45th Northwest Filmmakers' Festival schedule by NWFC

nwfilm.org

THE 45TH NORTHWEST FIL AKERS’ FESTIVAL Welcome For over 45 years, the Northwest Film Center has presented a regional film festival—now the longest running film festival on the West Coast. What first began as the Northwest Film and Video Festival in 1973 became the Northwest Filmmakers’ Festival in 2011. Regardless of name, the Festival has continued to be a true celebration of regional cinema from (what we like to call) the best corner of the planet. True to form, the Festival continually strives to push forth the voices and visions of filmmakers engaging in new and personal work. One big challenge from the past few years has been to provide a full representation of work coming out of the various locations around the region. This year we decided to create the Regional Survey, six short film programs curated by guest curators from each of the states and provinces that make up the Northwest: Oregon, Washington, Montana, Idaho, Alaska, and British Columbia. The programs will screen throughout the Festival and, along with all other programming and the day-long Northwest Filmmakers’ Summit, provide audiences with a well-rounded glimpse into the hearts and minds of filmmakers from around the region. The Northwest Film Center owes many thanks to individuals and organizations that helped produce this year’s Festival. First, a big thank you to Festival judge Liliana Rodriguez for her thoughtful decisions in selecting works deserving of special recognition and compiling them into the two shorts block programs. Thank you to Courtney Sheehan, Christian Lybrook, Curtis Woloschuk, Pat Race, Gita Saedi Kiely, and Nora Colie for taking the time to curate the programs that make up the Regional Survey. Thank you to graphic designer Josh Lunden for his Festival design and Alicia J. Rose who wrote and directed the Festival trailer. And on top of all the hard-working Northwest Film Center staff members, a big thank you to Assistant Festival Producer Michelle M. Matthews. The Festival also appreciates the longtime support of the James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation, LAIKA, the Regional Arts & Culture Council, and the citizens of Portland through the Arts Access and Education Fund. All these friends, and so many more recognized in the program, have helped create an event we hope will open your imagination, minds, and eyes to the amazing stories from the many filmmakers living and working in the great Northwest. Ben Popp, Festival Manager, Northwest Film Center

PRODUCING

FEATURING

SUPPORTING

FALL 2018 Workshops Sound Design: Creating Acoustic Worlds for the Screen

A Tale in Two Minutes: How to Pitch Your Film Idea

Kelley Baker Tuition: $45

David Poulshock & Nancy Froeschle Tuition: $75/$25 (see below)

Saturday, October 20, 10 am-4 pm with lunch break

Sound design is about emotional response—how a combination of dialogue, music, sound effects, designed sounds, and backgrounds supports character development and the dramatic elements of the story. This workshop looks deeply at how different artistic choices in sound design influence the meaning of a scene. The different stages and workflow of sound design will be discussed in detail. Learn to see the potential of sound in a new light and gain a framework for creating a sound design plan for your own film. Kelley Baker was the Sound Designer on Gus Van Zant’s My Own Private Idaho, Good Will Hunting, and Finding Forester and Todd Haynes’ Far From Heaven, as well as numerous feature ﬁlms, shorts, and documentaries of his own.

16mm Bolex Camera Operation

Saturday, October 27, 9:30 am–12:30 pm

CONTRIBUTING

Scott Ballard Tuition: $55

Explore the unique potential of 16mm film as an analog storytelling tool. Learn the basics of loading, metering and selecting appropriate film stock. Handling of the cameras will be extensive. Gain the confidence needed to shoot on your own after the workshop.

Arri Alexa Camera Operation

PRODUCTION RENTALS

Saturday, October 27, 1–4 pm MISSION. The Northwest Film Center is a regional media arts resource and service organization founded to encourage the study, appreciation and utilization of the moving image arts; to foster their artistic and professional excellence; and to help build a climate in which they flourish.

WATCH. Through year-round exhibition programs surveying cinema past and present, audiences and filmmakers come together to explore our region and the world through the moving image arts.

LEARN. Individuals find and cultivate their personal voices as storytellers through education programs and innovative collaborations which advance media literacy and engage the next generation.

MAKE. Regional filmmakers are supported as artists, educators, mentors, connectors, and leaders, strengthening cinema’s place in the creative, social and economic sectors of the community.

The Northwest Film Center is funded in part by the James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation, Henry Lea Hillman Jr. Foundation, Regional Arts & Culture Council, Oregon Arts Commission, The Ted R. Gamble Film Fund, the Citizens of Portland through the Arts and Education Access Fund, and the support of numerous sponsors, members, and friends.

NWFILM.ORG

Hands-On Learning for Creatives & Community Members

Scott Ballard Tuition: $95

Learn the basics of shooting with our flagship digital cinema camera. Known for its dynamic range, color rendition, and reliability, this camera is available for rent to independent filmmakers working on non-commercial and/or personal projects at highly competitive rates. The topics include: menu settings, lens compatibility, external monitoring and recording, slow motion capability, image processing, and workflow options and file management.

Friday, November 2, 10 am–3 pm with lunch break

Pitching is part writing, part strategy, part performance, but, above all, it is storytelling. Learn how to find the essential elements of your story, create an effective log line, and prepare for a suspenseful, engaging, and tight 60-120 second knock-it-out-of-the-park presentation to prospective buyers/funders/collaborators. Register either as a Pitching Participant ($75) who is actively coached through the process of developing and delivering a pitch for their project, or an Observer ($25) who gleans from the lectures, in-class practices, and critiques as a witness. David Poulshock’s Red Door Films produces corporate ﬁlms, web videos, documentaries, and features including Wee Sing, the groundbreaking public television series. Nancy Froeschle is a Nicholl Fellowship Winner who has written and produced thrillers, dramatic shorts, and serialized pilots including Riders and Lake Crescent.

Pitch for the Prize

Friday, November 2, 3–4 pm

Whitsell Auditorium FREE

Join us as participants from the Tale in Two Minutes workshop display their newly-acquired pitching finery before a “jury” of notables from the 45th Northwest Filmmakers’ Festival community. Applaud their efforts (and potentially influence the outcome) as the competition culminates in the awarding of prizes for the top contenders. An excellent way to witness the world of film project development and marketing. Filmmakers of all levels and general community members are welcome to attend this inside moment into the world of indie filmmaking.

Scott Ballard has produced six feature ﬁlms and several shorts, and has written, directed and produced three of his own feature ﬁlms locally (A Standing Still, Welcoming Departure, Death on a Rock).

Special Events CONTINUED

THE 45TH NORTHWEST FIL AKERS’ SUMMIT Saturday November 3, 10am – 5pm — FREE

The Northwest Filmmakers’ Summit is a single-day event featuring distributors, marketers, production-based companies, and industry vendors showcasing the latest in filmmaking technologies. The Summit also features panels and discussions on current topics relating to the independent film world. Catering Provided by Hoda’s Middle Eastern Cuisine Location: Fields (Sunken) Ballroom, Portland Art Museum (1119 SW Park Ave).

Panels and Presentations:

Marion F. Miller Gallery, Portland Art Museum (adjacent to Fields Ballroom)

10:30 am – 11:30 am ABI Insurance: What to Know for Productions featuring Justine Avera 11:45 am – 12:45 pm Regional Curators: The diﬀerences in ﬁlming in each NW state and province

Moderated by Programmer Don Andrews Gita Saedi Keily, Montana, Christian Lybrook, Idaho, Pat Race, Alaska, Curtis Woloschuk, British Columbia, Nora Colie, Oregon

1 pm – 2 pm Art of Producing: Who are the Various Producers and Why It Is Important to Know Them Moderated by Portland Producer Lara Cuddy Packaging/Distribution Producer– Mia Bruno Independent Film Producer/Writer/Director – Barri Chase Laika Lead Media Engineer, 1998 – 2018 —Trevor Cable Producer — Alyssa Roerbacker Producer — David Brame OPB Producer — Eric Slade

2:30 pm – 3:30 pm SAG/AFTRA: Why Union? 3:45 pm – 4:45 pm Scripto Demonstration

Special Events: VR Theater with 360 Labs Showcasing two short films.

Through Darcelle’s Eyes

A short documentary about Portland’s legendary drag performer Darcelle XV, who at the young age of 87 shows no signs of slowing down.

The Fire in Our Backyard

A short documentary about the devastating Eagle Creek fire and its impact on the communities living in the Columbia Gorge.

The Soapbox

An interactive area in which professionals from the independent filmmaking realm will have a chance to get up and speak about an array of topics. Animation set from the short film Two Balloons. ON-SITE VENDORS INCLUDE:

Panasonic Fujinon Sound Devices Letus 35 accessories Pacific Grip and Lighting Pro Photo Supply ABI Insurance AVID Aputure

Insuremyequipment.com SAG/AFTRA OMPA Art of Make Up School Philadephia and JD Fulwiler Insurance Scripto Kodak 360 Labs

A revolutionary script writing program

SPECIAL EVENTS Scary-Oke: A Sing-along Séance Wednesday, October 31, 8 pm - Midnight

Portland Art Museum’s Fields (Sunken) Ballroom — 1219 SW Park Ave. Join us for an extra special 45th Northwest Filmmakers’ Festival Opening Night celebration at the Portland Art Museum’s Fields (Sunken) Ballroom, with Portland band The OK Chorale PDX leading partygoers in songs by dead musicians. In addition to this sing-a-along séance, there will be costume contests with prizes, food & drink, an array of masquerading monsters, large-scale interactive sets including a séance room with special guests Vera Mysteria and Lady Stockholm, pop up performance from Nina Nightshade and video mapping from Invisible Thread. All this and more put together by a team of incredibly talented Portland art directors and designers including Ryan Bruce, Darcy Sharpe, Ira Pratt and the folks at Form 3d Foundry.

Media Mixer hosted by the OMPA and the Northwest Film Center Thursday, November 1, 5 – 7:30 pm

Southpark Seafood — 901 SW Salmon St. Join the Oregon Media Production Association (OMPA) and the Northwest Film Center for a media mixer at South Park Seafood. The event is free for OMPA members, filmmakers, and Northwest Filmmakers’ Festival pass holders. Come mingle with some of the local industry’s best!

Northwest Film Center’s Gearage Sale Friday, November 2, Noon – 5 pm Saturday, November 3, Noon – 5pm

Northwest Film Center Oﬃces, Classroom 1 — 934 SW Salmon St. The Northwest Film Center’s Equipment Room is opening its doors to the public to browse and purchase pieces that are not in use, have run their course, or that we just do not have room for anymore! In addition to the used and new gear, Kodak Super 8 film stocks will be on sale. All profits go straight back into the Equipment Room’s to help repair and maintain current gear.

Northwest Exposure Saturday November 3, 4:30 pm

Northwest Film Center’s Whitsell Auditorium — 1219 SW Park Ave. Seven scriptwriting contest finalists will have their work read live by professional actors. The winner will receive a production package from local companies Koerner Camera, Gearhead Grip, Stage 13, DigitalOne, Mission Control, PDX-Pendables, Insuremyequipment.com, the Northwest Film Center, and the OMPA. The goal is to provide a local filmmaker with the tools to go from scratch to finish with community support. Scripts to be read include: 36 weeks by A.R. Hall Myosotis Love by Charlie La Tourette How to Draw A Girl by Darcy Miller The Collector by Jen Elkington Bird in the Water by Katie Bennett The Woods by Peter Russell The League of Not So Superheroes by Spencer Miller

SHORTS >>

The 50 Foot Challenge Saturday, November 3, 9:20 pm

Northwest Film Center’s Whitsell Auditorium — 1219 SW Park Ave. Now in its third incarnation and with the support of Kodak, the 50 Foot Challenge is a competition in which ten filmmakers create an in-camera film using Kodak Super-8, with a soundtrack only applied afterwards. Filmmakers include Joanna Priestley, Laura Houlberg, Sally Spaderna, Tara Johnson-Medinger, Scott Braucht, Anthony Hudson, Julie Perini, Sean Conley, Laura Heit, and Bryan Hiltner. FREE

Saturday Night Dance Party Saturday, November 3, 9:30 pm – Midnight

Northwest Film Center Oﬃces, Classroom 1 – 934 SW Salmon St. After a long day of screenings and Summiting, dance the night away as DJ DNA spins some tunes with visuals by Greg Hamilton, and pizza from Sizzle Pie.

Film Talkers’ Lounge Various Days Throughout Fest Andrée Stevens Room, Portland Art Museum —1219 SW Park Ave. The Film Talkers’ Lounge is a place where both filmmakers and attendees can gather to talk about what they have seen or are excited to see. Located in the Stevens room near the Whitsell Auditorium inside the Portland Art Museum, this is the place to mingle and meet with fellow Festival-goers. Food and drink sponsored by Carina Lounge, Addy’s Sandwiches, Ken’s Artisan Bakery, Abacela Winery, Portlandia Vintners, and Rogue Ales.

Twilight

Bunny/Bunny

SHORTS BLOCK A

From modern anxieties about talking on phones to deeply personal journeys, this program weaves together documentaries, atmospheric tales, comedies, and a touch of the experimental to get the heart going.

Saturday November 3, 7:15 pm — Whitsell Auditorium (84 mins.)

Two Balloons

SHORTS BLOCK B

A collection of films that have a little something for everyone, from familial drama, environmental and personal documentaries, and a selection of animated gems.

Sunday, November 4, 4:45 pm — Whitsell Auditorium (81 mins.)

Burton Before and After, Oregon, 2017

Phone Call, Oregon, 2017

Homeless: The Soundtrack, Oregon, 2018

Fifteen years after Burton’s gender-affirming transition, his longtime friend Courtney invites him over to re-visit some forgotten old footage.

When all forms of online communication leave an inquiry unanswered, Patrick must undertake the unthinkable: a phone call.

After being taken away from her parents by the state and given up for adoption, singer-songwriter “Cami” Jenni Alpert sought out her homeless father who, as it turns out, is a musician too.

dir. Courtney Herman (15 mins., documentary, DCP)

dir. Tyler Trautman (6 mins., experimental, DCP)

A Rat’s Life, Oregon, 2018 dir. Zak Margolis (5 mins., animation, DCP)

dir. Irene Taylor Brodsky (26 mins., documentary, DCP)

An ordinary commute home turns near-disastrous as an overworked employee falls asleep at the wheel.

Twilight, British Columbia, 2018

Two Balloons, Oregon, 2017

dir. Richard Reeves (2 mins., experimental, 35mm)

The Day Don Died, British Columbia, 2018

dirs. Sean Horlor, Steve Adams (16 mins., documentary, DCP)

An exploration of the bizarre and wonderful events surrounding the death of a jazz singer in a retirement community for older entertainers.

Bunny/Bunny, Oregon, 2018

dir. Sara Burke (13 mins., drama, DCP)

After losing his father in a house fire, a boy deals with the absence in his life.

STAND OUT FILM AWARD From Parts Unknown, Montana, 2017

dir. Michael Workman (27 mins., documentary, DCP)

Ten years after starting an underground professional wrestling league in the backyards of Spokane, Washington, Jesse “Madman” Manson must make a decision about the sport that allowed him self-expression but left him with many injuries.

Judge’s Statement I’d like to start by thanking Ben Popp, Nick Bruno, and all the fine people at the 45th Northwest Filmmakers’ Festival for inviting me to be a part of their programming this year. It’s been an absolute joy poring over films from your magical region, and it’s clear to me that cinema and the independent spirit are alive and strong here. Thank you for letting me witness this firsthand! It’s always a difficult and personal task for me to narrow down a selection. I’m a firm believer that all films (regardless of level of expertise, budget, etc.) are made from love. These are stories that filmmakers need to tell, and choosing which stories get told comes with a huge responsibility. So, for the selection, I went with films that moved me in two ways: through the stories themselves and through the way the stories were told. I want to share with you what I saw—a diverse and very talented group of filmmakers who combine powerful narratives with cinematic language. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do! Liliana Rodriguez 4

A portrait of the crew of the Sea Shepherd, an ocean vessel and conservation group that uses direct action to fight poaching and habitat destruction.

Nodding Oﬀ, Oregon, 2018 dir. Kailey Choi (2 mins., animation, DCP)

A rat’s somewhat peaceful existence is shattered when he is confronted by a large, glowing hotdog during a routine fishing excursion.

A direct-animation exploring the relationship between sound and picture, inspired by the two lights inside film projectors.

Part Time Heroes, Oregon, 2017 dir. Quentin van den Bossche (13 mins., documentary, DCP)

dir. Mark C. Smith (9 mins., animation, DCP)

Ameya, Oregon, 2018

dir. Mackie Mallison (2 mins., animation, DCP)

18-year-old artist and activist Ameya Marie fights for change by creating pieces that address topics such as police brutality, school shootings, and misrepresentation of people of color in the media.

Two Bottles, Oregon, 2018 dir. Rob Shaw (13 mins., animation, DCP)

An introvert named Bert enters a hotel with the goal of spying on a mysterious man named Gregor. But when the tables are turned, Bert is pulled into a world of insanity.

Two adventurous lemurs navigate their flying ships halfway around the world to a place where happenstance and fate threaten their reunion.

The Cameraman, British Columbia, 2016 dir. Connor Gaston (16 mins., drama, DCP)

Francis must reconcile his relationship with his abusive father who suffers from Huntington’s disease, while Francis’ younger brother Ed records their dysfunctional lives on a Super 8 camera.

Judge’s Bio Liliana Rodriguez is a programmer and festival organizer based in Palm Springs, California. She works yearround at the Palm Springs International Film Society where she is Festival Director for ShortFest (June) and Director of Programming for the Palm Springs International Film Festival (January). She gets her horror fill programming short films for the Overlook Film Festival (April). From Parts Unknown

REGIONAL SURVEY WASHINGTON

Intrepid Layers, 68 min. Guest Curator: Courtney Sheehan, Former Executive Director, Northwest Film Forum Wednesday, October 31, 5pm Medieval Martha Stewart, Washington, 2018 dir. Taylor Hawkins (14 mins., documentary, DCP)

Since childhood, Josh Brock has been fashioning weapons of war; countless knives, swords, and axes line the walls of his apartment in Lakewood, WA. Though his decor may seem unusual, his inspiration behind it feels strangely familiar.

BRITISH COLUMBIA

IDAHO

Let Us Be Restless, 80 mins. Guest curator: Curtis Woloschuk, Associate Director of Programming, Vancouver International Film Festival Thursday, November 1, 5pm

Friday, November 2, 4:30 pm What Metal Girls Are Into, Idaho, 2017

A struggling actor abandons all logic when she finds a stranger unconscious in her laundry room.

Three women attending a metal festival in the desert find something disturbing in the freezer of their isolated vacation rental.

Hero, Idaho, 2017

A Caged Bird Sings, Oregon, 2018

dir. Amanda Smith (14 mins., documentary, DCP)

A snapshot of the daily lives of three women entrenched in the continuing conflict that engulfs Palestine.

Water Stories, Oregon, 2018

dir. Shelley Jordan (2 mins., animation, DCP)

Hand-painted stop-motion animation about a dishwasher that keeps flooding.

The Glow is Gone, British Columbia, 2017 dir. Ryan Ermacora (16 mins., drama, 16mm)

Disjunct, Washington, 2017

?Etsu (Grandmother), British Columbia, 2017

An impressionistic mélange of natural and urban landscapes shot mostly on Super-8 between Seattle, eastern Washington State, Berlin, and Utah.

A First Nations boy struggles with the death of his grandmother, but finds a connection to her through an old VHS camcorder.

World’s Next Door, Washington, 2018

The Movieland Movie, British Columbia, 2016

A look into the process of artistic baton passing, where inspiration from the music that relates to Seattle awakens a free-flow process, touching upon themes of life in an increasingly mechanized world and the sounds it induces.

A portrait of the Vancouver arcade Movieland and the various players, lights, textures, and narratives that exist within its walls.

dir. Trevor Mack (17 mins., documentary, DCP)

dir. Zachary KerrHolden (14 mins., documentary, DCP)

Sentences, Idaho, 2018

dir. Lydia Sakolsky-Basquill (4 mins., documentary, DCP)

An exploration on how creativity and artistic expression affected the lives of men inside the Idaho State Correctional Center.

Baghdad to Boise, Idaho, 2018

dir. Erin Westfall (10 mins., documentary, DCP)

Saeed worked with the U.S. military for years in his home country of Iraq. When things became too dangerous for him and his family, the opportunity arose to move to the United States.

The Big Burn, Idaho, 2018

dir. Samantha Silva (20 mins., drama, DCP)

Helen Turner is caught between the rugged beauty of the Idaho wilderness and the reality of her failing marriage when she’s pulled into the orbit of a young woman whose own life is about to change forever.

Rendering by LIMITS, Washington, 2016

dirs. Corrie Befort, Jason E. Anderson (15 mins., experimental, DCP)

Sound, space, and movement emerge as characters in a hypnotic, parallel universe that yields unusual psychological and physical states.

dirs. Caryn Cline, Linda Fenstermaker (3 mins., experimental, DCP)

An exploration of our timeless relationship with the natural world as a young farmer entangles herself among the flowers, shot using in-camera double exposures.

Rupture, British Columbia, 2017

Vitrified, Washington, 2018

The journey of four Arab teens on their quest to find a public pool in their new city on a hot summer day.

dir. Yassmina Karajah (18 mins., drama, DCP)

?Etsu (Grandmother)

Little Donnie, Oregon, 2018

dir. Chel White (4 mins., animation, DCP)

Mink, Idaho, 2018

A dark parody of the 1975 made-for-TV horror film Trilogy of Terror starring Karen Black. However, rather than being terrorized by fetish doll, it is Donald Trump.

A young woman comes to terms with her place in the sexual hierarchy after being betrayed, trapped, and raped by a man she thought was her friend.

We Would Like to Thank You, Oregon, 2018

dir. Jace Wigley (8 mins., drama, DCP)

Trahere, Washington, 2018

A character encounters a uranium orb in the forest. Responding to the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, the filmmaker questions the impact of nuclear waste and the legacy it leaves for future generations.

There Goes the Neighborhood, Oregon, 2018 The visual experience of gentrification fit into a 3-minute time-lapse.

Two quarrelling brothers set out on an adventure in their neighborhood and discover what it means to be a hero.

Disillusioned by economic precarity, a young woman travels to do temporary farm work on a Gulf Island in British Columbia.

dir. Etsuko Ichikawa (8 mins., drama, DCP)

Don and Edwina take audiences on a tour of the cosmopolitan city of Portland, Oregon and the many riches it had to offer in 1971.

dir. Dan Evans (3 mins., animation, DCP)

dirs. Andrew Garcia, Nate Garcia (13 mins., drama, DCP)

Three young brothers are asked some of life’s big questions about marriage, careers, death, and Saturn’s moons.

dir. Champ Ensminger (8 mins., documentary, DCP)

dir. Tim Smith (6 mins., comedy, 16mm)

dir. Laurel Vail (15 mins., horror, DCP)

dir. Sophie Jarvis (16 mins., drama, DCP)

Seattle poet Sarah Galvin performs their poem “Contents of My Pockets After an Evening of Communicating with the Dead” while sitting on the stoop of what was once a gathering space at Malden Avenue and East Mercer in Seattle.

dir. Brian C. Short (13 mins., experimental, DCP)

This is Portland, Oregon, 1971

Medical Drama, British Columbia, 2018

dirs. Luke Sieczek, Citizen Minutes (2 mins., experimental, DCP)

dirs. Juliana Bojorquez, Morgan McDougal, Christian Krantz (5 mins., documentary, DCP)

Change, Love, & Rage, 88 mins. Guest curator: Nora Colie, Independent Filmmaker and Organizer Saturday, November 3, 1:45pm

Sponsored by the Montana Film Oﬃce

Free Lunch, Montana, 2017

Blue-collar workers at a world-class spaceport complex make space travel possible in the unlikeliest of locales: Kodiak Island, Alaska.

An exploration of ASMR as a culture, a therapy, and a community, told through interviews with Whispers Red ASMR, Whisper Lodge, and therapist Annie Wright.

A cunning thief adapts to the season.

I Am a Whittier Teacher, Alaska, 2013

The Conservationist, Montana, 2018 dir. Ken White (12 mins., drama, DCP)

Erika Thompson teaches grade school in Whittier, Alaska, a town where most people live and work in one building.

Armor Del Amor, Oregon, 2018 dir. Kirk Kelley (2 mins., animation, DCP) A nature ‘documentary’ that follows the mating rituals of a Dasypus novemcinctus (Nine-banded female armadillo) as she discovers the dark underbelly of modern mammalian dating. Karma Has You, Oregon, 2018

dir. Ran Sheng (4 mins., animation, DCP)

A young man suffering from a lost love tries to find a way to free himself from his emotional hell, but instead of finding his lover, he finds himself facing his karma.

dirs. Christy NaMee Eriksen, Ryan Cortes Perez (6 mins., experimental, DCP)

A poem about grief, gratitude, and friendship dedicated to Eriksen’s lifelong close friend who passed away from cancer last year.

Spaceport Somewhere, Alaska, 2018 dir. Brice Habeger (8 mins., documentary, DCP)

Sunday November 4, 12 pm

Massively Relaxing, Oregon, 2017

dir. Nevada Lacy (13 mins., documentary, DCP)

How to Say Goodbye, Alaska, 2016

dir. Ken Grinde (2 mins, narrative, DCP)

dirs. Slavik Boyechko, Travis Gilmour (6 mins., documentary, DCP)

Trying to escape his complicity in an environmental disaster, a gifted economist retreats into an Eden of his own making. But when a tyrannical energy conglomerate threatens to destroy paradise, he takes conservation to a murderous extreme.

Esthers’ Room, Montana, 2018 dir. Jacob Boelman (6 mins., documentary, DCP)

Feels Good, Alaska, 2016 Dir. Andrew Okpeaha Maclean (15 mins, Drama, DCP)

When his car breaks down on a deserted rural highway and he is picked up by a man looking for his runaway daughter, Kelvin must decide between heroism and his front teeth.

A child’s creativity is packed away as 10-year-old Esther prepares to move.

Sea Ice Secure, Alaska, 2015

Rainmaker, Montana, 2018 dir. Kristen Hester (18 mins., drama, DCP)

1 of 6 short films showcasing ten northwestern Alaskan villages as they adapt to rapid changes in climate, weather, and resource development.

A young mother struggles with the demon of her eating disorder and the implication that it holds for her six-year-old daughter.

Lincoln, Montana, 2017 dir. Laura Lovo (5 mins., documentary, DCP)

A young man living in Havre, Montana unintentionally becomes a knifemaker after the death of his brother.

dir. Sarah Betcher (10 mins., documentary, DCP)

Wild Woman, Alaska, 2018 dir. Vanessa Sweet (4 mins., experimental, DCP)

In an animated poem to mankind that invokes current world issues, scenes transform and melt as the animator explores her personal struggle of becoming a mother in the current social and political climate.

FEATURES >>

AKU-MATU: Ancestor from the Future, Alaska, 2015 dir. Michael Walsh (4 mins., experimental, DCP)

Go Missing, Oregon, 2018

Old-school analog technology is used to convey the movement and facial expressions of one of Alaska’s most famous artists.

dir. Casey McFeron (8 mins., suspense, DCP)

A suburban woman encounters a strange van outside her home, which in turn leads to even stranger occurrences.

The Last Walk, Alaska, 2018 dir. Anna Hoover (12 mins., drama, DCP)

Sole Doctor, Oregon, 2018

A story that addresses the Bristol Bay community experiences of salmon fishery, travel by bush plane, substance abuse, and mental health issues while paying homage to history and empowering modern storytellers.

dir. Paula Bernstein (11 mins., documentary, DCP)

George’s Shoe Repair, a family-owned shoe repair shop in Portland, has served the community for over 50 years. Massively Relaxing

Going for the Gold, Alaska, 2017 dir. Beau Sylte (5 mins., comedy, DCP)

Bring them Home, Montana, 2017

dir. Daniel Glick (18 mins., documentary, DCP)

An intimate look at the only indigenous tribal-led buffalo drive in North America.

The Hard Way, Montana, 2017

dirs. Jeremy Lurgio, Erik Peterson (20 mins., documentary, DCP)

The inspirational story of Bob Hayes, an 89-year-old trail runner who does things the hard way to maintain purpose, momentum, and vitality. Esthers’ Room

An eccentric man in Juneau, Alaska tries to get every bit of gold out of the sand.

Ixsixán, Ax Kwáan (I Love You, My People), Alaska, 2018

dirs. Jacob Brouillette, Marcel Cohen, Bradley Dybdahl, Arias Hoyle, Keegan Kanan, Geri Rodriguez, Kenndra Willard (4 mins., music video, DCP)

Seven Tribal Citizen youth created a music video that illustrates their love for their culture and indigenous life in Southeast Alaska.

Gert Svarny, Alaska, 2017

dir. Pat Race (8 mins., documentary, DCP)

Unangan artist Gert Svarny grew up in Unalaska until she was evacuated and interned during World War II.

Luk’Luk’I

Zilla and Zoe

My Summer as a Goth

Wednesday, October 31, 7 pm My Summer as a Goth, Oregon, 2018

Sunday, November 4, 2:15 pm Zilla and Zoe, Oregon, 2017

Monday, November 5, 7:05 pm Luk’Luk’I, British Columbia, 2017

Following the death of her father, 16-year-old Joey Javitts is sent to stay with her grandparents where she becomes enamored with the beguiling goth boy next door in this coming-of-age story about social alienation in adolescence.

First time feature filmmaker Jessica Scalise tells the comedic story of young Zoe, a 10-year-old obsessed with gore and horror, who plies her craft while filming her sister’s wedding.

Wayne Wappemuka’s debut feature takes place during the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, juxtaposing the excitement and fervor surrounding the Canada-USA gold medal hockey game with five Vancouverites on the fringes of a society in celebration.

dir. Tara Johnson-Medinger (90 mins, Narrative, DCP)

dir. Jessica Scalise (101 mins., comedy, DCP)

Sunday, November 4, 7:05 pm North of Blue, Oregon 2017

Thursday November 1, 7:10 pm Lost Division, Oregon, 2018

dir. Wayne Wapeemukwa (90 mins., drama, DCP)

dir. Joanna Priestley (67 mins., animation, DCP)

dir. Edward P. Davee III (72 mins., drama, DCP)

Shot on glorious super 16mm, director Edward Pack Davee III’s second feature brings together a chaplain, an infantryman, and a 16mm war photographer who together wander a war-torn landscape searching for meaning in madness, as winter steadily approaches.

Friday, November 2, 6:45 pm Sadie, Washington, 2018

dir. Megan Griffiths (96 mins., drama, DCP)

Seattle-based director Megan Griffiths’ sixth feature is both a coming-ofage tale and a glimpse into the heartache of loneliness starring Melanie Lynskey, John Gallagher Jr., and newcomer Sophia Mitri Schloss as Sadie, who fights to keep her home life secure until her solider father returns home.

Long-time animator Joanna Priestley, known for her fantastic shorts, has created her first feature film filled with energetic abstract animation inspired by winter landscapes of the North. *Screens with

Metanoia, Oregon, 2018

dir. Arianna Gazca (7 mins., animation, DCP)

A visual music short in which abstract images are used to convey the delicate emotions when one is at their most vulnerable.

Monday, November 5, 9 pm Essays on a City, Oregon, 2018

dir. Stuart Eagon (77 mins., documentary, DCP)

Shot on black-and-white super 16mm, Stuart Eagon’s debut feature is a three-part exploration of urban identity. Metanoia

Thursday, November 1, 9:10 pm Man Proposes, God Disposes, British Columbia, 2017

dir. Daniel Leo (81 mins., drama, DCP) Photographer-turned-filmmaker Daniel Leo’s first feature is a trans-Atlantic tale of culture shock and miscommunication, as a young Polish man named Karol moves to Brazil to become a father after discovering his one-night stand with Brazilian tourist Bruna led to pregnancy. Lost Division

Friday, November 2, 9:15 pm Wicked Wednesday, Oregon, 2017

dir. Andy Ridgway (60 mins., documentary, DCP)

For over 20 years, DJ Wicked has hosted a weekly celebration of all things hip-hop, and despite constantly having to find new venues, his dedication to continue forth in a city not known for a thriving hip-hop scene makes him a hero amongst fellow DJs and fans.

Sunday November 4, 9:05 pm Strictly Professional, Oregon, 2018

dir. Sean Brown (90 mins., comedy, DCP)

In this satirical farce, three extremely privileged, affluent white women in unhappy marriages decide that hiring non-white gigolos is the perfect cure for their predicaments.

THE 42 FRESH FILM NORTHWEST

by Filmmakers Ages 13-19

Welcome

OFFICIAL SELECTIONS (73 mins.)

Fresh Film Northwest is a juried survey of work by up-andcoming teen filmmakers living in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Alaska, and British Columbia. Now in its 42nd year, the Festival recognizes individual talent, showcases model examples of how film arts can be taught in schools, and engages all of us in helping to build the Northwest regional youth media community of 13- to 19-year-olds. Congratulations to these young filmmakers, whose work has been selected from nearly 130 entries, and to the high schools, community organizations, and mentors who supported their efforts. May this glimpse into the heart and spirit of the next generation be a refreshing reminder that filmmaking is first and foremost about people encouraging each other and showing the way.

Aisitsimstā /Imagination, MAPS Media Institute,

Ellen Thomas, Education Director Mia Ferm, Education Programs Manager

WATCH ON OUR VIMEO CHANNEL

dir. George Glidden (14 mins, narrative, HD) Living life for one’s passions and dreams.

Daydreaming’s power in reaching real goals.

24 Hours, POWGirls, Oregon, 2018 dirs. Aya Doslu, Paige Stewart, Kaylee Stillwell, and Jasmin Vazquez-Sierra (6 mins, narrative, HD) Midnight Criminals, Ballard High School, Washington, 2018

dir. Brendan Hickey (15.5 mins, narrative, HD) Funding college through a life of crime.

Before I Go, Northwest Film Center, Oregon, 2018

Inspiration from a film contest.

The Creek, Northwest Academy, Oregon, 2018 dir. Lukas Gordon (21 mins, horror, HD) The secrets of a mysterious creek are revealed.

dir. Conner Wood (6.5 mins, narrative, HD)

Monster, Vancouver School of Arts and Academics,

Washington, 2018 dir. Derek Slade (5.5 mins, narrative, HD)

Siblings in Transition, The Cinematheque, British Columbia,

Bedtime disturbances in one long take.

Doubts, Ballard High School, Washington, 2018

A shared journey of coming out as transgender.

Internal demons of doubt and anxiety.

We Are Still Here, Reel Youth, British Columbia, 2018 dir. Megan Metz (3 mins, documentary, HD)

Bittersweet, Vancouver School of Arts and Academics,

Jurors' Statement In this year’s entries to Fresh Film Northwest, we found a very broad range of styles, themes, and approaches to assess. Some, often made with minimal resources by first time entrants, were short and to the point. Others were lengthy and complex, the culmination of an individual’s entire high school career. In making our selections, it came down to how well each piece achieved what the teen filmmaker had set out to do, and the extent to which they were successful in engaging us, the viewers, in their thoughts and dreams. Reflected in the entries were recurring themes stemming from the adolescent experience of today. Many of the works demonstrated and/or directly explored the influences of television and media forms on friendships, life choices, and their perceptions of themselves. A number of them bemoaned the drudgery of “adult” life (please don’t let this happen to me) and sought to suggest a way out. Yet the greatest overriding theme, one that permeated the vast majority of the entries, was that of identity and the struggle to discover it, believe in it, and ultimately to celebrate one’s own unique story. Whether expressed through a documentary, personal narrative, or hybrid form, many of our favorite entries are, at their core, about breaking through to a new and better place—a culture of acceptance, inclusion, and great possibilities.

dir. Liam Bonds (5.5 mins, experimental narrative, HD)

42ND FRESH FILM NW IS SPONSORED IN PART BY

HONORABLE MENTIONS Iris, MAPS Media Institute, Montana, 2018

Montana, 2018 dir. Mecca Bullchild (8 mins, narrative, HD)

Reflections on choices of the past.

Lev Anderson Jenn Chavez Mikai Lewis

Saturday, November 3, 11:30 am, Whitsell Auditorium—FREE

Ameya, Independent Entry, Oregon, 2018

dir. Mackie Mallison (2 mins, documentary, HD) Fighting for social change through art.

Aliens with a Side of Milk, Northwest Film Center, Oregon,

2018 dir. James Suave (1 min, animation, HD) Surprises fall from the sky.

Quiet Desperation, Independent Entry, Oregon, 2018

dir. Dov Annuse (2.5 mins, music video, HD) Finding joy in the drudgery of life.

Sudden Drop, Northwest Film Center, Oregon, 2018

dir. Kiera Ciano (3 mins, experimental, 16mm to HD) Textures and rhythms of the city unfold.

Jurors’ Bios Lev Anderson’s films and photographs explore his deep interest in local communities, urban infrastructures, climate and wilderness. His work includes the heralded music documentary Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone. Jenn Chavez is a radio announcer for Oregon Public Broadcasting and producer for Think Out Loud. Previously, she reported on issues impacting underrepresented communities for XRAY-FM and was co-host of The Film Show on KBOO. Mikai Lewis is a multi-media artist who uses film, photography, ecology, and writing to articulate and manifest emotional and enlightening commentary, and positive alternative realities, for her audiences.

Circling back on what’s most important.

2018 dir. Penn Zacharias (5.5 mins, documentary, HD)

Young resilient indigenous voices speak out.

Tori Phillips: When We Change Our Views, Reel Youth, British Columbia, 2017 dir. Ezra Avdeyev (5.5 mins, documentary, HD)

Bridging the divide between the church and trans communities.

Boxed In, POWGirls, Oregon, 2018 dirs. Faby Bautista, Tess Ferryman, Peace Irakoze, Angela LaresBenitez, Avery Medinger, Jo Ta (3.5 mins, experimental, HD) Telling your story confidently and without shame.

That Sucks, Independent Entry, Washington, 2018 dir. Chloe Fontenot (1.5 mins, narrative, HD) Summertime boredom kicks in.

Takeout, Ballard High School, Washington, 2018

Washington, 2018 dir. Derek Slade (5 mins, narrative, HD)

On the Surface, POWGirls, Oregon, 2018

dirs. Lou Baur, Sierra Smothers, Kaylee Stilwell, and Sabine Westby (4 mins, experimental, HD)

Challenging media’s historic portrayal of homosexuality.

Tracks, The Cinematheque, British Columbia, 2018 dirs. Alicia, Caitlin, Jessica, Joud, Paige, and Sophie (7.5 mins, documentary, HD) Transit as a metaphor for safety versus racism.

Perseverance, Independent Entry, Oregon, 2016 dir. Goirick Saha (8.5 mins, documentary, HD) The long-term effect of bullying.

Syrian Boys, Reel Youth, British Columbia, 2018 dir. Bashar Abourasheed 3 mins, documentary, HD)

New Canadians reflect on the path to resiliency.

Unfamiliar Cosmos, Independent Entry, Oregon, 2018

dir. Phelan Davis (2 mins, experimental, HD) Existential awe in the face of the unknown.

dirs. Claire Kilkenny, Rachel Warsaw, Brendan Hickey (6.5 mins, narrative, HD)

Who will take out whom before the food arrives?

Aisitsimstā /Imagination

Aliens with a Side of Milk

NON-PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE

PAID PORTLAND, OR PERMIT NO. 664

1219 SW PARK AVE. PORTLAND, OR 97205

THE 45 NORTHWEST FIL AKERS’ FESTIVAL TH

OCTOBER 31 – NOVEMBER 5, 2018 WEDNESDAY 10/31

THURSDAY, 11/1

FRIDAY, 11/2

4–7 pm Film Talkers’ Lounge @ Andrée Stevens Room Want to visit with filmmakers? Grab a beer and keep the conversation going. Food by Carina Lounge.

5 – 7:30 pm Media Mixer with OMPA @ Southpark Seafood

10 am – 3 pm A Tale in Two Minutes: How to Pitch Your Film Idea Workshop @ The Northwest Film Center, Classroom 1 (p. 1)

5 pm Washington Shorts Block ( p. 6) 7 pm My Summer As A Goth (p. 10)

5 pm British Columbia Shorts Block ( p. 6) 7:10 pm Lost Division (p. 10) 3 – 4 pm Pitch For the Prize (p. 1) 9:10 pm Man Proposes, God Disposes (p. 10) @ The Whitsell Auditorium

3:30 – 9:15 pm Film Talkers’ Lounge @ Andrée Stevens Room. Food by Addy’s Sandwiches.

8 pm – Midnight Opening Night Halloween Party Scary-Oke: A Sing-A-Long Séance (p. 2) @ Sunken Ballroom

4:30 pm Idaho Shorts Block (p. 7) 6:45 pm Sadie (p. 10) 9:15 pm Wicked Wednesday (p. 10)

SATURDAY, 11/3

SUNDAY, 11/4

MONDAY, 11/5

10am – 5pm Northwest Filmmakers’ Summit @ Sunken Ballroom

11 am – 9 pm Film Talkers’ Lounge @ Andrée Stevens Room Food by Hoda’s Middle Eastern Cuisine.

4 – 9 pm Film Talkers’ Lounge @ Andrée Stevens Room. Food by Addy’s Sandwiches.

12 pm Montana Shorts Block (p. 8) 2:15 pm Zilla and Zoe (p. 11) 4:45 pm Shorts Block B (p. 5) 7:05 pm North of Blue with Metanoia (p. 11) 9:05 pm Strictly Professional (p. 11)

5 pm Alaska Shorts Block (p. 9) 7:05 pm Luk’Luk’I’ (p. 11) 9 pm Essays of a City (p. 11)

11:30 am Fresh Film Northwest (pp. 12–13) 10:30 am – 7:15 pm Film Talkers’ Lounge @ Andrée Stevens Room 1:45 pm Oregon Shorts Block (pp. 7–8) 4:30 pm Northwest Exposure (p. 3) 7:15 pm Shorts Block A (p. 4) 9:20 pm Super 8 Challenge 9:30 pm – Midnight Afterpary with DJ DNA and Visuals by Greg Hamilton @ The Northwest Film Center, Classroom 1

$45 Festival Pass

includes admission to all Northwest Filmmakers’ Festival screenings and the Filmmakers’ Summit. Unless otherwise noted, all film screenings and events take place at the Northwest Film Center— Whitsell Auditorium located inside the Portland Art Museum, 1219 SW Park Avenue

$10 General Admission $8 PAM Members, Students, Seniors $5 Silver Screen Club Friends, New Wave & Children

All screenings @ Whitsell Auditorium, Portland Art Museum, 1219 SW Park Avenue, Portland, OR 97205 Northwest Film Center Classes & Offices, 934 SW Salmon Street Portland, OR 97205

503-221-1156 • Visit nwfilm.org for the screening schedule, descriptions, and trailers.