The irony about making movies in 2018 is that editing equipment, cameras and lighting gear are a lot easier to come by, creating the incorrect assumption that the art of filmmaking is simpler than ever. It’s actually the opposite. Regular folk without eye or talent can make movies on a whim—but instead of the world […]
bendfilm festival
Posted inCulture
Why BendFilm? As the fest nears, a word from a local film lover.
Michelle Haynes Alvarado; Owner and Director at Wahoo Films
“E arly in my career, I thought I knew everything. I was fortunate enough to work for National Geographic, land a production job at one of the best aquariums in the country, and even snagged Best of Show at the EPIC film festival. I felt ready to make my own feature documentary. Age 24, I […]
Posted inNews
2016 BendFilm Festival Winners
BendFilm has come to a close and the winners are all quite varied and wonderful. Some world class features, documentaries and shorts played this year and, with John Sayles and Maggie Renzi in attendence, it was one for the record books. Festival Director Todd Looby had this to say about the 2016 BendFilm Festival: “This […]
Posted inCulture
Picks 10/5-10/12
Thursday 6 – Sunday 9 BendFilm Festival FILM—BendFilm is back for its 13th annual festival and the event is more impressive than ever. With some of the finest narratives, shorts and documentaries of the year, combined with master filmmaker John Sayles in attendance showing two of his finest films, this is an embarrassment of riches […]
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BendFilm: Our Don’t-Miss Picks
If you’re excited for this weekend’s BendFilm Festival, I know building your schedule can be difficult. As your resident film geek, I hereby offer a schedule of the flicks I’m checking out, so you can see what interests me, what might interest you and what might just be awesome all around. Thursday, Oct. 6 5pm […]
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Limbo
John Sayles talks filmmaking
I am not adding a single ounce of hyperbole when I say that John Sayles is one of the finest filmmakers in history. He, along with life partner Maggie Renzi, a handful of my all-time favorite movies, and each one of them feels like a completely separate entity. He bounces between genres with ease, taking […]
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BendFilm: “Voyagers Without Trace”
“Voyagers Without Trace” is a gorgeous and life affirming documentary that is, on its surface, about two kayaking adventures several decades apart. Filmmaker Ian McCluskey came across a historic marker in Southwest Wyoming. It told the story of Genevieve and Bernard de Colmont and their friend, Antoine de Seynes, who, in 1938, came from France […]
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Film Events 7/28-8/5
Saving the Ocean with Carl Safina: Stories of Hope and Innovation With all the dour news about ecological collapse, it is nice to have some smart and optimistic stories. This Boston-produced series explores various locations—and provides uplifting (but guardedly so) stories about marine conservation. The program is hosted by marine biologist and writer Carl Safina—and […]
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SlingShot Boomerangs Back to Bend
Documentary about clean water captures optimism
This is a documentary that is equal parts about the main character—Dean Kamen, a prolific inventor—and about a cause—clean water. Those two elements add up to create a film that is way bigger than the sum of its parts. The film was warmly received at the recent BendFilm Festival, where we caught up with producer […]
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The Source Reviews “I Believe in Unicorns” for MyWindow
This is both a fun and sad film. There are moments when it is just magical, as a film that has unicorn in its title. It is playful and that burdensome. The story is about a young girl with a big imagination who is stuck in a tight place, taking care of her disabled mom. […]