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1 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories 10 things to know for Friday Tree-planting event at Ashland Creek Park will celebrate Arbor Week Community meeting highlights solar issues in Oregon Poet laureate joins art lovers in Medford 10 things to know for Thursday Education Bracing for Common Core Ashland Kiwanis recognize Lillian Huang Chautauqua series brings author Jane Hamilton to Ashland Ashland Runs on Volunteers: OLLI classes pay dividends in joy of teaching, learning New Southern Oregon University board votes to bump tuition nearly 5 percent in the fall Environment Lots to celebrate at SOU Arbor Day rites Mt. Ashland Ski Area to host party March 28 Mt. Ashland hopes coming storm will reopen ski area Wild Side: Selfish and other reasons for saving endangered species Business Ride & Drive: 2015 Ram ProMaster City Ashlander starts up a natural pet food supplement business Should workers be paid at least $15 an hour? Ride & Drive: 2016 Mazda CX-5 Cars We Remember: Car lover knows his 348/409 engines Politics and elections Arthur I. Cyr: Britain’s earthquake election Council wants changes to agreement with ODOT for I-5 welcome center Arthur I. Cyr: Afghanistan progress is uneven but undeniable Jackson County Commissioners plan no tax on marijuana for first year Grassroots group campaigns for Plaza paver do-over State News Nation - World Tsarnaev convicted on all charges in Boston Marathon bombing Obituaries Lawrence R. Hugo III Death Notices Gordon Geeseman William D. Enyart Death Notices Shareable Sports Latest Stories Hits just keep on coming Ashland readies for Pacific Rim Bowl Baldrica sets pace for AHS girls SOU women's hoops coach Kennedy leaves to take Portland State job Brent St. Germain: Baseball’s intriguing teams High school Hits just keep on coming Baldrica sets pace for AHS girls Ashland High events postponed to today Upset-minded Raiders swept by No. 17 Concordia AHS softball team routs Churchill Southern Oregon University Baldrica sets pace for AHS girls SOU women's hoops coach Kennedy leaves to take Portland State job SOU-OIT softball games moved to Wednesday Upset-minded Raiders swept by No. 17 Concordia Grizz baseball team caps Arizona trip with another win Voices Latest Stories Matthew T. Mangino: Shooting a fleeing suspect in the back Our View: Ashland is prepared, Firewise Jeffrey Gillespie: Ditching the Western burka Guest Opinion: Fremont cottonwood is not a hazard Arthur I. Cyr: Britain’s earthquake election Editorial Our View: Ashland is prepared, Firewise Our View: Council should stop stalling on welcome center Our View: AIFF does Ashland proud Our View: One tree vs. the Ashland community Our View: Ashland climate plan: Small steps add up Letters Letters to the Editor, April 8 Letters to the Editor, April 7 Letters to the Editor, April 4 Letters to the Editor, April 1 Letters to the Editor, March 30 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: Fremont cottonwood is not a hazard Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent Guest Opinion: Hannah Thomas-Garner's father thanks the Ashland community Guest Opinion: Ashland is asking for trouble with new room rental rules Guest Opinion: More reasons to oppose Jordan Cove Columns Matthew T. Mangino: Shooting a fleeing suspect in the back Jeffrey Gillespie: Ditching the Western burka Guest Opinion: Fremont cottonwood is not a hazard Arthur I. Cyr: Britain’s earthquake election Kent Bush: Facebook isn’t going anywhere Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories Community blog: Submit a poem Best Bets, April 9-16 Rhythm is on tap at the Northwest Percussion Festival Community blog: Get a poem a day A Country Cajun Revival comes to the Unitarian Theater Ticket Availability Ticket availability in Ashland theaters, April 7 Ticket Availability Ticket Availability Ticket Availability Music The Farr Side: Is Kelly Clarkson’s weight truly news?  Rhythm is on tap at the Northwest Percussion Festival The Farr Side: No Zayn Malik? One Direction stays the course A Country Cajun Revival comes to the Unitarian Futureshock: Kendrick Lamar release points to road ahead Visual Art More films, excitement than ever for AIFF Ashland's First Friday Art Walk Movies Movie review: ‘The Longest Ride’ is a sweet ride Movie Listings: April 10-16 'Furious 7' — buckle up for another great ride Movie review: Suspend all belief in reality — ‘Furious 7’ is just fun Movie review: The action is even more insane in ‘Furious 7’ Food and Drink Business profile: Couple opens second Pita Pit in Ashland Tot owners buy Playwright, hire Amuse chef Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Poet laureate joins art lovers in Medford App Finder: Top humor apps Looking Up: Watch the Lion chasing Jupiter Health Watch: Combat common running and walking ailments Ride & Drive: 2015 Ram ProMaster City Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Rogues: Tales from the Valley Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business Business Services NEWS NOW Tree-planting event at Ashland Creek Park will celebrate Arbor Week ... Community meeting highlights solar issues in Oregon ... Poet laureate joins art lovers in Medford ... Tree-planting event at Ashland Creek Park will celebrate Arbor Week ... Community meeting highlights solar issues in Oregon ... Poet laureate joins art lovers in Medford ... ASHLAND INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL More films, excitement than ever for AIFF Comment By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Apr. 7, 2015 at 2:00 AM By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Apr. 7, 2015 at 2:00 AM What do you think? --> Have an opinion on this story? Send a letter to the editor at www.dailytidings.com/sendletter  » Read more X What do you think? Have an opinion on this story? Send a letter to the editor at www.dailytidings.com/sendletter   » Social News It’s rapidly become a famous networking and partying scene, as well as an awesome film-feeding frenzy where you can watch almost 100 novel, thought-provoking, spirit-lifting films, then go off to the designated wine watering hole of the day and chat it all up. It’s the 14th annual Ashland Independent Film Festival, which runs Thursday through  Monday  at seven screens around town, and features several official bashes, where 60 to 80 filmmakers schmooze (being such a blast, the opening party on Thursday and awards celebration on Sunday are already sold out, sorry).  AIFF features two workshops, free “talk-back” panels with moviemakers and lots of post-movie Q&A sessions with creative types connected with productions — always lots of fun to help feel a personal connection with the movie and get inspiration if you’re an aspirant to film production. AIFF also presents a family-friendly program at Ashland Street Cinema. It will welcome classes from John Muir and Bellview schools and, of course, the public is welcome.  All times and descriptions are in the AIFF Festival Guide, available free at Varsity Theater or their offices, 325 A Street, Suite 4, or online at  www.ashlandfilm.org . Film tickets are $13 for general, $12 for seniors, $6 for students and $5 for Oregon Trail Card holders. Tickets are available online or at theaters. “It’s the most films we’ve ever had — 97,” says Cathy Dombi, AIFF interim executive director. “Online sales software is much improved and that’s all going smoothly and we’ve got an amazing 350 volunteers, many with experience from previous festivals here. It’s a great feeling when the festival is in town. It’s full of high-level energy, anticipation and conversation among film lovers, standing in line and talking about what film you can’t miss.” But even if you see lines out front of a theater, Dombi adds, don’t assume you can't get in. There are always tickets available every day (the festival requires ticket-holders to show up a minimum of 15 minutes before the show starts; if they don't their tickets can be sold on a "rush" basis starting 10 minutes before showtime) and most films are shown multiple times. Several movies have been voted most popular online and inserted in the popular "TBA" (to be announced) slots  on Monday .  TBA-1 is “Christmas, Again,” about a dejected New York guy selling Christmas Trees and finding his spirits lifted by extraordinary people. TBA-2 is the locally-produced (by former state Senator Jason Atkinson) “A River Between Us,” about the environmental restoration of the Klamath Basin, the largest such feat in American history. TBA-3 is After-Hour Shorts, a collection of eight edgy or suggestive docs and shorts. Filmmakers love to attend the five-day extravaganza, Dombi notes, “because they feel we’re enthusiastic and engaged and always have interesting questions for them.” In addition, Ashland was voted “Best Place to Live and Work as a Movie Maker,” by MovieMaker Magazine, for towns under 100,000, for the year 2015. “AfterLounges,” or “hang spots” start at  5 p.m.  and, Thursday through Sunday nights, are at Black Sheep, Salame, Brickroom and Black Sheep again. There is no cover. The sold-out Awards Celebration is at  7:30 p.m. Sunday  at the Historic Ashland Armory, with all food donated by local restaurants — and that’s where, after showing of clips, the best picture winners are announced. Winners get steel film reels forged by Ashland blacksmith Denny DeBey, who is also the subject of the film “Reel Smith.” Asked to name the best-selling films of the Festival, Dombi couldn’t stop ticking them off, but did mention several with local connections: • “The Hunting Ground,” about sexual assault on campus. Includes a panel of locals, based on Southern Oregon University’s much copied “Campus Choice” program. • “When Giants Fall,” about the extinction of elephants. Local filmmaker Leslie Griffith. • “Hot Type,” about America’s oldest magazine, The Nation. By Barbara Kopple, an AIFF lifetime honoree. • “Western,” about border towns afflicted by cartel violence. • “Tocando la Luz,” (Touch the Light), about three courageous women in Cuba. • “Vision,” a short about healing the blind in Ethiopia. • “James Baldwin: The Price of the Ticket,” his take on what it means to be black, restored from the damaged, 25-year-old original about this passionate warrior against racism. • “3-1/2 Minutes,” about a racially motivated killing of a black teen for playing his car radio too loudly. Explores stand-your-ground laws and the devastating grief of such violence. John Darling is an Ashland freelance writer. Reach him at [email protected].   By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Apr. 7, 2015 at 2:00 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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