Eastern Oregon Film Festival La Grande, Oregon
Updates

2026 Juried Award Winners

17th Annual Festival Celebrates Independent Cinema, Creative Connections, and a Triumphant Return to Downtown La Grande’s Granada Theatre

The 17th Annual Eastern Oregon Film Festival (#EOFF2026) brought four days of independent cinema, music, celebration, and creative exchange to historic downtown La Grande, October 14–17. The festival concluded Saturday evening with the announcement of its 2026 Juried Awards, recognizing outstanding achievements among this year’s 54 officially selected films.

With screenings returning to the historic Granada Theatre, lively after-parties, and visiting filmmakers connecting with audiences throughout the weekend, #EOFF2026 delivered a vibrant celebration of independent storytelling and the creative community that surrounds it.

2026 Juried Award Recipients

Eastern Oregon Film Festival proudly recognizes the following films and filmmakers for their exceptional contributions to this year’s program:

These award-winning films represent the remarkable range of voices, perspectives, and creative approaches celebrated at EOFF. Beyond their technical and artistic accomplishments, each brings a distinct sense of humanity, heart, and vision to the screen.

This year’s program challenged audiences, sparked conversations, and inspired every imaginable emotional response. From laughter and tears to moments of genuine discomfort and surprise, the selections reminded audiences of independent cinema’s extraordinary ability to move us, connect us, and expand our understanding of the world.

More Than Movies: A Community of Creators

While the films remain at the heart of EOFF, the connections forged beyond the screen are equally important to the festival’s mission.

Visiting filmmakers brought an infectious spirit of curiosity, enthusiasm, and collaboration to La Grande. Over four days of screenings, conversations, shared meals, and late-night celebrations, strangers became colleagues, collaborators, and friends.

These encounters are part of what makes the Eastern Oregon Film Festival special. Each year, a small but passionate gathering of artists and audiences creates the conditions for new ideas, partnerships, and future projects to take shape.

“The films bring us together, but the relationships built here are what carry this festival forward,” said Festival Director Christopher Jennings. “Watching filmmakers discover one another, exchange ideas, and begin imagining what they might create together is incredibly rewarding. We hope everyone leaves La Grande with more than memories of great films — we hope they leave with new collaborators, fresh inspiration, and a reason to return.”

Audience Choice Awards Coming Wednesday

The celebration of this year’s films continues as EOFF prepares to announce its 2026 Audience Choice Awards on Wednesday, October 21, following the completion of audience balloting and vote tabulation.

Audience Choice Awards will recognize favorites in five categories:

  • Best Feature
  • Best Short
  • Best in Horror
  • Best in Comedy
  • Best Student Film

These awards provide festivalgoers with an opportunity to recognize the films that resonated most deeply with them throughout the weekend.

A Special Thank You to The Granada

This year’s festival marked a particularly meaningful milestone: the return of Eastern Oregon Film Festival screenings to a traditional downtown cinema.

EOFF extends its sincere gratitude to its sponsors, supporters, volunteers, participating artists, and audiences, with special recognition for the new owners and dedicated team at The Granada Theatre.

Returning to the cinema created an extraordinary atmosphere for the festival, bringing filmmakers and audiences together in a space built for the shared experience of watching movies.

“Bringing the festival back into a downtown movie theater has been a dream of ours,” said Jennings. “We knew there was something magical about returning to the big screen at The Granada, and this weekend exceeded our expectations. We’re deeply grateful to the new ownership and their entire team for welcoming us, embracing the festival, and helping make this homecoming possible.”

The partnership represents an exciting new chapter for independent cinema in La Grande and reinforces the festival’s commitment to supporting the region’s cultural vitality, historic downtown, and growing creative economy.

Looking Ahead

As the curtain closes on its 17th annual celebration, Eastern Oregon Film Festival looks ahead with renewed energy and appreciation for the filmmakers, volunteers, community partners, and audiences who continue to make this gathering possible.

The festival will return next year on the third weekend of October, October 14–16, 2027, continuing its mission to cultivate meaningful connections between independent filmmakers and audiences in the heart of Eastern Oregon.

Thank you for another unforgettable year. See you at the movies!

About Eastern Oregon Film Festival

Eastern Oregon Film Festival is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering independent cinema, supporting emerging and established filmmakers, and enriching the cultural landscape of Eastern Oregon. Based in La Grande, Oregon, the festival brings together artists, audiences, and industry professionals through an annual celebration of film, music, and community, alongside year-round programming and filmmaker development initiatives.

Learn more: www.eofilmfest.org

Press Contact:

Eastern Oregon Film Festival

Christopher Jennings, Festival Director

[KEY IMAGE: Cory Thibert, Mildlife, at Q&A following screening event.]