9-Day Filmmaking Competition from The Film Triathlon

In spite of their brief running times, short films often take months or even years to complete. But at The Film Triathlon, teams of amateur moviemakers will have just 5 days, 18 hours, and 53 minutes to write, record, and edit an original seven-minute film. Further, teams will be responsible for producing original music within that time frame.

The Film Triathlon kicks off on September 7, when filmmakers from all over the country convene in Astoria, Oregon. All teams must abide by the official rules of the competition, the most important of which is: all scriptwriting, filming, editing, and other creative work must be done within the time limit. All films completed by the deadline will be screened in front of peers and a panel of judges on September 14 and 15 at the historic Liberty Theater. Cash and prizes will be awarded to top teams—the team with the best overall film wins $5,000 and a spot in the Astoria International Film Festival, which takes place October 18–20.

Astoria Riverwalk Inn

Participants in the competition will stay eight nights at the Astoria Riverwalk Inn. Balcony rooms have nice views of the water from private balconies overlooking the marina. Rooms also have views of the town's iconic landmark, the Astoria-Megler Bridge, which stretches across 4 miles and connects Oregon to Washington state.

Just outside the inn, rental bicycles are available for exploring the surrounding area and scoping out shooting locations. You can also hop aboard the historic Astoria Riverfront Trolley; each room includes one free trolley voucher.

Astoria, Oregon: Frontier Port with Scenic Hikes and Naval Museums

Tucked away in the northwestern corner of Oregon, the town of Astoria sits at the mouth of the Columbia River, the body of water that separates Oregon and Washington. The town—one of the oldest US settlements west of the Rockies—is named after John Jacob Astor, the entrepreneur who founded the Pacific Fur Company and established Fort Astoria in 1811. A few years earlier, in 1805, Lewis and Clark spent a winter camped out at Fort Clatsop; today, you can tour a replica of that outpost. It stands at the beginning of the popular Fort to Sea Trail, a 3-mile hike through forests and across beach dunes to the Pacific Ocean.

The area's rich nautical history is documented through interactive exhibits at the Columbia River Maritime Museum. Here you'll find artifacts such as a US Coast Guard surf rescue vessel, a historic sword and scabbard recovered from a shipwreck, and a 17th-century chunk of beeswax. A few miles west in Fort Stevens State Park, you can view remnants of the Peter Iredale shipwreck, an English vessel that ran aground in 1906 while the captain was texting and steering.

Read the Fine Print for important info on travel dates and other restrictions.