Columbia Gorge film festival heads for California

This year, the Columbia Gorge International Film Festival won’t be anywhere near the Columbia Gorge.

The annual gathering of independent film makers and fans, the pet project of part-time Washougal resident Breven Angaelica Warren, has hit the road to California. And, according to a press release from Warren, it may not come back.

“Our long term goal is to find a piece of land in Clark or Skamania County where we can grow our camping and also build a few cabins were we can offer year round residency programs for artists,” Warren wrote in an email. “Until we can do this, we have packed up the fest to do a little “On the Road” journey.”

Since 2008 Warren and her husband, Timothy Udall, both of whom work throughout the year at film festivals around the country, have hosted their own late-summer festival on acreage on Mount Norway, near Washougal. Hundreds of industry professionals, independent filmmakers and movie lovers have camped out on the land, checked out each other’s projects, networked — and explored the beauty of the Gorge on organized trips to bike, hike, visit wineries and more.

But that resulted in overflow camping on the Mount Norway land, Warren wrote. “Last year our 50 campsites on the farm were completely booked both weekends. And our well, bathrooms, kitchens, … simply were maxed out with this many traveling guests. We are blessed by the growth, but we need more space.”

Warren has also previously expressed disappointment that the local community doesn’t take advantage of this unique opportunity the way out-of-town visitors do.

The ninth annual Columbia Gorge International Film Festival will go on as planned — about 1,000 miles south of the Gorge. It’s taking place Sept. 22-25 in the Los Angeles area — at the Big Bear Performing Arts Center, east of San Bernardino, Calif.

Participants can still camp and hike in a beautiful natural setting. The festival will screen 120 independent films as well as offer live music, dance and comedy.