Bend Film Festival Reveals 2026 Award Winners, Led by 'Hot Water'
The 23rd Bend Film Festival concluded with Ramzi Bashour's debut feature Hot Water taking Best Narrative Feature. The film stars Lubna Azabal, Daniel Zolghadri, and Dale Dickey and follows a mother and son on an offbeat road trip through the American West. Other prize recipients included Edward Said: Between Worlds, Kikuyu Land, and The Lake.
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... Need ensure EXPANDED under 120 words total. Let's craft carefully. Potential issue: "The 23rd Bend Film Festival concluded in central Oregon on Sunday with its awards presentation." Source says wraps on Sunday after presenting awards. Fine. "Hot Water, the debut feature from Lebanese-born, New York-based filmmaker Ramzi Bashour, took Best Narrative Feature." "Best Narrative Feature" exact award name okay. "The film stars Lubna Azabal, Daniel Zolghadri, and Dale Dickey." "It follows a mother and son on a road trip through the American West, visiting diners, motels, and hot springs." This is close to source "stopping at diners, motels, and hot springs" but factual. Maybe okay. "Jurors Whitaker Lader, Charlie Sextro, and Sebastián Hernández praised its charm and the mother-son relationship, calling it a promising debut." "Other prize winners included Edward Said: Between Worlds, Kikuyu Land, and The Lake." Count: The 23rd Bend Film Festival concluded in central Oregon on Sunday wit