News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Movie lovers will have a chance to sample this year's crop of independent films when the BendFilm festival hits Sisters October 8-10.
Sisters Movie House and two cabins at FivePine Lodge will be the venues for the screening of feature films and documentaries that made the cut for the Central Oregon film extravaganza.
For Sisters Movie House owner Lisa Clausen, the most exciting films have a local touch.
"I guess I'm most excited about some of the things that are really an Oregon feel," she said.
She cited "Calvin Marshall" as an entirely Oregon-made film that caught her eye.
In the film, Calvin Marshall is a young man pursuing his childhood dream to play professional baseball, struggling to make his junior college team. Fanatical coach Doug Little can't help but admire Calvin's dedication and gives the talent-challenged ballplayer a shot.
The film screens at Sisters Movie House at 10 a.m. on Saturday, October 9.
The early screening marks one of the features of BendFilm: it runs all weekend and all day and into the night on Saturday.
"It's a long day of film," Clausen said.
That means a feast for lovers of the medium, with a wide range of features and topics.
Clausen also noted the documentary "Ripples of Change," which depicts work near and dear to the Sisters Country. According to advance notices, the film "chronicles the ongoing stream restoration effort on Whychus Creek at the Camp Polk Meadow Preserve in Central Oregon. The film follows a new wave of community-based conservation, transforming areas that have been impacted by humans and creating healthy landscapes for fish, wildlife and our community."
"Ripples" screens Sunday, October 10, at 10 a.m.
"Every War Has Two Losers" features the life and work of poet William Stafford, a noted pacifist and Oregon poet-laureate. Stafford was the father of Sisters artist and middle school Americana Project teacher Kit Stafford.
That film screens on Sunday, October 10, at 7:30 p.m.
"I think there are some things that are kind of special and unique to this region that they've managed to program this year that I think are going to be good," Clausen said.
Of course, as with any film festival, the party action is as much fun as the films. Three Creeks Brewing Co. will host a Sisters kickoff party on Friday, October 8, from 9 to 11 p.m. with live music in the pub. They're waiving the usual $5 live-music cover charge for anyone displaying a BendFilm pass. The JZ Band, featuring local singer-songwriters Joe Leonardi and David Z, will perform as long as there are people to listen. This is a 21-and-older event.
The full weekend will see screenings of many films. For complete details and schedule, visit http://www.bendfilm.org.
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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