The Oregon Documentary Film Festival Winter 2019 Was So Much Fun!

The 5th Oregon Documentary Film Festival event took place on Saturday December 7, 2019 in Portland at the Avalon Theatre. Five hours of short Documentary Films on the Film Festival Circuit from all over the world screened for the Portland Audience. A special thanks goes out to all of the filmmakers that joined us for the awards, photos and networking mixer at the Soma Kombucha Taproom.  Most of these films, have never screened in the state of Oregon. Thank you for joining us for this Independent Documentary Film experience. Please connect with us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter and please use #OregonDocumentaryFilmFestival in your social media posts related to this event.

Oregon Documentary Film Festival Winter 2019 Award Winners

1. Best Cinematography - Belong, Directed by Dillon M. Banda (Singapore/Vietnam)
2. Best Director - How to Bend Concrete in 108 Easy Steps, Directed by Mahesh Madhav
3. Best Docuseries - DayJob: Andrea Jones-Rooy, Directed by Rob Langhammer and Felicitas Hammerstein (New York)
4. Best Editing - The Mettle Behind the Merit, Directed by John Mollison (South Dakota)
5. Best International Director - Little Bastard, Directed by Harun Hazar
6. Best International Film - Badlaav Republic, Directed by Manahar Kumar (India)
7. Best International Micro Short Film - The Venus Project, Directed by Jack Major (Canada)
8. Best Micro Short Film - 6th and San Pedro, Directed by Scott Pommier
9. Best Oregon Film - Root Shocked, Directed by Cecilia Brown
10. Best Picture - Never Give Up - Never Give Up, Directed by Jonathan Schörnig (Malta)
11. Most Original Concept - Through the Eyes of a Wrestler, Directed by John Proper

Oregon Documentary Film Festival Winter 2019 Official Selections

1. 6th and San Pedro, Directed by Scott Pommier (California/Oregon)
2. Aaron Durogati - Playing With The Invisible, Directed by Matteo Vettorel and Damiano Levati (Italy)
3. A Story About Lights, Directed by James Barahanos (Australia)
4. An Unanswered Telephone Call, Directed by Aziz Isa Elkun (United Kingdom)
5. As Easy As, Directed by Brittany V Gates (California)
6. Avido, Directed by Jud Nichols (Kenya)
7. Badlaav Republic, Directed by Manahar Kumar (India)
8. Becoming Who I Am, Directed by Mark Palansky (Oregon)
9. Belong, Directed by Dillon M. Banda (Singapore/Vietnam) - Watch This Film Now
10. Bet on Yourself, Directed by Harvey Eaton (United Kingdom)
11. Censoring Nuremberg, Directed by Tim Raycroft and David Bussan (Ohio)
12. Chalk of Champions, Directed by Jackie Omanoff (California/New York)
13. DayJob: Andrea Jones-Rooy, Directed by Rob Langhammer and Felicitas Hammerstein (New York)
14. Diversity in the Long Gray Line, Directed by Les Owen (New York)
15. Finding Normal, Directed by Barb Briggs and Jarrett Glockzin (Canada)
16. Forever a Champion, Directed by Carmen Vincent (United Kingdom)
17. How to Bend Concrete in 108 Easy Steps, Directed by Mahesh Madhav (Oregon)
18. How We See Water, Directed by Robin Starbuck (Mexico/New York)
19. Instructions for Soldiers Back from War, Directed by Jed Bell (California)
20. Ilha da Rainha, Directed by Kayla Fragman (Canada)
21. Listen To Us, Directed by Anna Mendes (Oregon)
22. Little Bastard, Directed by Harun Hazar (Germany/Belgium)
23. Masters of Camouflage, Directed by Betsy Beasley (Philippines/Indonesia/The Bahamas)
24. Millennium Willow, Directed by Fiona Yang (Chicago) - Website
25. Mirror Images, Directed by Neil Hall (United Kingdom)
26. Natura Obscura, Directed by Kelsey Quakenbush (Colorado)
27. Narco Tumbas, Directed by Jud Nichols (Mexico)
28. Nigerians Fight to Protect the World's Most Trafficked Mammal, Directed by Katie Schuler
    (Washington, D.C.)
29. Night and Day, Directed by Peter Anthony (Massachusetts)
30. Never Give Up, Directed by Jonathan Schörnig (Malta)
31. Operation International, Directed by Jeff Colhoun (Ivory Coast)
32. Our Last Crop, Directed by Michelle Alvarado (Oregon)
33. Root Shocked, Directed by Cecilia Brown (Oregon)
34. RSVP, Directed by Samantha Mitchell (Maryland)
35. Squeegee, Directed by Khalid Ali (Maryland)
36. Spinnaker Documentary, Directed by Nadine Licostie (Massachusetts)
37. The Blessing and the Curse, Directed by David Kennedy (California)
38. The Creative Process, Directed by Spencer Fochtman (Oregon)
39. The Drifter, Directed by Ian Southworth (Washington)
40. The Michelle Experience, Directed by Jason Rosenblatt (Oregon)
41. Through the Eyes of a Wrestler, Directed by John Proper (Pennsylvania)
42. The Venus Project, Directed by Jack Major (Canada)
43. The Dhow, Directed by Jud Nichols (Tanzania)
44. The Mettle Behind the Merit, Directed by John Mollison (South Dakota)
45. The Silver Boys, Directed by Jared Salazar (Guatemala)
46. The Tides That Bind, Directed by Nick Natalicchio (Pennsylvania)
47. Wheel Love, Directed by Ryan Tebbutt (Canada)
48. Where Life Begins, Directed by Katie Schuler (Washington, D.C.)
49. Wild Possibilities, Directed by Brady Holden (Oregon)
50. Yonatan's Platoon, Directed by Matan Hatsav (California)
51. Yvonne's Kitchen, Directed by Camille Howard (New York)

Oregon Documentary Film Festival Winter 2019 Award Nominations

1) Best Cinematography Award Nominations

• Nigerians Fight to Protect the World's Most Trafficked Mammal, Directed by Katie Schuler (Washington, D.C.)
• Where Life Begins, Directed by Katie Schuler (Washington, D.C.)
• Belong, Directed by Dillon M. Banda (Singapore/Vietnam)
• Masters of Camouflage, Directed by Betsy Beasley (Philippines/Indonesia/The Bahamas)
• Spinnaker Documentary, Directed by Nadine Licostie (Massachusetts)

2) Best Director

• The Michelle Experience, Directed by Jason Rosenblatt (Oregon)
• Wild Possibilities, Directed by Brady Holden (Oregon)
• How to Bend Concrete in 108 Easy Steps, Directed by Mahesh Madhav (Oregon)
• The Drifter, Directed by Ian Southworth (Washington)
• Yvonne's Kitchen, Directed by Camille Howard (New York)

3) Best Docuseries Award Winner

• DayJob: Andrea Jones-Rooy, Directed by Rob Langhammer and Felicitas Hammerstein (New York)

4) Best Editing Award Nominations

• The Mettle Behind the Merit, Directed by John Mollison (South Dakota)
  
• Bet on Yourself, Directed by Harvey Eaton (United Kingdom)
  
• Censoring Nuremberg, Directed by Tim Raycroft and David Bussan (Ohio)
  
• How We See Water, Directed by Robin Starbuck (Mexico/New York)
  
• Diversity in the Long Gray Line, Directed by Les Owen (New York)

5) Best International Director Award Nominations

• Little Bastard, Directed by Harun Hazar (Germany/Belgium)
  
• The Silver Boys, Directed by Jared Salazar (Guatemala)
  
• Aaron Durogati - Playing With The Invisible, Directed by Matteo Vettorel and Damiano Levati (Italy)
  
• Avido, Directed by Jud Nichols (Kenya)
  
• Mirror Images, Directed by Neil Hall (United Kingdom)

Best International Film Award Nominations

• Finding Normal, Directed by Barb Briggs and Jarrett Glockzin (Canada)
  
• Wheel Love, Directed by Ryan Tebbutt (Canada)
  
• Badlaav Republic, Directed by Manahar Kumar (India)
  
• Operation International, Directed by Jeff Colhoun (Ivory Coast)
  
• Forever a Champion, Directed by Carmen Vincent (United Kingdom)

Best International Micro Short Film Award Nominations

• A Story About Lights, Directed by James Barahanos (Australia)
  
• The Venus Project, Directed by Jack Major (Canada)
  
• Ilha da Rainha, Directed by Kayla Fragman (Canada)
  
• Narco Tumbas, Directed by Jud Nichols (Mexico)
  
• The Dhow, Directed by Jud Nichols (Tanzania)

Best Micro Short Film Award Nominations

• The Blessing and the Curse, Directed by David Kennedy (California)
  
• Instructions for Soldiers Back from War, Directed by Jed Bell (California)
  
• Chalk of Champions, Directed by Jackie Omanoff (California/New York)
  
• 6th and San Pedro, Directed by Scott Pommier (California/Oregon)
  
• Natura Obscura, Directed by Kelsey Quakenbush (Colorado)

Best Oregon Film Award Nominations

• The Creative Process, Directed by Spencer Fochtman (Oregon)
  
• Listen To Us, Directed by Anna Mendes (Oregon)
  
• Becoming Who I Am, Directed by Mark Palansky (Oregon)
  
• Our Last Crop, Directed by Michelle Alvarado (Oregon)
  
• Root Shocked, Directed by Cecilia Brown (Oregon)

Best Picture Award Nominations

• As Easy As, Directed by Brittany V Gates (California)
  
• Yonatan's Platoon, Directed by Matan Hatsav (California)
  
• Millennium Willow, Directed by Fiona Yang (Chicago) - Website
  
• Never Give Up, Directed by Jonathan Schörnig (Malta)
  
• RSVP, Directed by Samantha Mitchell (Maryland)

Most Original Concept Award Nominations

• The Tides That Bind, Directed by Nick Natalicchio (Pennsylvania)
  
• Through the Eyes of a Wrestler, Directed by John Proper (Pennsylvania)
  
• An Unanswered Telephone Call, Directed by Aziz Isa Elkun (United Kingdom)
  
• Squeegee, Directed by Khalid Ali (Maryland)
  
• Night and Day, Directed by Peter Anthony (Massachusetts)

Watch These Documentary Films Now

Just in case you missed the event. Some of the films that screened at the Oregon Documentary Film Festival Winter 2019 have been released online.

Belong, Directed by Dillon M. Banda (Singapore/Vietnam)

My name is Mikel Fair and I have written this 30 page ebook to help filmmakers strengthen their submission when submitting to Film Festivals. This guide is based on my experience, starting in 2008 as a Film Festival Director that has watched, rated and reviewed more than 5000+ submissions of all genres from over 100 countries. There are several mistakes that filmmakers are making on a daily basis that I can help you avoid. I explain in detail, about how the packaging and editing of your submission can have a direct effect on how many festivals that your film is accepted to. Priced under $10 US, I have made this book affordable for everyone and will email you any new versions that we release until January 2021. Please read the first chapter for free!

• Chapter 1: Does Packaging Really Matter? - Free Chapter!
• Chapter 2: Are Your Contact Details Accurate? A Daily Common Mistake
• Chapter 3: Does The Name Of Your Film Stand Out? Or Will It Be Lost In The Shuffle?
• Chapter 4: Tips For Creating The Right Tagline And Synopsis
• Chapter 5: Do You Know That A Director’s Bio And Resume Are Two Different Things?
• Chapter 6: How To Write A Compelling Director’s Statement That Tells A Story.
• Chapter 7: The First Impression Of Your Film Is It’s Official Poster.
• Chapter 8: Without A Trailer, Your Film Might Become An Afterthought.
• Chapter 9: Why Do Film Festivals Love Submissions With A Social Media Presence?
• Chapter 10: Your Film’s Website, Is Its History And Point Of Contact
• Chapter 11: Final Cut Or Festival Cut? Don’t Submit The Wrong One.
• Chapter 12: Stretch Your Submissions Budget. Use Promo Codes. Get Discounts.
• Conclusion

Watch The Trailers From Oregon . Documentary Film Festival Winter 2019