In these shorts local filmmakers and characters build profound relationships with their community and nature.

Companion looks at the housing crisis through the eyes of companion animals and a local nonprofit that provides them veterinary care. Leveraging the trust and report built over the last 3 years, this documentary uses personal interviews and raw cinematography to delve deep into the lives of community members experiencing homelessness, shedding light on their unique and profound relationships with their cherished pets. Director's Bio: Jesse Locke is an award winning filmmaker from <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/da7a4c481819031608e03a02c8b60914.png" style="display: inline; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 1em 1em;" width="219">Bend, Oregon. He has made six short films and two feature length documentaries. Each of these films have been officially selected by a number of different film festivals throughout the world. Three of these films have won awards including ‘best in show’ for his documentary “Radiance of Resistance” at the Human Rights Film Festival in Belfast, Ireland. He has been providing high quality video production for local businesses in Oregon since 2012.

Companion

Stories of the unhoused, their companion animals, and the organization that is fighting to keep them together.

Raised by his grandparents on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation, Jefferson Greene heard the melody of his ancestral language in the ceremonies his grandparents hosted in the traditional longhouse outside of their home. Director's Bio: <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/7b5ea2ec9f346ce941e1e6f5af6e58b8.png" style="display: inline; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 1em 1em;" width="157">It’s rare that someone finds their passion at such a young age and follows it dogmatically, unwilling to be diverted by adolescent whims. But just like her images, Michelle stayed focused. She went to USC Cinema and landed a job at National Geographic, Monterey Bay Aquarium, and Showtime before she founded Wahoo Films in 2005.

Sounds of Warm Springs

How do we reconcile our love of outdoor adventure with the inevitability of loss in high-risk sports? In A Fine Line, Graham Zimmerman reflects on balancing his career as an award-winning professional alpinist with his marriage and work in climate advocacy. The film is composed of archival imagery from Zimmerman's expeditions and passages from his memior by the same name. Director's Bio: <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/035087cec37ee62425cbc22235c01bac.jpg" style="display: inline; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 1em 1em;" width="119">I am honored to have the opportunity to lead and empower at the intersection of mountain sports, climate, and people. As an organizer and leader, I strive to build political groundswell that empowers communities to change the world. As a Piolet d'Or winning professional alpinist, I strive to complete what was once considered impossible. As a creative, I have directed award-winning films, launched acclaimed podcasts, and written for various print publications. Above all, I believe in the power of nurturing talent to create the professionals and community leaders we need to move towards an equitable society that is in better balance with the planet on which we live.

A Fine Line

In A Fine Line, Graham Zimmerman reflects on balancing his career as an award-winning professional alpinist with his marriage and work in climate advocacy.

The film includes interviews with a group of mothers who share how cultural differences and an inherited of fear of the water contributed to their paralyzing insecurities when it comes to swimming. With the support of the Bend Parks and Recreation District (BPRD) staff and their unique swim program’s approach of teaching parents and children simultaneously, each mother gains a life-saving skill by leading by example on how to face your fears. The documentary follows Latino families in Oregon who have participated in the Bend Parks and Rec (BPRD) Family Swim Lessons in Spanish. The family swim program was created in 2018 as a collaboration between the BPRD Aquatics team and the Outreach team who focus on reaching historically underserved community members to build trust and awareness of BPRD programs and opportunities. Director's Bio: <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/a01e79e68e03c3486dd5ff06d9f82916.jpg" style="display: inline; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 1em 1em;" width="149">Felipe Santacruz is a Mexican, documentary filmmaker based in Central Oregon with a strong focus on bringing a lens to underrepresented communities and stories. His films build a bridge to the people within the nooks and crannies of our neighborhoods with humanity and empathy. He is returning to the BendFilm Festival after participating in the 2022 iteration with the NeighborImpact-produced documentary, "Spotlight."

Disrupting Patterns / Rompiendo Patrones

A group of mothers tackle their fear of water to prove to their children anything is possible.

Narpski follows two BIPOC women, Kayla (she/her) and Caroline (she/her), as they navigate being beginners in snow sports. As self proclaimed NARPs, or non-athletic regular people, they’ll set out to accomplish their goal of attempting their first black diamond. As they attempt a black diamond run, they’ll receive guidance from Mai Li (they/them), a skier and Open Slopes co-founder, and Char (she/her), a snowboarder and Open Slopes mentor. Kayla and Caroline will share a hot pot meal with the two and hear about the experiences their mentors have faced from their time on the mountain. Most importantly, they’ll discuss the topic of BIPOC joy and better understand what it means to recreate outdoors as BIPOC individuals beyond the mentality of exceptionalism. Director's Bio: <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/511eb8b9091b6490f0eba6a7748e9682.png" style="display: inline; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 1em 1em;" width="217">Caroline Weaver is a full-time Editor at Blue Chalk Media. She has worked on projects for clients such as PBS Digital, The Magnolia Network and USAToday. Caroline cares deeply about authenticity and loves to share the stories of individuals who create a better world. She has worked as an assistant editor on an environmental justice feature documentary and her student short doc about being mixed race premiered at the 2019 Austin Asian American Film Festival.

Narpski

Two amateurs attempt to learn snow sports while finding community with fellow people of color.

Dirt Pride centers queer joy and community, separating out the trauma from queer stories. It features a group of empowered queer women and gender-nonconforming people bikepacking through WA and explores the transformative power of building queer community outside. Representation matters on both sides of the lens. Dirt Pride features an all-queer cast of women and gender-nonconforming riders and was produced by an all-queer crew of women. Dirt Pride was filmed on lands originally stewarded by the Skokomish Tribe. Director's Bio:<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/9ad1cc607c4676b63a6580b72a7696be.jpg" style="display: inline; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 1em 1em;" width="152">Christina Rosetti is a queer, Cuban-American filmmaker telling visual stories through her boutique production company. Her creative focus is on queer folx taking up space in the outdoors, specifically queer amateur athletes creating joy and community in industries and environments not designed for them.

Dirt Pride

A group of queer friends bikepack through Washington, centering the power of queer joy and building community outside.

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Please note, this year there will only be select short films available in the Virtual Festival, all feature length films will be exclusively available during the In-Person Festival (Oct. 10-13th)! Explore our on-demand catalog here. And don't forget to check out what's playing at the Festival's in-person screenings (click "Back..." above).   If you are having any problems streaming, some films are 'geoblocked' to areas outside of Central Oregon. If you live in Central Oregon and are still getting geoblocked, click “Need Help?” above, scroll down to "Live Chat," and ask for access to the film. Thank you!

Join us for the 21st Annual Bend Film Festival. Screening virtually November 8th - 18th, 2024

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.