Set against the stunning backdrop of Oregon's North Coast, the Wild Coast Film Festival is a four-day celebration of nature, storytelling, and community. Held annually in Astoria, Oregon, the festival showcases a diverse array of conservation and wildlife films, guided nature walks, and engaging pop-up events that explore our relationship with the natural world.

The 2027 festival, scheduled for March 11-14, will feature screenings at the historic Columbian Theater. Past years have featured works by renowned storytellers from National Geographic, the BBC, and award-winning regional filmmakers, highlighting stories of untamed wildness and the indomitable human spirit.

Beyond the screen, attendees can immerse themselves in guided nature experiences, such as photo walks along the Astoria Riverwalk and ecological tours of local habitats. Pop-up events, including panel discussions with filmmakers and community leaders, offer opportunities to engage in meaningful conversations about conservation and storytelling.

The festival is a collaborative effort between the Wildlife Center of the North Coast, a nonprofit dedicated to wildlife rehabilitation and ecological education, and Neon Raven Story Labs, a conservation-focused production company. Proceeds from the festival support the Wildlife Center's mission to promote compassion, empathy, and respect for all life through rehabilitation and conservation efforts.

For more information and updates, visit https://www.wildcoastfilm.org or follow the festival on https://www.instagram.com/wildcoastfilmfestival

Rules & Terms

1. Submission copies must be submitted online

2. All entries selected for our 2027 festival grant the Wild Coast Film Festival the right to use film stills and portions of accepted films for promotional purposes.

3. If accepted, final screening copies must arrive no later than February 1, 2027, or the entry will not be included in the festival.

4. Non-English entries must be submitted with English subtitles.

5. Entry fees are nonrefundable.

6. By submitting your project, you acknowledge that:
-Your film is not subject to any litigation, nor is it threatened by any litigation.
-You are duly authorized to have this film be screened at the festival.
-You have secured the rights to any and all music and/or footage used in the film.
-You fully indemnify and hold WCNC, Neon Raven, and Wild Coast Film Festival completely harmless from any and all claims whatsoever that may arise as a result of usage of submitted materials.
4 Reviews
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  • Natalie Faye

    The coordinators went out of their way to help the filmmakers attending the festival and also to provide a number of great local activities for us that centered around their conservation themes. Panels, tours, outings --- a wonderful experience and the film lineup was very inspiring.

    April 2026
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  • Matthew Benton

    I didn't get to attend this year, but hope to participate in future years. The entire team was a joy to communicate with & were super organized.

    The programming & events look fantastic & any filmmaker who submits would be lucky to be apart of this festival.

    March 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you! It was absolutely our pleasure to show your wonderful film and we really hope you'll be able to join us in person for a future edition of the festival!

  • Bailey Beltramo

    This festival has a wonderful mission of supporting a local nature conversation organization. There is immense care and support that goes into all activities throughout the weekend, and it started with great communication from the very beginning. I really appreciated the time and opportunities they gave to allow filmmakers to talk about their projects and answer questions -- projects that came from all around the world! I will definitely be submitting again in the future, and hope to have another opportunity to attend.

    March 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    We were so happy to have you at the festival and to be able to share your film with the Wild Coast community! We very much hope to see you at the festival again and wish you so much luck with your future projects!

  • Justin Grubb

    This is a great and intimate festival showcasing powerful films about conservation, outdoors, and the human spirit. It is a wonderful festival nestled in the riverside town of Astoria, Oregon. Will certainly be submitting to and attending the festival again.

    March 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you for this, Justin! We were so happy to have you at the festival and to be able to showcase your work. And thanks for being part of the pop-up discussion panels around town as well! We so look forward to having you back in future years with new stories to tell!