Film buffs already know that Oregon is a great place for a movie. Filmmakers have shot more than 700 films in the state, including beloved classics like “The River Wild,” “Free Willy,” “Goonies” and “Stand By Me.” You can find many of the sites on the Travel Oregon-sponsored Oregon Film Trail on a road trip, or you can cozy up inside and check out some of Oregon’s latest, most creative releases. Each fall, indie film festival season takes off at venues around the state, often in historic theaters. Screenings are often accompanied by panels and other activities highlighting featured themes like environmentalism or cultural awareness.
For Christopher Jennings, festival director at the Eastern Oregon Film Festival in La Grande, this is one of the best parts of a film festival — a chance to engage with the community and start conversations. “A festival is a curated journey where everyone gets to participate,” he says, “whether it’s at the bar after a screening or on a walk in the morning,” he says.
Want to join in the fun and discussions? Here are some of the coolest film festivals taking place in fall all over Oregon.
Film Festivals with a Sense of Place in Willamette Valley, the Coast and the Gorge
Anyone with an interest in the issues facing our planet should plan to attend the Eugene Environmental Film Festival (October), which presents a full slate of thought-provoking films, along with discussions, speakers, workshops and special events. Unique, hands-on opportunities connect the films to real-world change, from taking part in habitat restoration to recycling education and expert-led nature walks.
The fledgling Manzanita Film Festival (October) offers a platform for local filmmakers. The one-day event showcases short films capturing the spirit of the Pacific Northwest, with a bent toward those spotlighting the Oregon Coast.
Hood River’s Gorge Impact Film Festival (November) is a two-day event with films that offer a hopeful vision of the changing planet, along with panels, discussions and other free events.
Diverse Voices at Festivals in Portland’s Historic Theaters
Portland’s film calendar is packed nearly year-round, but in the fall a good place to start is with the Portland Film Festival (October), which has been screening small, indie films since 2012. Over 10 days, the festival shines a spotlight on films that might otherwise fly under the radar, with a stimulating mix of events, screenings, pop-ups and parties at a variety of locations. The primary venue is McMenamins Kennedy School. With an eye to representing diverse voices, the festival curates blocks dedicated to Indigenous filmmakers, female directors and more. Expect a range of styles from documentary to experimental films.
Likewise, the Oregon Independent Film Festival (October) screens hundreds of films by emerging and legendary directors and hosts premieres. The festival brings together the best indie films of the past year, presented in Portland and Eugene at a number of venues, including Portland’s century-old Cinema 21 and in Eugene’s iconic Art House.
Hankering for more films in Portland with a festival feel? Check out venues like the Hollywood Theatre and the Portland Art Museum’s Center for an Untold Tomorrow for carefully curated film series year-round.
Drama and Adventure in Central and Eastern Oregon
The annual BendFilm Festival (October) was named one of the Top 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World by MovieMaker magazine. Programming director Selin Sevinc says Bend is the perfect blend of outdoor fun and culture. “Audiences can see a film, grab brunch and go for a hike. It is a dense experience of all that good stuff packed together.” Look for films on Indigenous issues and those tackling social and environmental issues. The festival also hosts special guests, educational panels and happy hours at venues like Bend Brewing Company.
Getting there is half the fun when it comes to the Eastern Oregon Film Festival (October) in historic La Grande. “Our festival is off the beaten track, which in itself makes getting here an adventure,” says festival director Christopher Jennings.
Known for attracting and exposing talented filmmakers to the rugged beauty of Eastern Oregon, the festival hosts more than two dozen short films and features. Community conversation sparked by powerful storytelling extends to after-parties, live music and a related art exhibit.
The festival kicks off in 2025 with a staged reading of the upcoming feature film “Bad Day for Bigfoot” by filmmakers Zach Green and Devin O’Rourke. The duo were the first participants in the festival’s Production Development Field Trip program, scouting the region’s rustic cabins, winding forest roads and forgotten bars for scenes in their film.
Plan Ahead for Even More Film Festivals
Spring also blooms with film festivals in Oregon. Mark your calendar for April’s Portland Panorama, a new festival on a mission to amplify diverse perspectives and billing itself as a festival built by artists for artists. Three more to consider are the McMinnville Short Film Festival in February, Astoria’s Wild Coast Film Festival in March and the Ashland Independent Film Festival in April.
