For the filmgoer, year round locations include, Ashland’s Varsity Theatre, that houses five wall-to-wall screens. Ashland Street Cinema, located in the Ashland Shopping Center, features Dolby Digital Surround Sound, six wall-to-wall screens and first-run films.

The Ashland Independent Film Festival is five days of the highest quality of independent film, enthusiastic audiences and passionate filmmakers. Now entering its 16th year, more than 7,000 film lovers gather each spring to watch more than 90 documentary, feature and short films.
Filmmakers engage with audiences after screenings and at festival events such as the Opening Night Bash and Awards Celebration. Special guests have included Ty Burrell, Albert Maysles, Barbara Kopple, Morgan Spurlock, Helen Hunt, Julie Taymor, and Olympian Greg Louganis. Film festival membership passes are available year round and individual tickets go on sale in mid-March. Prices start at $13 per film, with discounts available. Members receive early access to tickets and films.

Beyond the five-day festival, AIFF partners with Coming Attractions Theatres to present Varsity World Film Week in late September.  This weeklong celebration of international film offers a compelling and illuminating representation of world cinema, and often includes related live events. For more information on the film festival and Varsity World Film Week, visit www.ashlandfilm.org.

Designated as the #1 Top Town to Live and Work as a Moviemaker by Moviemaker Magazine in January of 2015 (Top Ten 3rd year in a row), Ashland has a thriving film industry.

At the heart of this creative pursuit is SoFaM (Southern Oregon Film and Media), a professional trade and networking association that serves as the primary liaison for film and media activity in Southern Oregon. SoFaM supports, expands and promotes the production, education and economic impact of film and media. (www.filmsouthernoregon.org).

Ashland has been the site location for films such as Calvin Marshall and in 2013, the filming of major motion picture, Wild, starring Academy Award Winner, Reese Witherspoon. Moviemaker Magazine’s designations underscore Ashland’s creative pursuits as ‘friendly to a filmmaker’s eye as well as budget, where incredible locations, experienced crews, strong film incentives and no state sales tax have attracted industry professionals from across the world.’ With Ashland’s broadband capacity, moviemakers are able to conduct modern post production here while enjoying the quality of life. Documentarians and students develop their technical skills at the EMDA (Emerging Media and Digital Arts) program at SOU or at DMC (Digital Media Center and Rogue Valley Television).