Ashland Independent Film Festival banner flying in front of the Elk’s Lodge on East Main Street

@ashlandfilm #AIFF2016 @CATMovies @BirthofSake

Today is April 12, which means the Ashland Independent Film Festival of 2016 is now only a memory.

You can view a list of award-winning films here. “The Birth of Sake” received an honorable mention. A couple of my other favorites (“Thunder Road” and “Embers”) didn’t receive any awards, which just goes to show you how high the quality of this festival has become.

“The Birth of Sake” in Ashland’s Varsity Theatre

Erik Shirai, director of “The Birth of Sake”, answers questions from the audience

Posted on April 12th, 2016 under only in ashland, people. Tags: AF-S Nikkor 20mm f/1.8G ED lens, ashland independent film festival aiff, Nikon D750, signs, varsity theatre coming attractions theater. Comments Off on AIFF 2016 is over

6-photo photomerge of AIFF 2016 activity on a beautiful Sunday morning in Ashland

Awards tonight, award-winning films shown tomorrow for the last time. If you are supposed to work tomorrow, it may be a good time to take a sick day.

Posted on April 10th, 2016 under only in ashland, photography, places. Tags: AF-S Nikkor 20mm f/1.8G ED lens, ashland independent film festival aiff, ashland springs hotel, national register of historic places, Nikon D750, photoshop photomerge, plaza, varsity theatre coming attractions theater. Comments Off on Day 4 @ AIFF 2016

Michelle Branch and Michael Bryant discuss “Damn, What a Dame”

@ashlandfilm #AIFF2016 @jimmycthatsme @formerchildren

My favorite of the 2016 film festival so far are the Short Stories. There are actually tickets still remaining to see these on Sunday morning.

The short films are all good or better, but the final one “Thunder Road” by Jim Cummings is one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen. I’ve never simultaneously been so sad and laughing hysterically before.

I said a final goodbye to my dying mother just days before the 2013 Ashland Independent Film Festival. She died within days of the festival ending. My father was dying during the 2014 AIFF. So I tend to get a little extra emotional during AIFF. “Thunder Road”, “Semele”, “Mother’s Day”, and “1985” (a short before “Five Nights in Maine”) all got me really good.

“Mother’s Day” by Jeff Tan in Varsity 3

Varsity Theatre (Ashland, Oregon)

Posted on April 9th, 2016 under only in ashland, people. Tags: ashland independent film festival aiff, michael bryant, Nikon D750, varsity theatre coming attractions theater. Comments Off on Day 3 at AIFF 2016 begins

Ashland Springs Hotel and Varsity Theatre

@flula @ashlandfilm #AIFF2016 @AshlandSprings @CATMovies

Day two begins for the 15th Annual Ashland Independent Film Festival.

Flula Borg after the showing of Honey Buddies

Travel Essentials (2016 Ashland Independent Film Festival sponsor) on the big screen in the Historic Ashland Armory

Posted on April 8th, 2016 under only in ashland. Tags: AF-S Nikkor 20mm f/1.8G ED lens, ashland independent film festival aiff, ashland springs hotel, Historic Ashland Armory, Nikon D750, varsity theatre coming attractions theater. Comments Off on AIFF 2016 continues

These cookies, made by Jolene, were for the 2014 Ashland Independent Film Festival. Coincidentally, the 2016 AIFF begins today!

Posted on April 7th, 2016 under only in ashland. Tags: ashland independent film festival aiff, food, jolene's sweets, Nikon 85mm f/1.8 g lens, Nikon D600. Comments Off on Sort of a Throwback Thursday

Ashland Armory

@FrameByFrameDoc @RedReelVideo @moscarpelli @ashlandfilm #AIFF2016 #AIFF15

The 15th annual Ashland Film Festival begins next week. Tickets to members have been on sale for a few days now. If you aren’t a member, today is the first day to pick up tickets. Details here.

Photos from prior years can be found here.

Mo Scarpelli answering questions at the 2015 Ashland Independent Film Festival about “Frame by Frame”

Posted on March 27th, 2016 under only in ashland. Tags: ashland independent film festival aiff, blue hour, Historic Ashland Armory, Nikon D750, varsity theatre coming attractions theater. Comments Off on AIFF 2016 tickets go on sale today

@footballwetrust #AIFF16 @ashlandfilm

Ashland Independent Film Festival 2016 preview night at SOU. Free! Tuesday, March 15.

If any of the photos in this video look familiar, it’s because you saw them here first.

Posted on February 19th, 2016 under only in ashland. Tags: ashland independent film festival aiff. Comments Off on AIFF film preview night

Batkid Begins movie poster

#AIFF15 @ashlandfilm @BatkidBegins

Posted on June 26th, 2015 under only in ashland. Tags: ashland independent film festival aiff, batkid begins. Comments Off on Batkid Begins today

Smithfields during the Ashland Independent Film Festival

@meatcentric

This past Monday I headed down the hill to Smithfields to check out Buckle Rash. The place was packed, as it should have been, so we couldn’t sit very close to the band. I, therefore, had no need for my camera which sat in its bag next to my chair. Buckle Rash and Smithfields were both awesome as usual.

Fast forward about 9 hours to 4 a.m. I woke up with the thought that I don’t remember picking up my bag (with contents valued at $2,696.95). After laying in bed for a half hour racked with angst, I got up to check the house and car for said camera bag. Nothing. There would be no more sleep for me.

I contacted Smithfields, though, and they had it! I’m extremely grateful to them for saving me from my own stupidity.

Posted on May 28th, 2015 under only in ashland. Tags: ashland independent film festival aiff, Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8G ED AF-S Nikkor Wide Angle Zoom Lens, Nikon D600. Comments Off on Smithfields Restaurant and Bar