Premiering in Brookings for its first run, the Wild Rivers Film Festival (WRFF) will host over 50 films, features, documentaries, and shorts beginning August 17 with three more days of films and related events through August 20, showcasing independent works - films that are passion projects for the filmmaker rather than formulaic Hollywood studio fare.WRFF is designed to bring these works here and further Brookings’ reputation as a destination location known for its other events such as the kite and pirate festivals, Slamin’ Salmon Derby and Salmon Run golf tournaments. The WRFF will be the region’s only film festival this year. There is a small festival at Humboldt State University, student-run and geared towards short films the Ashland Independent Film Festival will not be held this year.Interaction opportunities#placement_573654_0_i{width:100%;max-width:550px;margin:0 auto;}var rnd = window.rnd || Math.floor(Math.random()*10e6);var pid573654 = window.pid573654 || rnd;var plc573654 = window.plc573654 || 0;var abkw = window.abkw || '';var absrc = 'https://ads.empowerlocal.co/adserve/;ID=181918;size=0x0;setID=573654;type=js;sw='+screen.width+';sh='+screen.height+';spr='+window.devicePixelRatio+';kw='+abkw+';pid='+pid573654+';place='+(plc573654++)+';rnd='+rnd+';click=CLICK_MACRO_PLACEHOLDER';var _absrc = absrc.split("type=js"); absrc = _absrc[0] + 'type=js;referrer=' + encodeURIComponent(document.location.href) + _absrc[1];document.write('');Along with the celebration of the power of film, art, and story in our region the WRFF events will include opportunities to meet and interact with the producers, directors, and actors in the films. And parties!The hub of the festival is the Redwood Theater, 621 Chetco Avenue in Brookings, where feature films will be shown. Theater owner Scott Larson described red carpet events before showings, and after-parties.“There will be a red-carpet event before the film [with] producers and actors,” and classic film themed after-parties on the deck of the new pocket park adjacent the theater. “1920s feeling… out on the deck, with the sunset, and cocktails, and food, and music,” Larson said. These will be available to festival ticket holders.Short films will be presented at The Chetco Playhouse – the WRFF describes them this way, “Be prepared to see what many believe to be the heart of any great film festival and that is truly independent cinema. Edgy, twisted, sweet, corny, you name it. The films that we will show at the cozy Chetco Playhouse will be some of the best films that will never be on your TV.”Documentaries will be screened at The Chetco Library. More from the WRFF - “If you love documentaries then grab some popcorn and settle in for three days of docs from around the world. The films that you will see at the newly renovated library will be heartwarming, tragic, funny, and historical. Don’t miss the chance to see them!”Three tiers of festival admission are available - VIP Elite Passes ($200) allow access to all events over the four days of the festival. VIP Passes ($150) provide access to all films and events, except for daily filmmaking seminars. Festival Passes ($50) include access to all films Friday-Sunday, and Day Passes ($20) will provide access to all films on a given day. Seating will be prioritized according to pass type.In addition to helping generate visitor traffic, “the bigger idea is… to create a niche industry, filmmaking industry here” according to WRFF Board of Directors President Mark Gautreaux. In pursuit of that goal, Gautreaux explained “We plan on doing a three-week intensive school for filmmaking. Students 15 to 25 years old in the local area, about 20 students.Though complete details aren’t final yet, Gautreaux said, “It'll be run by two filmmakers that have on the order of 10 films in production. Daniel Springen and Robert Douthat.” Douthat is a board member of WRFF, Springen is the festival’s executive director, with 15 years of experience directing the Orlando Film Festival, will be curating the films chosen for the WRFF. The complete list of films will be released no later than August 1.Currently the lineup, along with descriptions from the festival, includes:Feature Films -Bridge to the Other Side: In a world that's falling apart, a widow struggling with her own grief and self-destruction fights to save young people struggling with a mental health crisis. Embedded with the fire department, she's battling the men who don't want her there, the clients who fight her tooth and nail, and her own wounded psyche. She wants to save the world if the job doesn't kill her first.Ball & Vase: When an ailing and widowed 92-year-old magician learns his grandson will not be visiting for his last Christmas, he reconnects with the world--and himself--one last time by attempting to perform at a local pub he used to visit with his wife.Bitter Taste of Ginger: Ginger, a recent widow, takes up autoerotic asphyxiation to work up the nerve to kill her abusive mother-in-law.Documentaries -Early Daughters of Dartmouth: How a small, bold group of one-year women transfer students helped drag the last of the all-male Ivy League colleges into co-education in 1972.One Pint at a Time: Despite beer’s Egyptian and African heritage, these traditions have been mostly forgotten and are rarely found in American brewing culture. Today, Black-owned breweries make up less than 1% of the nearly 9,000 breweries in operation. Eager to shift the historical perception of who makes and drinks beer, Black brewers, brand owners and influencers across the country are reshaping the craft beer industry and the future of America’s favorite adult beverage.Abby's List: Realizing she’s nearing the end of her life, Abby, a 14-year-old Whippet, and her human, Mark, embark on an epic cross-country bucket list trip.Short Films -Macy Ray and the Legend of Dead River: In the heart of the Central Florida plains live Macy Rae and Kelly Mae, crime-fighting teenage girls with a reputation for kicking butt and saving the day.Hair of the Dog: Depressed after losing his job at the Institute, Dr. Menachem pulls a wild weekend bender and wakes up in the woods. Is Dr. Menachem still the same man, or has he been permanently altered by his lost weekend?MAD / WOMAN: A woman beaten unconscious by her husband searches her mindscape for a way out.Faded Love: Set in rural North Carolina in the early 1950's, when opportunity and independence for women were scarce, “Faded Love” tells the true family story of a young woman faced with a painful reality. To cope, she escapes within daydreams to fulfill her yearning for love, hope, and faith.Little Hurts: An errand at the dry cleaners unleashes a free-for-all of fat-shaming, body image demons, and family dieting obsession.My Over There: Starring Emmy winning actor Penny Fuller, this short film is about Lenore McDowell, a veteran of WWI. Lenore, an Army Nurse, reveals a dramatic and deeply personal part of her life during her time “over there” that she has never shared before. Inspired by a true story.Other WRFF board members are Judy May-Lopez (Vice President), Sue Wright (Secretary), Bev Juday (Treasurer), Michele Bubert, Marie Curtis, Katlyn Lindell, Annie Berg, and Rob Douthat. The board meets the second and fourth Mondays of the month. Individuals who are interested in film and filmmaking are encouraged to attend.This year the festival is being supported largely through sponsorships. Current sponsors include Oregon Film, Travel Curry Coast, Oregon VIP Marketing, RE/MAX Coast and Country Real Estate, Forecastle Book and Gallery. Pithitude, and Curry Transfer and Recycling. A variety of sponsorship levels are still available.For more details and to purchase passes, visit the festival’s website at, https://www.wildriversfilmfestival.com/ or contact the Wild River Film Festival Secretary Sue Wright at, suemariewright@gmail.com. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('ad-1515727'); });