***Please note: As of 6/1/20, we have REDUCED film submission fees and have ADDED A NEW YOUTH-MADE FILM CATEGORY! Due to COVID-19 restrictions and uncertainties, our 2020 fall festival will primarily take place online Sept. 24- 27, 2020. Some in-theater screenings for winning films may be added during fall 2020.***
The Portland EcoFilm Festival is the premier environmental film festival in the US Pacific Northwest, showcasing the very best films about nature/environment, wildlife, outdoor recreation, environmental justice and eco-conscious living. The fest features an Earth Day Film Showcase, an annual four-day festival in the fall, and a year-round film series. Submissions made through this site are in consideration for inclusion in our fall festival.
Our mission is to show the very best eco-films being produced today, to help filmmakers by building support for their films as they are being released into public view, and to connect our audiences to films that inspire environmental advocacy and appreciation. Our fest connects films with supportive audiences, conservation organizations and environmental advocates.
Hosted in the US’s greenest city, Portland, Oregon, our festival is supported by the kinds of people and organizations who are interested in your film! The festival is a program of the Hollywood Theatre, a restored 1926 film art-house movie palace featuring state-of-the-art projection and sound. Our theater regularly wins local awards as Portland's favorite film venue.
Our festival was created by filmmakers – so we understand the importance of your film's festival release - and want to help you get the biggest audience and impact possible.
1. Building support for your film: Where scheduling allows, we pair films with local community partners, conservation groups and advocates to help publicize your screenings and increase attendance and outreach.
2. Connecting to your audience: post-film Q & A sessions and panels help you connect with audiences and promote your film's goals. Our post-film panels regularly feature filmmakers, local conservation organizations, activists and experts to further discuss your film and engage your audience. We provide tabling space in our theater lobby, so you can promote your film's campaign, sell copies/raise distribution funds for your film, and add interested people to your email list.
3. Supporting films featuring environmental advocacy campaigns: If an advocacy campaign is part of your film’s goals, we offer ways to help you reach your goals through our social media, during our screenings and by connecting you to groups and community members who can help your campaign gain traction before and after your screening date.
4. ALL films accepted into the festival are considered "in competition" and eligible for awards.
Best Feature Film Award - chosen from film submissions in the feature film category
Best Short Film Award - chosen from film submissions in the short film category
Best Conservation Film, Branded Content Award - chosen from film submissions in the Conservation Film, Branded Content category
Best Youth-made Film Award - chosen from film submissions in the Youth-made Film category
EcoHero Award - given to a filmmaker or film subject who has made a valuable contribution to the environment. All films submitted to the festival are eligible for our EcoHero Award!
5. Due to the uncertainty of COVID-19 gathering restrictions and uncertainties, our 2020 fall festival will primarily take place online. (Some in-theater screenings may be added at a later date, to take place in our restored, historic landmark theater featuring state-of-the-art projection and sound!) The geo-blocking (the geographic region where our online films will be available) for our 2020 festival will be the US region.
6. Connecting your film to media coverage: We aim to bring media coverage not just to our festival, but also to a number of the films we feature in our prime festival screening slots. Films at our fest have received media coverage from numerous local publications and national publications including MovieMaker Magazine and Indiewire.
7. We support your film's distribution after your festival screening date with us has passed! We love using the reach of our social media to let the public know when your film is available for online viewing, or receives a nationwide theatrical run.
8. ALL films accepted into the festival are considered "in competition" and eligible for awards.