Festivities to be held at COCC’s Elevation restaurant on May 31.
Here in Central Oregon, we like local. We proudly support our local brewers, local growers, local banks and other local businesses. This year, BendFilm, our local independent film festival, celebrates its 10th anniversary, demonstrating that arts and culture are an important piece of the magic that is Bend.
“Bend has a rich blend of outdoor, culinary and arts experiences,” said Orit Schwartz, BendFilm Festival Director. “It’s an amazing draw for visitors, but it’s also a way of life for locals who want to enjoy our extraordinary active lifestyle and also experience arts and culture on an intellectual level. BendFilm adds to that balance.”
According to Schwartz, the team of BendFilm organizers and volunteers is looking for ways to build both visitor and local attendance at this year’s festival which takes place October 10 – 13.
“For our 10th anniversary, we are ramping up our visibility in some of the major cities that we think will draw film buffs and filmmakers to our amazing location,” said Schwartz. “But we’re also looking to remind Central Oregonians what it means to have and support a local film festival. Marking the 10th year is a huge accomplishment for the festival.”
BendFilm comes together each year with support from local sponsors and a large group of volunteers. This year, OPB is joining forces with BendFilm to grow the festival as well.
“It takes a village to make BendFilm happen and it’s inspiring to see our community step up to the challenge,” said Schwartz. “Filling those theaters with locals and visitors will help keep this project alive and thriving.”
While the festival is still a few months out, a number of activities are underway to get the ball rolling and build momentum. The BendFilm BASH will take place on Friday, May 31 at the COCC Cascade Culinary Institute’s Elevation Restaurant (2555 NW Village Way) from 6-10pm. The event will feature gourmet bites, champagne, beer, wine, sweets and live music by K.C. Flynn. Hosted by the BendFilm BASH team (Karen Cammack, Colleen Dougherty, Sara Hobin, Lisa Koch, Sara Murphy, Treece Tappan, Billye Turner & Kaari Vaughn), the kick-off will include the unveiling of BendFilm’s 10th Anniversary advertising campaign, created by tbd advertising, and the launch of a new line of summer and fall merchandise, procured by Deb Lane. Tickets are $50 per person and $90 per couple at www.bendfilm.org or 541-388-3378.
BendFilm is an annual independent film festival designed to support and nourish filmmakers and enrich the cultural life of Central Oregon. Celebrating its 10th year, BendFilm is proud to bring voices and visions to the Bend community from the perspective of so many human experiences and cultures and remind us of our differences, but also our similarities. BendFilm is made possible by a dedicated crew of volunteers and generous sponsors. For more information, call 541-388-3378 or www.bendfilm.org.
You can also find BendFilm on Facebook.
{jcomments on}