2020 Portland Film Festival Program #PDXFF20 by Portland Film Festival

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Buy official merch at store.portlandfilm.org Help support a local independent film 501(c)3 non-profit by purchasing one of our Festival shirts, hoodies orÂ totes.

SAVE 25% on festival merchandise Use Promo Code PROGRAM20 until 10/18 at store.portlandfilm.org

GET A FREE TOTE when you buy $100 in Festival merchandise.

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$35

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INTRODUCTION

A NOTE FROM US It’s been a crazy year and we’re excited to share an amazing festival in support of independent voices. In a world increasingly dominated by huge tent-pole films, independent voices are more vital to our culture, and more in need of support, than ever. The Portland Film Festival brings a broad diversity of independent voices together in one place October 12th through 18th, 2020. Here are some highlights: • An incredible partnership with Comcast. Watch films from the comfort of your own home and get a selection of films for free by simply stating, “Portland Film Festival,” into your X1 or Flex voice remote. The X1 and Flex destination will also include interactive virtual events and twice daily Director’s Chats, workshops and education panels. • We are screening over 150 films from around the world. • Reserve one of our limited screening pods located at the Hi-Lo Hotel in Portland and bring up to six (6) of your household or quarantine bubble to watch any film in the Festival. • Grant $1,000 to an independent filmmaker and get a personal one-on-one question and answer zoom call, when available.

• To celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we are screening several films about or made by Indigenous filmmakers. • You can catch a wide selection of Portland-made films at the Festival. • We’ve added a Black Voices track. These are films made by Black filmmakers and you don’t want to miss the Conversation with Margaret Avery. • The Female Gaze track highlights women directors and includes a broad selection of genres. Don’t miss our conversation with actor and director Carrie Preston. • The Voices of Ability track is a program of films made by or about people with disabilities. We’re excited to partner with the Easter Seals and showcase a collection from their Disability Film Challenge. Special thanks to Comcast NBC Universal and all of our sponsors including Hi-Lo Hotel, Koerner Camera, Pepsi Co, SAG-AFTRA, Plum Tree Mortgage, Oregon Film, Ryan Artists, City of Portland Film Office, Gearhead Production Rentals and other amazing sponsors located on our sponsorship page. High five to all of the amazing volunteers, staff, programmers, filmmakers, speakers and jury members that make this community possible! Whatever film genre you prefer, the Portland Film Festival has great movies to offer everyone. Grab a ticket and enjoy.

Joe Stevens

Director of Programming

WAYS TO SEE THE FESTIVAL

1. ONLINE Buy individual tickets or passes to access online films, workshops, chats and events at pdxff.com. We are screening over 150 films from around the world. All ceremonies, parties and chats will be held virtually online.

2. COMCAST CHANNEL Watch films from the comfort of your own home and get a selection of films free by simply stating “Portland Film Festival” into your X1 or Flex voice remote. The X1 and Flex destination will also include interactive virtual events and twice daily Director’s Chats, workshops and education panels. Now that’s simple, easy, awesome!

3. SCREENING PODS Reserve one of our limited Screening Pods. Bring up to six (6) of your household or quarantine bubble. Watch any film from the Festival. Screening Pods are our ONLY in-person activity at PDXFF20 this year. Covid-19 protocols and cleaning regimes will be enforced.

POD VENUE OUR MISSION

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non-profit dedicated to nurturing filmmakers and audiences, and celebrating the power of a good story. The Festival focuses on the people, ideas, technology, skills and artistry behind filmmaking and provides both entertaining and educational opportunities to the public.

HI-LO HOTEL, 320 SW Harvey Milk St.

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VIRTUAL TICKETS & PASSES BUY NOW AT PDXFF.COM REGULAR TICKET $9.99 PANELS & WORKSHOPS $9.99 5 VIRTUAL MOVIE SCREENINGS $29 10 VIRTUAL MOVIE SCREENINGS $49 ALL ACCESS PASS $59 • All virtual films • All virtual conversations + panels • All workshops • Access to virtual help desk and virtual lobby during Festival hours • 25% off merchandise

INDUSTRY PASS $39 • Unlimited access to all virtual films and events • Access to Industry only events • Access to Keynote with Ted Hope • Listed in Accredited Industry Database accessible only to other industry and Festival screening filmmakers • Access to virtual help desk, virtual lobby and industry lobby during Festival hours • 20% off merchandise

VIP PASS $99 • Unlimited access for 2 people to all virtual films and events • All virtual films • All virtual conversations + panels • All workshops • Special VIP Zoom conversation with programming team of Portland Film Festival • Access to virtual help desk and virtual lobby during Festival hours • Access to telephone support during Festival hours • Name listed under VIP attendees on sponsorship page and social media post. • 35% off merchandise

BENEFACTOR PASS $1899 • Unlimited access for 6 people to all virtual films and events • 25 virtual tickets to give to clients, friends & family • $1,000 grant to your selected film with private Q&A with filmmaker as available. Opportunity to name grant. • Name listed under Benefactors on sponsorship page and social media post • Special VIP Zoom conversation with programming team of Portland Film Festival • Access to virtual help desk and virtual lobby during Festival hours • Access to telephone support during Festival hours • 50% off merchandise

SCREENING POD PACKAGES BUY NOW AT PDXFF.COM Enjoy the privacy and security of your own private screening pod to watch a film or shorts block of your choice from our film guide. Each pod has seating for up to six with recliners and a large screen television. Full details for each package are listed below. These pods are cleaned and sanitized before each screening. Films will start at the time listed for purchase, so please remember to arrive at least 10 minutes before your screening time so you don’t miss out on any of your film. Enjoy this first time ever experience with the Portland Film Festival!

BASIC SCREENING POD $49 - 89 • 1 Private screening for up to 6 guests • Choose from a curated list of festival selected films or shorts blocks. • $20- Beverage Voucher (w/$69-89 package as available while supplies last) • Access to virtual help desk and virtual lobby during Festival hours • Free Popcorn • 25% off merchandise

VIP SCREENING POD $149-199 • 1 Private screening for up to 6 guests • Choose any film selected by the 2020 Portland Film Festival. • $50 beverage voucher (w/ $189-199 as available while supplies last) • Free Popcorn • 6 - All Access Virtual Festival Passes • Up to 6 PDXFF Shirts, sizes as available while supplies last • All virtual films • All virtual conversations + panels • All workshops • Special VIP Zoom conversation with programming team of Portland Film Festival • Access to virtual help desk and virtual lobby during Festival hours • 35% off merchandise

BENEFACTOR SCREENING POD $1499-1899 • 1 Private screening for up to 6 guests • Choose any film selected by the 2020 Portland Film Festival • $100 beverage voucher • Free Popcorn • 6 - All Access Virtual Festival Passes • 6 PDXFF Shirts, sizes as available • $1,000 grant to your selected film with private Q&A with filmmaker as available. Opportunity to name grant. • All virtual films • All virtual conversations + panels • All workshops • Special VIP Zoom conversation with programming team of Portland Film Festival • Name listed under Benefactors on sponsorship page and social media post • Access to virtual help desk and virtual lobby during Festival hours • Access to telephone support during Festival hours • 50% off merchandise

Buy Tickets at pdxff.com

SPONSORS

Please thank our sponsors in helping the film festivalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mission of supporting independent voices. Next time you make a purchase decision we hope that you will keep them in your thoughts.

OUR STAFF Joshua Leake Executive Director

Sara Egert Sales & Development

Jennifer Arndt Operations Manager & Director of Hospitality

George Davis Covid-19 Compliance OfďŹ cer

Joe Stevens Director of Programming

Lindsey Smith-Sands Virtual Lobby Manager

Stacey Stevens Director of Submissions, Indigenous Voices Programmer

Heather Villanueva PR

Ben Edwards Director of Media

Dayan Morgan-Sylvain Networking Manager

Robin Klein Director of Merchandise, Indigenous Voices Programmer Doug Klein Director of Production

Robert Withers Screening Pod Manager

Paul Sbrizzi Graphic Designer Cholee Thompson Advisor & Board Member Krista Hershberger Host

Holly Popkin Director of Volunteers

JOIN THE TEAM!

Michael Kurtz Director of Tickets & Passes

Email us at volunteer@portlandfilm.org

Andrea Danehower Sales & Development

VIRTUAL DAILY EVENTS, NETWORKING & PARTIES CHAMPAGNE TOAST & FILMMAKER WELCOME RECEPTION Mon, Oct 12th | 6:30pm | Open to all Pass Holders

VIRTUAL LOBBY Daily: Tues Oct 13th - Sun, Oct 18th | 12pm-9pm Relax in between workshops and films in our virtual zoom lounge.

Celebrate the independent spirit and importance of creative arts in Portland, Oregon, the public is invited to meet local and visiting filmmakers and toast with a glass of champagne the opening of the 2020 Portland Film Festival presented by Comcast NBC Universal.

MOVIE TRIVIA NIGHT BY SPORCLE

KEYNOTE ADDRESS TED HOPE: THE STATE OF INDEPENDENT FILM

VIRTUAL AWARDS CEREMONY & CLOSING NIGHT PARTY

Mon, Oct 12th | 7pm | Open to all Pass Holders

DIRECTORS CHATS Free and open to the public Daily: Tues Oct 13th - Sat, Oct 17th | 10am-12pm & 7pm-8pm

Wed Oct 14th, 6pm

Sat, Oct 17th | 8:30pm | Open to all Pass Holders Join Filmmakers, screenwriters, actors and all the people who make the film industry thrive as we celebrate the awards for best films and bring a close to Portland’s most exciting film festival! Award winners will be announced for Sunday Screenings! Sponsored by Koerner Camera Systems.

Panel with Directors from each day’s films.

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FILMMAKER WELCOME WELCOME | CHAMPAGNE TOAST Mon, Oct 12th | 6:30pm | Open to all

Celebrate the opening of the 2020 Portland Film Festival.

KEYNOTE ADDRESS: TED HOPE — THE STATE OF INDEPENDENT FILM Mon, Oct 12th | 7:00pm | Open to all

Ted Hope co-founded and ran the 90’s production & sales powerhouse Good Machine and went on to co-found This is that, which over its eight years produced eighteen features and received numerous awards, including four Academy Award Best Screenplay nominations. Three of his 23 Sundance entries (American Splendor, The Brothers McMullen, and What Happened Was...) have won the Grand Jury Prize, more than any other producer.

VIRTUAL OPENING NIGHT

Black Bear | Narrative Tuesday, October 13th, 6:00pm | Q&A at 7:45pm At a remote lake house, a filmmaker plays a calculated game of desire and jealousy in the pursuit of a work of art that blurs the boundaries between autobiography and invention. USA | 104min | Director: Lawrence Michael Levine

VIRTUAL CLOSING NIGHT

Paper Spiders | Narrative Saturday, October 17th, 6:00pm | Q&A at 8:00pm Recently widowed Dawn experiences growing anxiety as her daughter Melanie plans to move away for college. An altercation with a hostile new neighbor aggravates Dawn’s mental condition and she begins to show signs of paranoid delusions. Melanie attempts a series of interventions, but Dawn’s paranoia spirals out of control. Melanie is forced to make the toughest of choices as she struggles to keep her mother afloat. A bittersweet story about coming of age in the shadow of mental illness. USA | 109min | Director: Inon Shampanier

VIRTUAL AWARDS CEREMONY & CLOSING NIGHT PARTY Sat, Oct 17th | 4:30pm | Open to all

Join Filmmakers, screenwriters, actors and all the people who make the film industry thrive as we celebrate the awards for best films and bring a close to Portland’s most exciting film festival! Award winners will be announced! Sponsored by Koerner Camera Systems.

Buy Tickets at pdxff.com

DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION For Walter and Josiah | Documentary The Flathead Reservation was devastated by 22 suicides in a single year, including two beloved members of the high school basketball team. The team tries to honor their fallen brothers while coping with grief and the daunting challenges of life on the reservation. USA | 77min | Director: Jamie Elias

Into the Storm | Documentary A troubled teenager from the barrios of Lima tries to realise his dream of becoming a pro surfer and to raise his family out of poverty. Taken under the wing of a former world champion, he flourishes. But barrio life proves hard to escape and he is caught up in a drive‑by shooting. UK | 84min | Director: Adam Brown

Jump the Fence | Documentary Time is the enemy in this behind the scenes documentary adventure in no-budget filmmaking. Jump into the action with actors Britt Harris and Molly Elizabeth Parker as they trek to Brazil for the making of Ale Paschoalini’s feature film, Raízes. Will artistic vision prevail as our skeleton crew battles the elements in this high pressure race against the clock? USA | 97min | Director: Molly Elizabeth Parker

Knots: A Forced Marriage Story | Documentary

An exploration of the lives of three survivors of forced marriage in modern America. With forced and child marriage still legal and widespread in the United States, Fraidy in Brooklyn, Nina in Michigan, and Sara in California each face an unimaginable journey. Each must find the strength to survive, and thrive. USA | 76min | Director: Kate Ryan Brewer

DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION Movie Trailers: A Love Story | Documentary

Since their creation in 1913, movie trailers and their audiences have shared a special relationship that has grown and evolved over the years, just as the trailers themselves have. Movie Trailers: A Love Story looks at this relationship from its euphoric highs all the way to its frustrating lows. USA | 81min | Director: John Campea

N.E.S.T | Documentary A collective born from a love of Hip Hop culture, in one of the most contradictory places of all. They tirelessly seek to foster and strengthen this culture, taking their name all over on Brazil and the world. Facing all kinds of prejudices, they persist in the battle to be better for others. They believe that culture is not about what we like, but what can really change lives. Brazil | 52min | Director: Fernanda Turchetto

Since I Been Down | Documentary Prisoner Kimonti Carter and a large group of fellow prisoners make a concerted effort to break free from their fate and create a model of education that transforms their lives, their communities, prisons, justice and our own humanity. USA | 105min | Director: Gilda Sheppard

Trust Me | Documentary An exploration of the importance of media literacy and the efforts being made to promote it. Through dynamic interviews with experts and compelling human stories, the film examines how information and disinformation are created, shared, and spread throughout societies and how this, combined with confirmation bias and internet algorithms, affects ourÂ world. USA | 91min | Director: Roko Belic

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NARRATIVE COMPETITION Butter | Narrative A lonely, obese teenager everyone calls “Butter” is about to make history. He is going to eat himself to death, live on the Internet, and everyone is invited to watch. When he first makes the announcement online to his classmates, Butter expects pity, insults, and possibly sheer indifference. What he gets are cheerleaders rallying around his deadly plan. USA | 111min | Director: Paul A. Kaufman

The Flood | Narrative Wendy, a hardened immigration officer, is offered a high-profile asylum case, judged on her ability to quickly and clinically reject applicants. Through her interrogation, she must uncover whether Haile is lying and has a more sinister reason for seeking asylum. UK, France, Eritrea | 99min | Director: Anthony Woodley

Hard Luck Love Song | Narrative Jesse, a charismatic but down on his luck troubadour, finds himself at an existential crossroads as bad choices catch up with him during an unexpected reunion with Carla, an old flame. The script is based on the song “Just Like Old Times” by acclaimed Americana singer/songwriter Todd Snider. USA | 104min | Director: Justin Corsbie

Monkey Beach | Narrative Returning to her Kitimaat Village, Lisa accepts she’s meant to save her brother from a tragic fate she’s foreseen since childhood. Then there’s also the matter of contending with the mystical creatures lurking in the nearby woods. Bringing Eden Robinson’s iconic novel to the screen, Loretta S. Todd offers us a modern epic with themes that have long defined heroic journeys. Canada | 104min | Director: L. Sarah Todd

NARRATIVE COMPETITION Milkwater | Narrative Seeking direction and purpose, Milo rashly decides to become a surrogate and egg donor for an older gay man she meets in a bar. However, as Milo becomes increasingly attached to him, she starts leveraging the pregnancy as a means of staying embedded in his life. USA | 101min | Director: Morgan Ingari

Paper Champions | Narrative A surge of inspiration causes Rey, a regular guy, to quit a job he doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like. His new life begins to take shape, with the help of his best mate Wade. After a backyard rugby incident, Rey is rushed to a clinic where he meets Holly and has an awkward conversation. The boys tell Rey he needs to find his Mana. In the ropes of a wrestling ring, Rey begins to find it. Australia | 83min | Director: Jo-Anne Brechin

Running Naked | Narrative Mark and Ben have been friends since meeting as teenage cancer patients. Twenty years later, Mark is a successful, womanizing doctor while Ben has become a neurotic recluse. A dramatic piece of news upends their lives and challenges their friendship. To break Ben out of his shell, Mark drags him on an adventure that will change both their lives. UK | 92min | Director: Victor Buhler

Vagrant | Narrative The story of Frank, a homeless Black man subsisting on nightly alcohol binges to numb himself from the pain of guilt and regret he suffered from an earlier life. After one such bender Frank wakes up to find a puppy that was left to die in a garbage bin. Frank takes the necessary steps to care for the dog, unravelling his past while facing an uncertain future. Canada | 83min | Director: Caleb Ryan

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NARRATIVE FEATURES Between Waves | Narrative Following the clues left behind after Isaac’s disappearance, Jamie embarks on a journey to the island of São Miguel and begins to untangle the truth of what really happened the night Isaac disappeared. Searching for answers across parallel planes, how far will she go before she’s in too deep? Canada | 100min | Director: Virginia Abramovich

Thumb War! | Narrative Competitive Thumb Wrestling is coming back to the US for the first time in over a decade, and the competitors are ready, willing and able to do anything, ANYTHING, to win the gold. A documentary crew follows competitors, financiers, judges and guests on the path to glory where it is anyone’s game. USA | 57min | Director: Lilly Nelson

Apocalypse A-Go-Go | Narrative On the night a solar flare is predicted to destroy the earth, five strangers gather together for an Apocalypse Party. The guests take tours through each other’s memories, divulging intimate secrets and past lives. As the world around them goes up in flames, they drink through their fears and despairs together, hoping to find meaning and connection before death. USA | 85min | Director: Savannah Gisleson

39 1/2 | Narrative Kara is living her dream—making films and leading a rich, satisfying life in San Francisco. But as she approaches 40, the ticking of her biological clock—and Mom’s phone calls—spur her into a lastditch attempt to have it all. Kara Herold takes this oft-examined feminist trope and gives it an inventive spin in her quirky auto-fiction, which combines animation and absurdist comedy. USA | 72min | Director: Kara Herold

NARRATIVE FEATURES Mr. Weekend | Narrative Mr. Weekend is a Noir-Noir, a neo noir focusing on people of color. In the the city of LA, Charlie, an ex-con and middling bookie finds his good luck turning to bad when Crystal LSD worth a fortune lands in his lap. USA | 94min | Director: McKenzie Woodward

Best Summer Ever | Narrative Sage and Anthony face the drama of high school after falling in love at a dance camp over the summer. An original musical featuring a cast and crew of people with and without disabilities. Created by Zeno Mountain Farm. USA | 73min | Directors: Michael Parks Randa, Lauren Smitelli

Electric Jesus | Narrative It’s the summer of 1986. Erik (Andrew Eakle) is the shy, quiet type—but far more passionate than most teenagers when it comes to God and rock-n-roll. His dream comes true when he is asked to run sound for his favorite band, 316—a Christian hair metal band made up of older kids from his church. USA | 107min | Director: Chris White

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DOCUMENTARY FEATURES Win, Lose or Draw Straws | Documentary

Did you know the next US President could be picked out of a hat? Win, Lose or Draw straws is a rare fun for all sides political documentary that will make everybody mad by revealing the unbelievable ways that tied elections are broken using old fashioned games of chance. USA | 82min | Director: Casey Phillips

Closed For Storm | Documentary 15 years after Hurricane Katrina, there’s a lasting monument of the devastation. Six Flags New Orleans is currently sitting abandoned, rotting away in the Louisiana swamp. Closed for Storm explores the past, present, and future, to find out how this incredible theme park became frozen in time and left in an endless void of uncertainty. Canada | 57min | Director: Jake Williams

The Last Artifact | Documentary It affects every aspect of our lives, from the moment we are born to the food we eat, the cars we drive, and the medicines we take. This object has helped send men to the moon and satellites into space. The Last Artifact follows the high-stakes race to redefine the weight of the world, and reveals the untold story of one of the most important objects on the planet. USA | 57min | Directors: Jaime Jacobsen, Ed Watkins

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DOCUMENTARY FEATURES The Cowboy Hat Movie | Documentary John B. Stetson’s revelation and subsequent creation of the cowboy hat inspires one cowboy to embark on a journey through history. Is the cowboy hat currently as valid and iconic today as it was in the late 19th century? Are those who were once alienated by its symbolism now able to openly embrace this uniquely American fixture? USA | 79min | Director: John Carter

Crappie Killa The Movie | Documentary

Crappie Killa is on a mission to spread laughter, diversity, and healing through the great outdoors. He allows an intimate look into a painful skin condition that he suffers from known as HS, Hidradenitis Suppurativa. Close friends hook up with Crappie in Portland for a little bit of therapy and some good times. USA | 43min | Director: Will Deloney

Pioneers in Skirts | Documentary A discussion of how today’s women and girls experience and combat stereotyping in their lives. Director Ashley Maria shares her personal story of perseverance and determination in Hollywood, while also following the journey of three robotic team members and their fathers as well as a young mother – all while traveling across the U.S. to investigate solutions. USA | 60min | Director: Ashley Maria

DOCUMENTARY FEATURES Re-Inventing The Wheel | Documentary These active wheelchair users living in the Okanagan Valley are not your average peer support group and this is not the average ‘inspirational’ story. This tribe of wheelies bands together to aid newly injured Dan McLean through his first year of life on wheels. Will Dan be able to accept his new life in a chair, and more importantly, will he roll into a community ready to embrace him? Canada | 60min | Director: Chelsea McEvoy

No Lye | Documentary The ethnic beauty industry began in the Reconstruction era. By the 1960’s, the sale of black health and beauty aids was a multi-million dollar business heavily influenced by the civil rights movement. A decade later it became a billion dollar industry, and African-American manufacturers began facing competition from non-black corporations. USA | 55min | Director: Bayer Mack

Swim With Mike | Documentary After a dirt biking accident left 3-time NCAA Swimming National Champion Mike Nyeholt paralyzed from the chest down, his teammates held a fundraiser to get him a wheelchair-accessible van. The event raised more than was needed, and Mike used the extra money to create a new scholarship fund, to help other physically challenged athletes. USA | 67min | Director: Paul Joseph

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Buy Tickets at pdxff.com

Buy Tickets at pdxff.com

Truths Block 1 | Clock Stoppers Sir Jared the Nectarine | 39min Ghostal Galaxies | 21min Tony Fraginals | 17min

Truths Block 4 | I Am Found One Fall | 17min Full Circle | 33min Sundays at The Triple Nickel | 13min

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VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS & PANELS ULTRA LOW BUDGET FILMMAKING

PITCHFEST

Tues Oct 13th | 2:30pm

This is your chance to hone your pitching skills by presenting to a group of execs who regularly greenlight films. Enter in advance at xxx. The last winner of Portland Film Fest Pitchfest won a Student Academy Award for her film!

Stop making excuses. Write a script you can shoot cheaply, gather a team that’s willing to all band together for little or no money, get creative on how to make it happen, and SHOOT THAT DAMN MOVIE. Four filmmakers share some tips and secrets on how to do it. Hosted by Michael Dunaway; with Jason Winn, Casey Winn, Jonathan Hickman, Maggie Hickman

AUDITIONING — BOOK THAT PART Wed Oct 14th | 2:30pm Actors, you can’t hit a home run playing the part if you can’t get the part in the first place. Professionals form several different areas share their best practices on getting that part booked.

Fri Oct 16th | 2:30pm

Hosted by Michael Dunaway; with Steve Prince (producer/director), Josh Foster (Cinetic Executive), Adam Mirels (Producer)

CINEMATOGRAPHY IN INDEPENDENT FILM Sat Oct 17th | 1:00pm A panel of award-winning cinematographers gather to discuss equipment, techniques, and inspirations. Hosted by Michael Dunaway; with Elle Schneider, others TBA

Hosted by Michael Dunaway; with Mark Fincannon (Casting Director), others TBA

FILM FEST WORLD Thu Oct 15th | 2:30pm Film Fest World can be a confusing place to tour, if you’ve never been there, don’t have a map, and perhaps don’t even speak the language. Several festival programmers and creative directors will serve as your tour guides for this workshop. Hosted by Michael Dunaway; with James Faust (Dallas FF), Allan LaFave (Hells Half Mile FF), Alyssa Armand (Atlanta FF), others TBA

COVID-19 COMPLIANT FILMMAKING Thu Oct 15th | 4:00pm Yes, filmmakers, it IS possible to make films in the plague year. You just have to follow protocols carefully and strictly. Four filmmakers tell us how they did it. Hosted by Michael Dunaway; with Chris White, Emily Reach White, Jason Winn, Casey Winn

GETTING YOUR FILM NOTICED Sunday Oct 18th | 2:30pm You’ve made a great independent film – congratulations! Now the real work begins. How do you get your film noticed, so that it’s not that great film that nobody ever saw? Hosted by Michael Dunaway; with Logan Hill, others TBA

VIRTUAL SPECIAL EVENTS A CONVERSATION WITH MARGARET AVERY Tues Oct 13th | 4:00pm Margaret Avery has had a long and storied career in Hollywood, and is perhaps best known for her Academy Award-nominated role in THE COLOR PURPLE. Avery will be presented the Poitier Family Award by Jeffrey Poitier, then will sit down for a conversation about her life and career. Hosted by Michael Dunaway

A CONVERSATION WITH JAY MOHR Fri Oct 16th | 4:00pm Jay Mohr is a comedian, actor, and podcast host, best known for his work on SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, in JERRY MAGUIRE, and as the lead in two network shows, ACTION and GARY UNMARRIED. Mohr sits down for a conversation about his life and career Hosted by Michael Dunaway

A CONVERSATION WITH CARRIE PRESTON Sat Oct 17th | 2:30pm Carrie Preston is a longtime star of stage and screen, currently starring in the TV show CLAWS, and won an Emmy for her role in THE GOOD WIFE. She’s also an award winning director. Preston sits down for a conversation about her life and career. Hosted by Michael Dunaway

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BLACK VOICES Crappie Killa The Movie | Documentary

No Lye | Documentary The ethnic beauty industry began in the Reconstruction era. By the 1960â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, the sale of black health and beauty aids was a multi-million dollar business heavily influenced by the civil rights movement. A decade later it became a billion dollar industry, and African-American manufacturers began facing competition from non-black corporations. USA | 55min | Director: Bayer Mack

BLACK VOICES Vagrant | Narrative The story of Frank, a homeless Black man subsisting on nightly alcohol binges to numb himself from the pain of guilt and regret he suffered from an earlier life. After one such bender Frank wakes up to find a puppy that was left to die in a garbage bin. Frank takes the necessary steps to care for the dog, unravelling his past while facing an uncertain future. Canada | 83min | Director: Caleb Ryan

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THE FEMALE GAZE 39 1/2 | Narrative Kara is living her dream—making films and leading a rich, satisfying life in San Francisco. But as she approaches 40, the ticking of her biological clock—and Mom’s phone calls—spur her into a lastditch attempt to have it all. Kara Herold takes this oft-examined feminist trope and gives it an inventive spin in her quirky auto-fiction, which combines animation and absurdist comedy. USA | 72min | Director: Kara Herold

Apocalypse A-Go-Go | Narrative On the night a solar flare is predicted to destroy the earth, five strangers with no one to be with gather together for an Apocalypse Party. The guests take tours through each other’s memories, divulging intimate secrets and past lives. As the world around them goes up in flames, they drink through their fears and despairs together, hoping to find meaning and connection before death. USA | 85min | Director: Savannah Gisleson

THE FEMALE GAZE Knots: A Forced Marriage Story | Documentary

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INDIGENOUS VOICES For Walter and Josiah | Documentary The Flathead Reservation was devastated by 22 suicides in a single year, including two beloved members of the high school basketball team. The team tries to honor their fallen brothers while coping with grief and the daunting challenges of life on the reservation. USA | 77min | Director: Jamie Elias

Buy Tickets at pdxff.com

VOICES OF ABILITY Best Summer Ever | Narrative Sage and Anthony face the drama of high school after falling in love at a dance camp over the summer. An original musical featuring a cast and crew of people with and without disabilities. Created by Zeno Mountain Farm. USA | 73min | Directors: Michael Parks Randa, Lauren Smitelli

For Walter and Josiah | Documentary The Flathead Reservation was devastated by 22 suicides in a single year, including two beloved members of the high school basketball team. The team tries to honor their fallen brothers while coping with grief and the daunting challenges of life on the reservation. USA | 77min | Director: Jamie Elias

Re-Inventing The Wheel | Documentary These active wheelchair users living in the Okanagan Valley are not your average peer support group and this is not the average ‘inspirational’ story. This tribe of wheelies bands together to aid newly injured Dan McLean through his first year of life on wheels. Will Dan be able to accept his new life in a chair, and more importantly, will he roll into a community ready to embrace him? Canada | 60min | Director: Chelsea McEvoy

VOICES OF ABILITY Swim With Mike | Documentary After a dirt biking accident left 3-time NCAA Swimming National Champion Mike Nyeholt paralyzed from the chest down, his teammates held a fundraiser to get him a wheelchair-accessible van. The event raised more than was needed, and Mike used the extra money to create a new scholarship fund, to help other physically challenged athletes. USA | 67min | Director: Paul Joseph

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FILMMAKERS

JURY DOCUMENTARY FEATURES Emily Goodmann Emily is currently Assistant Professor of Communication at Clarke University in Dubuque, IA where she teaches courses in media studies and media history. She received her Ph.D. in Media, Technology, and Society from Northwestern University in 2015. Emily formerly served as an executive board member at the Julien Dubuque International Film Festival where she organized festival panels regarding the digital distribution of film. She is the former digital media manager for videoon-demand innovator, CinemaNow.

Kristian Mercado Kristian Mercado Figueroa (Director, Writer) is a Puerto Rican filmmaker living in Spanish Harlem whose music-driven short film Pa’lante won the SXSW Jury Award 2019. Mercado has directed content for Billie Eilish, Awkwafina, Eric Andre, De La Soul, MF DOOM, Planned Parenthood, Bad Bunny, and Adult Swim, among others. He has also directed comedy specials for Hannibal Buress and SNL’s Sam Jay for NETFLIX. His work was official selection at SXSW 2020 with both a video for the Grammy-nominated Black Pumas and Hannibal’s Miami Nights.

Rowena PoitierSutherland Rowena Poitier-Sutherland currently serves as the youngest Executive Director of Culture in Bahamian history at the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture in The Bahamas. Her primary focus is to educate children and women through the arts and media.Rowena holds a BFA with Honors in Theatre Studies from Adelphi University and an MFA from California State University, Long Beach, in Acting and Directing. She sits on the advisory boards of The Confucius Institute, UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, Antiquities Monuments & Museums Corporation, Clifton Heritage National Park, the National Art Gallery of the Bahamas and Women United. Rowena is also a member of the International Society for Professional Women.

NARRATIVE FEATURES Derrick Cameron A native of Chicago, Derrick received his Master of Fine Arts from Florida State University. He wrote and directed the acclaimed short films “The Man” and “Caroline,” which won the 2nd Triggerstreet.com Online Film Festival and screened at TIFF. He also produced the short film “ANTS,” which screened at the Cannes Film Festival and was featured in Vanity Fair as one of Budweiser’s New Discovery Filmmakers. He wrote and directed the 2008 feature film, “Right on Louise.” Derrick is currently the Artistic Director for the non-profit organization Ghetto Film School.

Jay Mohr Jay’s career has spanned across three decades. Three years after landing his dream job of Saturday Night Live, Jay was cast opposite Tom Cruise in Jerry Maguire, and then co-starred with Jennifer Aniston in Picture Perfect. He wrote the best selling book Gasping for Airtime about his time on SNL. After 25 films and his own groundbreaking series Action, he starred in the CBS scripted comedy Gary Unmarried. Jay still loves performing stand-up comedy: it’s in his blood, his bones and his DNA. Comedy Central named Mohr one of the 100 greatest stand-up comics of all time.

Carrie Preston Carrie Preston is a longtime star of stage and screen, currently starring in the TV show CLAWS, and won an Emmy for her role in THE GOOD WIFE. She’s also an award winning director.

JURY DOCUMENTARY SHORTS Sterling Shore A producer and writer, Sterling grew up on set and on stage. Inspired by watching her father follow his dreams as a documentarian, she is doing the same. Since graduating from NYU in 2018, she has used her degree in Creative Production to help produce ads for some of the biggest brands in the world. A documentary buff and former intern to Scott Rudin, Sterling brings a unique, fresh, Gen Z perspective to the table.

Alexia Bailey Alexia Bailey is a Los Angeles based actor. With experience in the Dallas, Atlanta and Los Angeles markets she brings a wellrounded mindset to the industry. Her experiences as a black woman have fueled her to advocate for more stories to be told from different perspectives.

Susie Talbot Susie Talbot is an independent producer with an affinity for stories about women who are dynamic, remarkable and who push boundaries. She is currently in production on a documentary feature about the COVID-19 outbreak and how it has revealed New York’s many flawed, socially unjust, and racist systems. She is currently developing a feature film, in conjunction with Maven Pictures and Votiv, based on Dale Leatherman’s book COURTING DANGER, with Olivia Newman attached to write. Additionally, she is independently developing a limited series based on the book THE LOTUS EATERS by Tatjana Soli.

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NARRATIVE SHORTS Chelsea Logan Born and raised in New York City, Chelsea has personified such roles as Nina in Chekhov’s The Seagull, Lucy in Michael Frayn’s Alphabetical Order, and The Director in Luigi Pirandello’s Six Character’s in Search of an Author. In addition, she has performed in numerous works by Shakespeare, Ionesco, Tennessee Williams, William Inge, and musical productions. She founded the first International Baccelaureate Film Festival for students across the globe. In addition to appearances on Veronica Mars and Mind of Mencia, Chelsea has worked on several independent features.

Josh Pence Josh Pence was born in Los Angeles California and began acting in 2006. He has worked with some of the best directors working today, having starred in David Fincher’s THE SOCIAL NETWORK, Peter Berg’s BATTLESHIP, Christopher Nolan’s THE DARK KNIGHT RISES, and Damien Chazelle’s LA LA LAND. Josh was awarded the Best Verge Performance Award at the 2019 Napa Valley Film Festival for his work in the independent feature HOSEA. On the television side, he has recurred on ABC’s REVENGE and Amazon’s THE MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE. He currently stars on the critically acclaimed Freeform series GOOD TROUBLE in the role of ‘Denis.’

Ogy Durham Ogy Durham starred as Shelby in the NAACP nominated Steel Magnolias production opposite May May Ali and The Vagina Monologues directed by Kellie Griffin. She can be seen on CBS’s hit show ‘Code Black’ opposite Marcia Gay Harden and Luis Guzman, the Netflix show ‘Lucifer’ as the evil seductress Odessa, and on the most recent season of 13 Reasons Why starring opposite Alisha Boe, directed by acclaimed director Sunu Gonera. For the past year, Ogy has been working on a new Television series, ‘Church’, with her writing and producing partner Amber Wegner.

JURY PORTLAND SHORTS Charles Judson An Atlanta native, Charles is a veteran film festival organizer and programmer with over a decade of experience. He was the programming director for TERMINUS Conference + Festival, a film and gaming event for emerging creators. Prior to that he was Artistic Director for the Atlanta Film Festival, where he was on staff for seven years. In 2014, he created and launched Film Bar Mondays, a weekly event for filmmakers in Atlanta, now with sister events in Jacksonville and Tampa Bay. Currently, he’s an Organizer Success Manager with the ticketing and virtual festival platform Eventive.

Victoria Negri Victoria Negri is an award-winning filmmaker and ultra marathon runner. Her feature directorial debut, Gold Star, which she wrote, directed, produced and acted in, features Oscar-nominated actor Robert Vaughn in his last on-screen performance. Gold Star won five awards on the festival circuit and was distributed via Turn Key Films on VOD, as well as being released theatrically. The film received an 86% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Victoria is an ongoing programmer for the Oxford Film Festival and has written pieces on filmmaking for NoFilmSchool, BtchFlicks, Women and Hollywood and The Talkhouse. Victoria is in development on her second feature film ULTRA with Executive Producers David Lowery, James Johnston, and Toby Halbrooks and Producers Jon Read and Allison Carter.

Katherine Waddell Katherine Waddell is a 27 year old actress and producer who grew up in São Paulo, Brazil and has studied the fine arts for over 16 years spanning two continents. Now residing in Los Angeles, she’s obtaining an MA remotely from SCAD and recently started her own production company alongside her creative partner, Em Johnson, called First Bloom Films. Her first producing credit came from her role as Associate Producer on Six L.A. Love Stories, featuring Matthew Lillard, Alicia Witt, and Carrie Preston. Her latest credit comes as Co-Executive Producer on Dinner in America starring Kyle Gallner and Emily Skeggs, from PSH Creative and Ben Stiller’s Red Hour Productions. Dinner in America was officially selected to compete in the US Dramatic Competition at Sundance 2020.

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FILM INDEX 2nd Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Cosmic Fling . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Ghosted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

39 1/2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Costumes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Give Me a Sign . . . . . . . . . . 26

Adelina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

The Cowboy Hat Movie . . . 20

Giving Up the Ghost . . . . . . 22

After Class . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Crappie Killa the Movie . . . 20

Gooey Goats . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Áine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Crazy Sexy Oreos . . . . . . . . 22

Growth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

All the Wrong Things . . . . . 26

Dead Drop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Hard Luck Love Song . . . . . . 14

Alvin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Deaf Reach: Hope for Pakistan . . . . . . . . 23

The Haunted Swordsman . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Dear Jesus . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Hell Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

The Difficult Kids . . . . . . . . . 23

Henry Needs a New Home . 25

Electric Jesus . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Hermanos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Eli . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

The House Call . . . . . . . . . . 24

Embarko . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

How Much Am I Worth . . . . 23

Esperanza’s Turn . . . . . . . . . 22

Hyper Active . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Expectations . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

I Am Dust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Fake Moves! . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Ice Ball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Farming Slowly . . . . . . . . . . 24

In Dependence . . . . . . . . . . 23

Feeling Through . . . . . . . . . 23

Intercept Signals . . . . . . . . . 24

Best Summer Ever . . . . . . . . 17

The Fish Don’t Care When It Rains . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Into the Storm . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Between Waves . . . . . . . . . 16

Flawd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Black Bear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

The Flood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

It Never Entered My Mind . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Black Thoughts . . . . . . . . . . 22

Flow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

The Journeyman . . . . . . . . . 27

Broken Bird . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

For an Absent Recluse . . . . 25

Jump the Fence . . . . . . . . . . 12

Butter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

For Walter and Josiah . . . . . 12

Cage Match . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

The Forgotten Ones . . . . . . . 22

Kama’aina (Child of the Land) . . . . . . . . 24

Casserole . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

The Fourth Wall . . . . . . . . . . 24

Knots: A Forced Marriage Story . . . . . . . . . . 12

Closed for Storm . . . . . . . . . 19

Full Circle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

L A R A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Come F*ck My Robot . . . . . 26

Full Picture . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

The Last Artifact . . . . . . . . . 19

Coney Island, August . . . . . 22

Ghostal Galaxies . . . . . . . . . 26

The Last House . . . . . . . . . . 25

American Bodies . . . . . . . . . 25 The American Dream . . . . . 26 Apocalypse A-Go-Go . . . . . . 16 Are They Smiling? . . . . . . . . 26 Assholes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Augustus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Autism Ability . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Ayee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Bacon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Becoming Eddie . . . . . . . . . 26 Below . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

It Doesn’t Matter . . . . . . . . 22

FILM INDEX The Last Two . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Last Words . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Latch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Lip Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 A Litany for Survival . . . . . . 22 The Lobbyists . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Lockdown with a Baby . . . . 26 Logan Les & the Rise of the Purple Dawn . . . . . . . 25

On the Other Side of the Mountains . . . . . . . . 23 One Day, Long Ago . . . . . . . 24 One Fall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 The Other Morgan . . . . . . . . 26 The Other Side of Night . . . 22 Our Voice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Ouzo and Blackcurrant . . . . 25 Paper Champions . . . . . . . . 15

Sir Jared the Nectarine . . . 26 Siri . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Sofa So Good . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Soulmate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Spring Blood . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Stasis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Stepping Out . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Still Happy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 A Strange Calm . . . . . . . . . . 27

Loop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Paper Spiders . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Lotus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Patch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Macie’s Parade . . . . . . . . . . 24

Peeps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Sundays at the Triple Nickel . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Madame . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Pioneers in Skirts . . . . . . . . 20

Swim With Mike . . . . . . . . . 21

Maelle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Pizza Party . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Tandem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Make Me the Tennessee . . 27

Postcards from the End of the World . . . . . . . . . 25

Tape Wizard . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Master Maggie . . . . . . . . . . 27 Milkwater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Monkey Beach . . . . . . . . . . 14 Mosquito . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Movie Trailers: A Love Story . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 The Prospector . . . . . . . . . . 25 Re-Inventing the Wheel . . . 21 Running Naked . . . . . . . . . . 15 Safehouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Mr. Weekend . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Saving District . . . . . . . . . . . 24

N.E.S.T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Scenes from a Brain . . . . . . 25

Natalie’s Point of View . . . . 23

Seek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Newspaper News . . . . . . . 23

Self Worship . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Shoot the Duck . . . . . . . . . . 22

No Lye . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Sign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

The Not-Dying Girl . . . . . . . 23

Signs & Wonders . . . . . . . . 24

Nothing to Say . . . . . . . . . . 25

Silent Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Omega Beta . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Since I Been Down . . . . . . . 13

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Summer Summer . . . . . . . . 25

Thumb War! . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Tony Fraginals . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Totsu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Trust Me . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 The Two of Us at the Edge of the World . . . . . . . . 25 An Uncomfortable Woman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Under the Lights . . . . . . . . . 23 Vagrant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 A Very Special Occasion . . . 26 Voices from the Invisible . . . 23 Water Tower: Anthem . . . . . 24 We. Will. Breathe. . . . . . . . 24 Win, Lose or Draw Straws . 19

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