We Like 'Em Short Film Festival
The "Short History" of WLES
We Like 'Em Short Film Festival celebrates the art of animated and comedic short films. We provide a platform for independent filmmakers, seasoned and emerging, to share their talent. This festival seeks original, entertaining animated and comedy shorts from around the world. WLES was started in 2009 as a very small local festival featuring local and American filmmakers. In 2012 we began taking submissions online and thanks to that change, we’ve screened films from all over the world while still priding ourselves as a festival that showcases local and regional filmmakers. WLES has seen it's share or international award winning shorts and hosted talented directors including Chel White, Doug Lussenhop, Benjamin Morgan and Joanna Priestly in recent editions of this four day festival. WLES is centrally located at the historic Churchill School on the west side of baker City WLES allows aspiring and professional filmmakers the chance to show their films in beautiful Baker City, a small community known for embracing the arts. The festival also acts as a funding source for the Baker High School Film Arts Club. One final note about WLES is that we were honored to receive the Ovation Award from the Oregon Festival and Events Association in 2014, which recognized us as the Best Fine Art or Performing Arts Festival in Oregon. Be creative, make us laugh and keep it short. "I'm such a fan of WLES - great films in a great setting celebrating a unique art form; you never know what you are going to see next and who you are going to meet there in Baker City." - Tim Williams - Executive Director of Oregon Film "I had a wonderful experience at the We Like 'Em Short Film Festival. They are so welcoming and enthusiastic and the Eltrym (that's Myrtle spelled backwards) Theater is gorgeous. You should go!" - Joanna Priestley - Award Winning Animator “A real indie festival gem in the midst of a high desert paradise. Go for the films, stay for the scenery.” - Chel White - Award Winning Director "The people of Baker City and this festival have such a passion and love for movies that they can't help but make your experience fantastic. They go above and beyond to make sure that you and your film feel welcomed. Add in all the charms of a small town and it's unlike any other festival out there." - Anthony Estrada - Audience Choice Award Winning Director