April 6, 2006
lights, camera, ACTION ... money!
Film festival brings big bucks into Ashland economy
By Vickie Aldous
Ashland Daily Tidings
Organizers of the fifth annual Ashland Independent Film Festival think the event will have an even bigger impact on Ashland’s economy this year.
The festival’s direct economic impact — counting expenditures by the festival, locals and visitors — was estimated at $557,738 in 2005. That figure is projected to grow to $826,657 for the five-day event that started today.
When the 2006 figure is multiplied by the Oregon Tourism Department’s 2.9 multiplier to account for spent dollars recirculating in the economy, the total economic impact reaches nearly $2.4 million, up from $1.6 million in 2005, according to festival organizers.
“We definitely see a boost in the tourists and attendance from that weekend,” said Lisa Beam, co-owner of Pasta Piatti in downtown Ashland.
“We’re increasing our overall staffing to prepare for the increase in business. It’s one of the single strongest weekends of the year. It’s nice to have that boost in early April when the Shakespeare season is up and going but not in full swing.”
Alex Amarotico, an Ashland City Council member and co-owner of Standing Stone Brewing Co., said his restaurant is usually busy anyway, but he still sees an increase in business.
The City of Ashland gave the film festival a $14,000 Economic and Cultural Development grant for this fiscal year, according to Ashland Finance Department staff.
“I think it’s been a good grantee,” said Amarotico, who noted he is not on the Ashland Citizens’ Budget Committee subcommittee that makes recommendations on grant awards. “It’s what economic development grants are for.”
The film festival’s total budget grew from $144,000 in 2005 to $278,137 this year, according to organizers.
Rooms at the Ashland Springs Hotel were already booked for conferences, so the hotel has not seen an impact from film festival visitors when it comes to lodging, according to Sales and Marketing Manager Karolina Wyszynska.
But the hotel’s restaurant, Lark’s, is providing special brown bag meals for festival-goers who have short breaks between films. This is the first year the hotel is offering the experimental service, she said.
Out-of-town visitors have fanned out to other hotels and bed and breakfast inns, according to Tom Olbrich, executive director for the film festival.
“Hotels report increased business, as do the B&Bs,” he said. “In fact, a lot of the B&Bs that donated rooms to filmmakers in the past are now filling up.”
An estimated 5,360 people attended the festival in 2005, with organizers predicting attendance at 6,530 this year. They estimate 60 percent of patrons are from Ashland, with another 20 percent living within 50 miles of here and the remaining 20 percent coming from farther away.
Organizers estimate locals will spend $45 per day on average, while guests who need lodging will spend an average of $140 each day and stay three nights.
Oregon Shakespeare Festival officials said they have not noticed a drop-off in attendance at plays during the film festival, but instead have heard anecdotally that some people who attend the film festival also see plays. OSF offers complimentary tickets to visiting directors and filmmakers to increase OSF’s exposure, according to Director of Communications Janeen Olson, who is also on the film festival’s board of directors.
While many local businesses see a direct impact during the festival, Olbrich noted that the festival’s paid staff members live in the community and spend money year-round. The festival also holds educational events and special screenings at the Varsity Theatre at other times of the year.
Beam said Ashland restaurants and other businesses appreciate the efforts of the festival’s organizers.
“Every year it seems to keep growing and getting bigger and we definitely support their efforts,” she said. “We’re thankful to everyone who puts in the blood, sweat and tears to make it happen.”
Staff writer Vickie Aldous can be reached at 479-8199 or vlaldous@yahoo.com.