BendFilm Shows Off New Concept Independent WOMEN for Independent Film

BendFilm Shows Off New Concept 

Independent WOMEN for Independent Film

BendFilm has garnered a clever way to sponsor its film awards spearheaded by Pamela Hulse Andrews, CEO/Founder of Cascade Publications Inc. Andrews had a goal of financing a couple of awards with $100 each from some of her friends, but once she created the Inde Women for Indie Film concept the idea went viral and now there’s 70 women onboard!

BendFilm Director, Orit Schwartz, recently told Andrews that she didn’t have funding for several of the festival’s $1,000 awards including Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Documentary. That got Andrews’ creative juices flowing.

Andrews said, “I told Orit that I thought I could create an impromptu group we could call ‘Independent WOMEN for Independent Film’ by recruiting 10 of my women friends to each pitch in $100 and sponsor the Best Director award.”

10 emails and 15 minutes later she did just that, and more; she got commitments from 22 women, for an early total of $2,200.

But Andrews didn’t stop there. She encouraged the women on her list to forward the request to their circles of friends.

One of those women, Rebecca Charlton, owner of Cowgirl Cash in Bend, drew on her network of customers and friends to add to the list saying, “This goes to show what an incredible group of women we have right here, willing to step up for such an excellent festival.”

The list of women who’ve committed $100 now numbers 70, and the current tally is $7,000.

“I’m thrilled with the response we’ve gotten from women in our community in support of BendFilm,” said Andrews, who is in the process of designing some cool buttons for those who donate to wear. She continued, “It’s key right now to preserve, enhance and protect this important festival and all that it brings to Bend. With such limited resources BendFilm really needs our help now and this is one small way we can join forces and assist.”

Those who wish to contribute $100 to this campaign should make their check payable to BendFIlm, write “Indie WOMAN” on the memo line and mail it to 404 NE Norton Ave., Bend, OR 97701.

Schwartz said, “Thank you to Pamela, whose brainchild has given us a much-needed boost at a critical time, and to all the women who have jumped in to participate in this campaign. We are humbled by the outpouring of support and have immense gratitude for everyone who’s part of this effort.”

Next year will be the 10th anniversary of BendFilm and Andrews hopes that this concept will grow into something even bigger for a celebration year.

See below for current list of contributors.

BendFilm is a non-profit group inspired by the opportunity to open doors for artists and to cast Bend, Oregon as the cultural and economic beneficiary. The BendFilm Festival runs every October in downtown Bend, Oregon at the historic Tower Theatre, McMenamins, Regal Cinemas, The Oxford Hotel, Sisters Movie House and new this year the Cascades Theatrical Company and Tin Pan Theater. Plan now to attend October 11-14, 2012 for a long weekend of films, lectures and parties as filmmakers compete for cash awards in Bend’s charismatic setting of mountains, rivers and screaming blue skies. Follow us on Facebook.

BendFilm Info:

Address: 2748 NW Crossing Drive, Bend, OR 97701.

call 541.388.FEST, email info@bendfilm.org or visit

1. Karen Anderson
2. Pamela Hulse Andrews
3. Heidi Berkman
4. Becky Breeze
5. Sandy Brooke
6. Ann Bullwinkel
7. Karen Cammack
8. Judy Campbell
9. Patricia Carlson
10. Sue Carrington
11. Rebecca Charlton
12. Pat Clark
13. Tiffany Clark
14. Debbie Cole
15. Jamie Danek
16. Beth Davies
17. Kathy Deggendorfer
18. Carolyn Dietz
19. Lisa Dobey
20. Stacey Dodson
21. Colleen Dougherty
22. Norma DuBois
23. Andie Edmonds
24. Ann Golden Eglé
25. JoAnn Engel
26. Lori Fletcher
27. Molly Foerster
28. Amy Fratzke
29. Noelle Fredland
30. Polly Gervais
31. Melanie Grandjackques
32. Julie Gregory
33. Kathy Grim
34. Margi Heater
35. Kirsten Heinz
36. Sue Hollern
37. Alana Hughson
38. Carolyn Koenig
39. Josie Juhasz
40. Terry Kemple
41. Sharon ‘Shay’ Knorr
42. Carol Kozmor
43. Cristy Lanfri
44. Gwenn McGill
45. René Mitchell
46. Romy Mortensen
47. Martha Murray
48. Stacey Nyman
49. Sherry Ortega
50. Gitta Ramsay
51. Virginia Ross
52. Cassondra Schindler
53. Chris Schroeder
54. Orit Schwartz
55. Amanda Stuermer
56. Courtney Souther
57. Susie Stevens
58. Joanne Sunnarborg
59. Lesley Truman
60. Billye Turner
61. Amy Tykeson
62. Alicia Vickery
63. Jody Ward
64. Patricia West-Del Ruth
65. Karen Wolfe
66. Kirsti Wolfe
67. Laurie Woolery
68. Anonymous