.) – Artist Adam Haynes finds inspiration and life balance outside.
Screens with 42 Grams
The Full Story (directed by Daisy Jacobs & Chris Wilder / 8 min. / UK) – Toby is selling his childhood home. Walking through the empty rooms, he is assailed by memories of happiness unravelling and the helplessness of being a child. Why do close ties break and loved ones leave? Can we ever know the full story?
Screens with Forever ‘B’
Make Them Believe (directed by Taimi Arvidson / 14 min. / Russia) – A Russian wrestler enchanted by the United States plays the ultimate villain as the stars and stripes-clad character “American Hope” in Moscow’s underground wrestling ring.
Screens with The Road Movie
My Treasure (directed by Michael Flores / 20 min. / El Salvador) – A cleaning woman steals a Salvadoran Civil War map and hunts for treasure in the hope of reuniting with her son.
Screens with Blank 13
Now (directed Otávio Lima & Mickael Couturier / 9 min. / Brazil) – A poetic meditation on the physical and mental journey of climber Lucas Lima as he tests his determination on a difficult ascent.
Screens with The Tenth Step
Pittari (directed by Patrick Smith / 4 min.) – A horned creature’s destructive rampage is halted by a stubborn adversary.
Screens with All the Rage
Rekindled (directed by Erin Brown / 13 min.) – After a string of failed relationships, a successful career woman gets the chance to rekindle a romance with the love of her life.
Screens with The Relationtrip
Richie’s (directed by Gaspard Nemec / 11 min.) – After opening its doors in the mid-90’s, Richie’s gym became a safe haven where people found refuge from the drug riddled, violent streets. Now in the midst of a rapidly gentrifying neighborhood, it’s fighting to survive.
Screens with The Cage Fighter
Ride Share (directed by Leo Gilbert / 19 min.) – A stressed out millennial is forced to take a long ride share to visit her father.
Screens with Your Ride is Here
Running Eagle (directed by Konrad Tho Fiedler / 13 min.) – An American Indian girl escapes from captivity in the oil fields of North Dakota and hitchhikes back to her home in Blackfeet country, Montana.
Screens with Walking Out
A Shepherd (directed by Vern Moen / 10 min.) – A young shepherd in Oregon’s Willamette Valley struggles with the life and death circle of his ancient job in a modern era.
Screens with No Man’s Land
Side Effects May Include (directed by Emily Laue / 9 min. / Stony Brook University) – A voice actor gets a lucrative new job voicing pharmaceutical commercials.
Screens with Mr. Roosevelt
Stars (directed by Han Zhang / 5 min. / Academy of Art University) – Grandpa and grandson sell stars in a town near the shore. One night they run out of the stars.
Screens with Dealt
Temporary (directed by Milena Govich / 12 min.) – A compassionate veterinarian works as an in-home euthanasia specialist for dying pets.
Screens with Dog’s Best Friend
Wave (directed by Benjamin Cleary & TJ O’Grady Peyton / 14 min. / Ireland) – A man wakes from a coma speaking a fully formed but unrecognizable language, baffling linguistic experts from around the globe.
Screens with Mustang Island
We Go On (directed by Matteo Servente / 13 min.) – The conversations of two old gents in hospice care ricochet around like a shootout in a fantasy factory as they both relish the last communication left to them.
Screens with Lucky
Spotlight, Foreign Language Films, Late Night and Local Focus Features for the 2017 BendFilm Festival
BendFilm announced today the Spotlight, Foreign Language, Late Night and Local Focus Feature Films for the 2017 BendFilm Festival. The 2017 Program Will Present 35 Feature Films From 5 Countries:
Spotlight Features:
All the Rage (Saved by Sarno)
Directed by Michael Galinsky, Suki Hawley & David Beilinson
Northwest Premiere / 94 min.
America is experiencing an epidemic of pain. One man has the answer to the problem, yet the medical establishment has ignored him. For nearly 50 years, Dr. John Sarno has been single-handedly battling the pain epidemic by focusing on the mind-body connection and the nature of stress and the manifestation of physical ailments. Using a first-person approach to explore the work of Dr. Sarno and his radical methods to treating back pain, All the Rage examines the connection between emotions and health. Through interviews with Sarno, experts, and esteemed patients including Larry David and Howard Stern and many others, the film offers a profound rethink of how we approach our health care.
Dealt
Directed by Luke Korem
Northwest Premiere / 86 min.
One of the most renowned card magicians of all time, Richard Turner astounds audiences around the world with his legendary sleight of hand. What they may not even realize — and what makes his achievements all the more amazing — is that he is completely blind. Charting Turner’s colorful life from his tumultuous childhood to the present, Dealt reveals how through determination and force of will, he overcame seemingly insurmountable obstacles to rise to the top of his profession. It’s both a tantalizing, up-close look at the secretive world of magic and a candid, awe-inspiring portrait of a man who lives beyond his limitations.
Dog Years
Directed by Adam Rifkin
Northwest Premiere / 94 min.
Vic Edwards was one of the biggest movie stars in the world, known for his mustachioed good looks and cocky swagger. With his Hollywood glory a distant memory, the now-octogenarian Vic is prompted to reassess his life with the passing of his beloved dog and the arrival of an invitation to receive a lifetime achievement award from the “International Nashville Film Festival.” Burt Reynolds stars in this universal story about growing old.
Liberation Day
Directed by Morten Traavik & Ugis Olte
West Coast Premiere / 98 min.
Under the loving but firm guidance of a longtime fan turned filmmaker and cultural diplomat, and to the surprise of a whole world, the ex-Yugoslavian cult band Laibach becomes the first rock group ever to perform in the fortress state of North Korea. Confronting strict ideology and cultural differences, the band struggles to get their songs through the needle’s eye of censorship before they can be unleashed on an audience never before exposed to alternative rock ‘n’ roll. Meanwhile, propaganda loudspeakers are being set up at the border between the two Koreas and a countdown to war is announced. The hills are alive… with the sound of music.
Lucky
Directed by John Carroll Lynch
Oregon Premiere / 88 Min.
The spiritual journey of a 90-year-old atheist and the quirky characters that inhabit his off-the-map desert town. Having outlived and outsmoked all of his contemporaries, the fiercely independent Lucky finds himself at the precipice of life, thrust into a journey of self exploration, leading towards that which is so often unattainable: enlightenment. Lucky is a love letter to the life and career of Harry Dean Stanton as well as a meditation on mortality, loneliness, spirituality, and human connection. Starring Harry Dean Stanton, David Lynch, Ed Begley Jr., and Tom Skerritt.
No Man’s Land
Directed by David Byars
Central Oregon Premiere / 81 min.
With unfettered access, director David Byars gives a detailed, on-the-ground account of the 2016 standoff between protesters occupying Oregon’s Malheur National Wildlife Refuge and federal authorities. After the leaders of this occupation put out a call to arms via social media, the Malheur occupiers quickly bolstered their numbers with a stew of right-wing militia, protestors, and onlookers.
Walking Out
Directed by Alex & Andrew Smith
Oregon Premiere / 96 min.
An estranged father and son are forced to rely on one another to survive an unforgiving wilderness in this riveting, richly emotional thriller. Once a year, fourteen-year-old David travels from his mother’s home in Texas to visit his loner father, Cal, in the remote mountains of Montana. There, the two embark on their annual hunting excursion, during which the taciturn Cal attempts to connect with his smartphone-addicted son. But when a terrifying turn of events leaves Cal critically wounded, it’s up to the teenage David to summon enough strength for both of them. Infused with a deep reverence for the rugged beauty and harsh realities of the Montana landscape, Walking Out is both a tense survival saga and a disarmingly moving father-son tale. Starring Matt Bomer, Josh Wiggins, and Bill Pullman.
Late Night Features:
The Misogynists
Directed by Onur Tukel
West Coast Premiere / 85 min.
Cameron is a lonely businessman and Trump supporter who has recently separated from his wife of 35 years. Now living on his own in a hotel room, he celebrates Election Night with his sad-sack protégé Baxter who is experiencing marital woes of his own. As the night progresses and the two men begin to sense the historic political upset that is playing out before their eyes, their beliefs, motivations and identities are challenged. Starring Dylan Baker and Jamie Block.
Revengeance
Directed by Bill Plympton & Lim Lujan
Central Oregon Premiere / 70 min.
The latest feature from Oscar-nominated animator Bill Plympton, co-created with underground animation veteran Lim Lujan, Revengeance follows a low-rent bounty hunter named Rod Rosse, “The One-Man Posse,” who gets entangled in a web of danger when he is hired by U.S. Senator Deathface to find the girl who stole a package.
Local Focus Features:
Earth Seasoned…#GapYear
Directed by Molly Kreuzman
Central Oregon Premiere / 75 min.
Diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder, Dyslexia, and short-term memory problems, Tori finds her greatest teacher in nature, spending a “gap year” living semi-primitively with four other young women in the Oregon Cascade Mountains.
Shut Up Anthony
Directed by Kyle Eaton
Central Oregon Premiere / 93 min.
Anthony talks too much. A neurotic creative grinding out a living at a Portland ad firm, he loses his girlfriend, job and dignity over the course of a few days. With nothing else to do, Anthony flees to his family’s timeshare where he encounters Tim, an estranged family friend who is also an alcoholic theology professor. The two are forced to share the space as they clash over relationships, religion, vodka and coaster etiquette. Shot on location in Bend and Sunriver.
Foreign Language Features:
Blank 13
Directed by Takumi Saitoh
West Coast Premiere / 71 min. / Japan
Koji is bewildered by a sudden phone call from his brother telling him that he has located their long-lost father. It has been thirteen years since their dad stepped out of the house, never to return. Moreover, Koji is stunned to hear that their father has cancer and been given three months to live. When the inevitable day of their father’s funeral arrives, Koji and his brother must confront both the thirteen-year blank created by his absence as well as a collection of odd acquaintances who have come to pay their last respects.
Sex, Pity and Loneliness
Directed by Lars Montag
US Premiere / 120 min. / Germany
Sex, Pity and Loneliness lets different attitudes and life expectations of urban people clash: physician Julia hires a callboy as an escort, while her ex-husband lives out his fantasies with an internet acquaintance. A retired teacher has a dark secret linking him to a teenage-girl whose little sister gets kidnapped, putting the marriage of the her parents to the test. Based on the acclaimed novel of the same name by Helmut Krausser.
The Square
Directed by Ruben Östlund
Oregon Premiere / 145 min. / Sweden
Christian is the respected curator of a contemporary art museum, a divorced but devoted father of two who drives an electric car and supports good causes. His next show is “The Square,” an installation which invites passersby to altruism, reminding them of their role as responsible fellow human beings. But sometimes it is difficult to live up to your own ideals: Christian’s foolish response to the theft of his phone drags him into shameful situations. Meanwhile, the museum’s PR agency has created an unexpected campaign for “The Square,” and the overblown response sends Christian, as well as the museum, into an existential crisis. Winner of the Palme d’Or at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival. Staring Claes Bang, Elisabeth Moss, and Dominic West.
The Road Movie
Directed by Dmitrii Kalashnikov
Northwest Premiere / 67 min. / Russia
A fascinating mosaic of asphalt adventures, landscape photography, and some of the craziest situations you’ve ever seen, The Road Movie is a stunning compilation of video footage shot exclusively via dashboard cameras in Russian automobiles. The dash-cam phenomenon permeates Russian roads so thoroughly, capturing a vivid range of spectacles through the windshield, including a comet crashing down to Earth, an epic forest fire, and no shortage of angry motorists taking road rage to wholly new and unexpected levels. All the while, accompanied by bemused commentary from unseen and often stoic drivers and passengers.