A short documentary about Puppeteers for Fears, an Ashland, Oregon-based theater company specializing in original puppet horror/sci-fi musical comedy. They’ve performed such shows as “Cattle Mutilation: The Musical”, “Cthulhu: The Musical”, “The Trilogy of Terror!”, and “Robopocalypse: The Musical”. They are a wholly unique theater-going experience. Part of our LOCAL Shorts 1: LOCALS ONLY Films Program <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/d8a5805175bae1e35342e38ada87b4b9.jpg" width="141">Director Ross Williams Director's Biography:Ross Williams grew up in the 1980's, deeply influenced by movies on HBO, and the scary stills he saw on the back of horror film VHS covers at the local video store. In his mid-20's he figured out he wanted to make films of his own. His first short film eRATicate, a super-8. B&amp;W horror-comedy about a pair of killer rats garnered him a few awards and some mild attention. He's been largely ignored since. But for the past two decades, he's soldiered on, writing, directing &amp; editing narrative films, documentaries, music videos, and commercials. Mostly so he can laugh at his own jokes. He also owns and operates XRATS Productions a video production company in Talent, Oregon.

Something Different: The Puppeteers For Fears Story

A short documentary about Puppeteers for Fears, an Ashland, Oregon-based theater company specializing in original puppet horror/sci-fi musical comedy.

An 18-year old musician with a complicated home life has to make the decision to take a risk and move to LA with his band or secure his future and go to Berklee College of Music. With the help of his girlfriend Sarah, he puts together his college application but complications arise with an abusive step-dad, greedy bandmates, and drug addiction. Punk is dead, and slowly killing him... Part of our Short Docs 1: LOCALS ONLY Films <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/aa7138435c6e0775c1a6d3ebb822474d.jpg" width="276">Director Hannah Lilly

White Whale

For Mindy Blair, sharing her passion for fly fishing with her kids provides wisdom on staying present and overcoming obstacles. Filmed in Southern Oregon. Part of our LOCAL Shorts 1: LOCALS ONLY Films Program <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/96a0b5ef6f6dc6e315a1e9f5b1dfb022.jpg" width="153">Director Katie Falkenberg Director's Biography:Katie Falkenberg is a Pulitzer Prize finalist photographer and an award-winning documentary filmmaker. She began her career as a photojournalist in Washington, D.C., covering the White House and other international and domestic news. In 2010 she headed West to join the Los Angeles Times where she worked as a photo and video journalist for nearly a decade. She now works as an independent filmmaker and photographer telling the stories of editorial, commercial, and non-profit clients. Her greatest passion is telling stories at the intersection of environmental conservation and outdoor adventure, and hopes that her work has the ability to raise awareness, spark interest, and create change where needed. In addition to being a Pulitzer Prize finalist in Feature Photography, she is a recipient of the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award for Domestic Photography. She has twice been named Multimedia Photographer of the Year by Pictures of the Year International (POYi), and the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA), and two of her short films have been named Official Honorees in the Webby Awards. When not working she can be found surfing, fly fishing, trail running with her pup, or working in her vegetable garden.

Life and the Art of Fly Fishing

We are what we leave behind. Part of our LOCAL Shorts 1: LOCALS ONLY Films Program <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/ac76d1bb61780816695846a294fff5b2.jpg" width="170">Director Kyle Michael Porter Director's Statement:My film is both experimental and narrative; it tells a simple story using unconventional techniques. This film was entirely self-produced - there was no crew present. All cameras were operated by me while I simultaneously performed as the actor, using remote-controlled app-enabled equipment. This elaborate "selfie" features music by the experimental art-noise band, Qvebe, of which I have been a part. It was shot on location in the Alvord Desert and surrounding areas; all on public or abandoned land. The story, tone, and visual style were all informed by these locations. The process of making the film, despite its technical challenges, was painless and seemed to "flow". My hope is that more auteur filmmakers will explore the notion of entirely self-produced works as a sub-genre of independent cinema; one that celebrates the creative autonomy that modern technology affords us in our creative endeavors and pursuit of vision.

Artifact

After engaging with the tradition of trying the Lithia Water in downtown Ashland, a student goes on a journey of discovery as they find their way home in order to take a test. Part of our LOCAL Shorts 1: LOCALS ONLY Films Program <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/02cc087480810441c872c3ffae8b4ed3.jpg" width="232">Director Martin Walder

A Lithian Tradition

An SOU Student needs to get home to the dorms to take a test, but they're trippin' on Lithia Water...

Plays as part of our LOCAL Shorts 1: LOCALS ONLY Films Program <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/c78ba187df3e575c7e5f80d560297885.jpg" width="201">Director Bruce Bayard

Black Sea

RISING captures the phoenix-like resurgence of Southern Oregon's Rogue Valley, following the devastating 2020 Almeda Fires.&nbsp;Ruiz-Sapp partnered with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, SOS SafetyNet, and a diverse group of community members throughout the region. It is currently on showcase at The Smithsonian Museums (Arts &amp; Industries Building) from Nov 2021 to Nov 2022, with the support of The Alliance for Media Arts and Culture.&nbsp; Part of our LOCAL Shorts 1: LOCALS ONLY Films Program <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/e43547642fa012989da8ce56b75fc31e.jpg" width="147">Director Mildred Ruiz-Sapp Director's Statement:"The future we dream is created by the human spirit rising in the face of adversity.When all seems lost, the government is too slow to act, fear is at every turn... we are the hope that is always in sight.In this short film, we see our communities rise in the aftermath of the Almeda Fires.Together we begin to reimagine our world and rise like a phoenix from the ashes." -- Mildred Ruiz-Sapp

Futures RISING (The Futures We Dream)

RISING captures the phoenix-like resurgence of Southern Oregon's Rogue Valley, following the devastating 2020 Almeda Fires. Ruiz-Sapp partnered with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, SOS SafetyNet, and a diverse group of community members throughout the region.

LOCAL Shorts 1:  LOCALS ONLY Films  (FREE) (followed by Q&A for LIFE & THE ART of FLY FISHING)

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AIFF2022 - Our 21st Annual Film Festival: APRIL 1 - 10, 2022

Here's what's coming up soon. Can't make it? No sweat. Many live streams will be available for on-demand viewing as well.