Independent film fans are gearing up again for one of the nation’s favorite festivals, the Eleventh Annual Ashland Independent Film Festival, which runs from April 12 through April 16 in Ashland, Oregon. The five-day festival is hosted by the non-profit Southern Oregon Film Society. This year’s line-up includes more than 80 independent shorts, documentaries, and feature films by both established and emerging film directors. The final schedule of events is still under wraps and will be revealed March 12th on the Festival’s website.
Last year’s festival attracted more than 7,000 guests who took in five days of festivities including the opening ceremonies, film screenings, and “talk back” sessions with directors and actors after each film. The highlight of the festival each year is the awards ceremony, a star-studded gala held on the last day of the festival at the Ashland Armory. Like a smaller version of the Oscar’s, filmmakers are honored with juried awards, audience favorite awards, and the Lifetime Achievement Award. Previous Lifetime Award honorees have included documentarian Albert Maysles, and cinematographer Gerald Hirschfeld.
Supporting the small filmmaker
One of the main aims of the Ashland Independent Film Festival is to promote independent film-making by bringing together promising talent with the business side of the industry. Festival planners work tirelessly year-round to promote film-making in Oregon and to raise the profiles of local film-making talent in the region.
About Ashland
While small by film festival standards, the film festival is one of the premier social events each year in Ashland, a charming town of 20,000 close to the southern Oregon border. The other big event is the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, which takes place in February each year. Ashland’s funky cafes, coffee shops and clubs come alive during Festival weeks with impromptu gatherings and rendezvous’, helping emerging talent to make important connections with industry insiders.
Ticket information
Tickets to the Eleventh Annual Ashland Independent Film Festival go on sale to members of the Oregon Film Society on March 20. Ticket sales to the general public begin on March 25. General admission tickets to individual films are $12, while member passes start at $60. For more information, visit the Box Office page on the festival website.
Volunteering
While festival ticket prices are extremely reasonable, indie film fans hit hard by the recession can earn free movie passes and festival swag by volunteering to help at festival events. Volunteers are needed for multiple shifts each day of the festival in a variety of roles. The more hours you volunteer the more passes you receive. To volunteer, please submit a volunteer application on the festival website.
Getting there
Ashland is in southern Oregon, 285 miles south of Portland and 350 miles north of San Francisco. The closest airport is the Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport in Medford, Oregon, about 12 miles from Ashland. Shuttle buses are available to take visitors from the Medford Airport to downtown Ashland.
Accommodations in Ashland range from four-star hotels, to charming vacation rentals Ashland Oregon. It is best to make reservations several months in advance to make sure you get your choice of accommodation.
Information on booking your stay at the Delaunay House are right here
