PRESS RELEASE
Manzanita Film Festival
Justin Graham & Pam Statz, Festival Directors
manzanitafilmfestival@gmail.com
2nd Annual Manzanita Film Festival to Celebrate Short Films of the Pacific Northwest
MANZANITA, OR — August 19, 2026
The second annual Manzanita Film Festival is set for October 2nd and 3rd, celebrating the vibrant spirit of independent filmmaking from across the Pacific Northwest.
Held at the historic Pine Grove Community House in the heart of Manzanita, the Manzanita Film Festival features a diverse group of filmmakers and aims to spotlight both emerging voices and established creatives telling stories rooted in place, community, and imagination.
The festival kicks off Friday, October 2 at 7:00 p.m. with Friday Night Frights—a collection of offbeat short films that are spooky, funny, and guaranteed to entertain.
On Saturday, October 3 from 12:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., enjoy three curated programs featuring Live Action Shorts at 12pm, Animated Shorts at 2pm, and Documentary Shorts at 4pm.
A short Q&A will follow each screening with the filmmakers in attendance.
Tickets are available now at manzanitafilmfestival.com for $10 per screening, and includes complimentary beverages and snacks.
From laugh-out-loud comedies and heartfelt stories, to stunning hand-drawn animation and breathtaking nature documentaries, the Manzanita Film Festival celebrates the creativity and talent of Pacific Northwest filmmakers in a two-day, community-driven event just steps from the ocean.
“There’s something special about watching great films from the Pacific Northwest in a beautiful coastal town, and we’re thrilled to bring filmmakers and film lovers together in Manzanita,” says festival director Justin Graham.
The festival will include 28 films ranging from 45 seconds to 26 minutes in length, including:
- The animated short YOU PLAY TOO MUCH by Emmy and Anny award winning Portland-based animator Rob Shaw, and narrated by Fred Armisen (Portlandia, Saturday Night Live). Lil’ Robbie (Armisen), an elementary school kid growing up in 1980’s Philadelphia, has to navigate being a nerdy outsider in a tough environment. Sometimes funny, sometimes sad, You Play Too Much is a series of stop motion animated vignettes about friendship, bullies, and the rules of the schoolyard that felt like the law at the time.
- The beautiful and poignant animated short HAVE I SWALLOWED YOUR DREAMS, by Canadian director Clara Chan. A poetic conversation between an immigrant daughter and her mother about sacrifices and dreams.
- The touching live action short AN OLD FRIEND by director Nuk Suwanchote, and starring Tom Skerritt (Alien, Top Gun). An imaginary friend finds out his sole purpose is to bring happiness to his child, only to discover his child is a 90 year old man (Skerritt) on his death bed
- The hilarious documentary OH WHALE by award winning Portland-based director and cinematographer Winslow Crane-Murdoch. When news anchor Paul Linnman arrived in Florence, Oregon on November 12th, 1970, he had no idea that the story he was about to tell would forever define his career. Following a small Oregon town, an exploding whale, and the man who made the story famous, Oh Whale is about how we don't get to choose our fate, only what we make of it.
Event Details:
What: Manzanita Film Festival
When: Friday, October 2nd and Saturday, October 3rd, 2026
Where: Pine Grove Community House, 225 Laneda Ave, Manzanita, OR
Admission: $10 per screening. Includes complimentary beverages & snacks.
Tickets: Available now at manzanitafilmfestival.com
For more information, visit manzanitafilmfestival.com or follow the festival on Instagram @manzanitafilmfestival
About the Manzanita Film Festival
The Manzanita Film Festival is dedicated to celebrating the rich cinematic heritage of the Pacific Northwest region. A two day in-person event held in the picturesque coastal town of Manzanita, Oregon, this festival aims to showcase films that capture the essence, culture, crafts, and stories unique to the Pacific Northwest with a special consideration for the Oregon coast. By highlighting the creative achievements of filmmakers from our region, we aim to foster community pride, inspire creativity, and provide a platform for local filmmakers to share their work with a broader audience. Learn more at manzanitafilmfestival.com
