Portland Film Festivals
Check out our guide to the city's top cinematic events.
Portland hosts more than 20 film festivals every year. Here’s an overview of some of the city’s top cinematic events.
Reel Music Film Festival
(January)
Reel Music Film Festival, the Northwest Film Center’s celebration of music on film, treats music lovers to some of music’s most intriguing artists (both celebrated and little known) offering a filmic take on sounds, roots and personalities from bossa nova to indie rock. Live music is scattered throughout Reel Music Festival at various venues.
Portland International Film Festival (PIFF)
(February)
Founded in 1977, the Portland International Film Festival (PIFF) now draws an audience of more than 35,000 attendees, making it the biggest film event in Oregon. More than 100 films — including features and international shorts — premiere each year at the largest festival presented by the Northwest Film Center.
Portland Women’s Film Festival (POWfest)
(March)
The Portland Oregon Women’s Film Festival focuses on the art and cinematic contribution of women filmmakers from around the world. Spanning four days, the roster of events comprises an exhibition of films made by women, moderated filmmaker panels and filmmaker workshops.
Filmed by Bike
(May)
In a city that loves bicycling almost as much as it loves movies, it’s only natural that there’s a festival celebrating both. Filmed by Bike is a two-day festival at the Hollywood Theatre screening bike-themed independent short movies from around the world. In all, about 30 films, all under eight minutes in length, celebrate bike culture.
QDoc: Portland Queer Documentary Film Festival
(May)
QDoc is the first festival of its kind in the United States, and only the second in the world devoted exclusively to documentaries with queer content. QDoc aims to engage with the core issues of queer identity in politics, history, culture, family, aging and coming out issues, queer diversity, gender identity and sexuality. Films screen at the Hollywood Theatre.
Top Down: Rooftop Cinema
(July-August)
Every summer, the Northwest Film Center presents Top Down: Rooftop Cinema, a series of outdoor screenings on the panoramic rooftop of a Portland State University (PSU) parking garage. More than just movies, these parties in the sky feature live music, tasty food and drink and spectacular city views. Featured films include cult classics and lesser-known B movies—perfect light summer fare.
Flicks on the Bricks
(July-August)
Gather up the family and head to Pioneer Courthouse Square for free movies and popcorn under the stars on Portland’s “largest outdoor screen.” Flicks on the Bricks are held every year on five consecutive Friday nights, mid-July-mid-August.
Portland Queer Film Festival
(September)
The Portland Queer Film Festival annually showcases features, documentary and short films from all over the world that are made by, about or of interest to the lesbian, gay, bi and trans community. Films are screened at Cinema 21 in Northwest Portland.
Northwest Filmmakers’ Festival
(November)
The Northwest Filmmakers’ Festival is the Northwest Film Center’s annual showcase of new work by regional media artists, showing feature, short and documentary films made by artists in Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, Montana and Idaho. As the oldest and largest festival presenting regionally made work, the event offers an up-to-the-minute snapshot of a rich and diverse media arts community drawing increasing international attention.
Feminist Fests
Portland Queer Film Festival
Portland Queer Film Festival returns every fall with an annual showcase of narrative and documentary films from around the world.
POW Film Fest
POW Film Fest showcases films by female and non-binary directors, along with filmmaker workshops and moderated panels, every March in Portland.
Time-Based Art (TBA) Festival
Portland's Time-Based Art (TBA) Festival, returning Sept. 5–15, 2019, unites visual artists, musicians and performers from around the world every year.
Upcoming Movie Events
Cascade Festival of African Films
A free popular Portland event for 29 years, this year’s film festival features five weeks of more than 30 feature, documentary and short films by established and emerging African directors from 18 countries. The Cascade Festival of African Films shows us Africa through the eyes of Africans, rather than a vision of Africa packaged for…
Tender Table Presents: Tampopo
Portland’s Tender Table event series features performances and snacks by women and gender-nonbinary people of color.
Northwest Filmmakers' Festival
The Northwest Filmmakers’ Festival is the Northwest’s premiere showcase of new work by leading regional filmmakers. This touchstone annual event brings artists and audiences together for a community celebration. Annually, the Northwest Filmmakers’ Festival draws hundreds of entries from Alaska, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington.
Portland International Film Festival
The Northwest Film Center is hosting its 43rd Portland International Film Festival March 6-15, 2020. This year, PIFF will include films, talks, workshops, visiting artists, and parties! While heading to individual screenings is always an excellent option, PIFF passes are a great way to experience all that the festival offers. Three-film Opening Night program features…
Filmed by Bike Film Festival
Filmed by Bike is a film festival that features the world’s best bike movies. The packed weekend includes a bike ride, visiting filmmakers, six film showtimes, dozens of films, afterparties and much more.
H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival
Join the Hollywood Theatre for its annual H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival, the world’s most beloved horror actor. Enjoy Lovecraftian and independent films, panel discussions, author readings, art, guest filmmakers and handmade wares.
Portland Film Festival
Portland Film Festival is a non-profit organization dedicated to nurturing filmmakers and audiences, and to 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. The festival is anchored with outdoor screenings, offering its filmmakers…
Reel Science: The Divided Brain
A film which explores a radical new idea – is there an imbalance between our brain hemispheres that is affecting how we live in our modern society? The Divided Brain is the mind-altering documentary inspired by the book, The Master and His Emissary by Iain McGilchrist. 6:30 p.m.: Introduction and movie (duration 1 hour 18…
State Funeral
Sergei Loznitsa Netherlands/Lithuania (2019, 135 mins., in Russian with English subtitles) In master filmmaker Sergei Loznitsa’s latest foray unearthing troves of archival material for chillingly contemporary ends, he methodically ushers us through the unprecedented March 1953 funeral of dictator Josef Stalin. The funeral, which drew several million citizens to Red Square, completely shut down the…
Knowing the Columbia
Participating artists: Erik Sandgren, Sara Siestreem, Lillian Pitt, Genevieve Robertson, Fred Wah, Rita Wong, Santigie Fofana-Dura, Sapata Fofana-Dura, Ka’ila Farrell-Smith, Jonnel Covault. Description: Artists offer diverse perspectives on the river that shaped the Northwest. Through the use of a wide range of media, including print, video, painting, fiber weaving, poetry and installation, Knowing the Columbia…