Group of seven people posing for a photo in front of a banner that reads 'Portland 48 Hour Film Project Keep Filmmaking Weird'. The group includes men and women of various ages, all smiling and standing close together.

About

Radical Softies believes filmmaking should be accessible to everyone, not just those who already have the experience, connections, or resources to get through the door. We intentionally create space for differently abled artists, underserved communities, emerging filmmakers, and people who have never worked on a film set before. We value curiosity, enthusiasm, and a willingness to learn just as much as a résumé, because everyone deserves an opportunity to discover what they’re capable of. You don’t need to know how to make a film to belong here, you just need to PASSIONATELY want to make one.

OUR story

WINNING AND WHY

Radical Softies Collective is an inclusive film production community connecting creativity, education, and activism. Founded as a 48 Hour Film Project team, we’ve expanded into independent and paid productions, collaborative filmmaking, mentorship, and accessible educational resources. We welcome storytellers of all experience levels who share our commitment to social justice, creative expression, and building a more equitable film industry.

Born out of Portland’s 48 Hour Film Project, Radical Softies brought together a group of new and old filmmakers who wanted to create boldly, collaborate generously, and have meaningful intent behind their films. What started as a scrappy team racing against the clock quickly became something bigger, a community of artists committed to making thoughtful, unconventional films with a distinctly human point of view.

INCLUSIVITY

Radical Softies is winning because we’re telling the kinds of stories that a gatekept, patriarchal film industry has historically overlooked and audiences are hungry for them. We believe compelling filmmaking doesn’t require permission, pedigree, or access to traditional power structures; it requires vision, collaboration, and something real to say. Our stories are rooted in lived experience, vulnerability, humor, identity, and the beautifully strange perspectives that emerge when artists are given room to create outside the mold. We pair that authenticity with ambitious, cinematic storytelling, proving that independent films can be both deeply personal and genuinely entertaining. We’re not waiting for the industry to make space for us, we’re creating the space, inviting others in, and showing what happens when the gatekeepers aren’t the ones deciding which stories deserve to be seen.

Collaborating with filmmakers AT ANY SKILL LEVEL to create authentic and compelling cinematic styles and enhance storytelling on screen.
We believe filmmakers learn best by doing. Radical Softies creates hands-on opportunities for emerging artists to learn from experienced filmmakers, build confidence, develop their craft, and find their voice.
Great films need a community behind them. Your support helps us create bold films, mentor emerging artists, and make filmmaking more accessible. Sponsor, donate, collaborate, or simply help us spread the word.