2016 Portland Film Festival Announces Line-Up; 54 Feature Films; 89 Shorts Selected from Nearly 4000 Entries

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Category: Entertainment News

Published on Thursday, 11 August 2016 18:20

The PORTLAND FILM FESTIVAL has become, in four years, one of the most sought after film festivals. The 3800 plus entries for the 2016 PFF resulted in a lineup of 54 features and 89 short films in addition to a week of parties, networking, and panels.

The Festival will take place August 29 - September 5, 2016, at Portland's iconic Laurelhurst Theater, and will include over twenty educational panels & forums, twelve archival presentations, and many parties, events, and industry networking opportunities throughout the week.

The festival will present two opening and closing night films (a documentary and a narrative film on each night) and feature films in the following sections: Narrative Competition Feature, Documentary Competition Feature, Narrative Spotlight, Stranger Than Fiction, Tribute: Visionaries, and Milestones.

"This year's screenings, panels, and programs are an exciting cross-section of icons of classic cinema, engaging new filmmakers, and the best of modern indie film.  We're truly proud to bring this year's eclectic program to local audiences.  We're also thrilled that, for the first time, all of our films will screen at Portland's historic Laurelhurst Theatre. This year's festival will be a not-to-be-missed event," said Josh Leake, Portland Film Festival Founder and Executive Director.

Established in 2013, the Portland Film Festival is one of Oregon's largest film festivals, and was named "one of the coolest film festivals in the world," by MovieMaker Magazine. This year, the festival has programmed a near equal balance of films from men and women, furthering the festival's commitment to supporting diverse voices and visions.  New this year, the festival has created a section to screen classic films from the 70's and 80's, and will also be honoring two iconic writers, Chuck Palahniuk (Fight Club, Choke) and William F. Nolan (Logan's Run).

Complete festival lineup and passes available:

www.portlandfilmfestival.com

*Individual website ticket sales will start Monday, 8/15.

Six Themed Festival Trailers:

https://vimeo.com/channels/1115614

This year's festival highlights include:

Tribute: Visionaries Section. Engaging screenings and Q&A's with iconic filmmakers. This year's focus is on master screenwriters Chuck Palahniuk, with a screening of Choke, and William F. Nolan, with a screening of his classic sci-fi film Logan's Run.

Milestones Section. Celebrating classic films from the 70's and 80's.  This inaugural year includes screenings of Aliens, Blue Velvet, Stand By Me, Short Circuit, The Man Who Fell To Earth, and more.

One of the largest educational platforms for a film festival anywhere. Lead by award-winning professionals in their fields, this year's festival will offer over 50 educational workshops, classes, panels and networking events for actors, screenwriters, and filmmakers. Panelists will include screenwriter Leslie Dixon (Hairspray, Mrs. Doubtfire) and James Shapiro (Alamo DraftHouse Films).

Screenplay Competition. One screenplay winner will be announced, and will win a production grant, cash, and services worth over $20K.

OPENING NIGHT FILM (Documentary)

Wizard Mode / U.S. (Directors: Nathan Drillot & Jeff Lee Petry)

In the game of pinball, there is no bigger accomplishment than flipping your machine into 'wizard mode'. And of all the pinball players in the world, there's nobody more dedicated to unlocking 'wizard mode' than Robert Emilio Gagno, who also happens to be an autistic savant whose parents just want him to get a job.

U.S. PREMIERE

OPENING NIGHT FILM (Narrative)

Middle Man / U.S. (Director: Ned Crowley)

A straight-laced, old-school accountant has a dream: to become a famous stand-up comedian. The problem is, he's just not very funny. Cast: Jim O'Heir (Parks & Rec), Andrew J. West (The Walking Dead). PORTLAND PREMIERE

CLOSING NIGHT FILM (Documentary)

Ovarian Psycos / U.S. (Directors: Joanna Sokolowski & Kate Trumbull-LaValle)

The Ovarian Psycos Cycle Brigade, an East Los Angeles collective of bike-powered activists, supports young women of color by integrating feminist ideals with indigena understanding and an urban/hood mentality. PORTLAND PREMIERE

CLOSING NIGHT FILM (Narrative)

Girl Flu/ U.S. (Director: Dorie Barton)

A sweet, funny story that follows a 12-year-old girl as she navigates her transition to womanhood via her first period. Cast: Jade Pettyjohn, Katee Sackhoff, Heather Matarazzo, Jeremy Sisto. PORTLAND PREMIERE