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Crowds gather at February\'s Portland International Film Festival. Crowds gather at February\'s Portland International Film Festival.
i
Crowds gather at February’s Portland International Film Festival.
Culture / Film

Portland Film Festivals

Check out our guide to the city's top cinematic events.

Updated Mar. 16, 2021 3 min read

Know Before You Go

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, large events are limited based on the current risk level. For details on the events listed below, please visit their websites.

Portland hosts more than 20 film festivals every year. Here’s an overview of some of the city’s top cinematic events.

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You’re currently viewing a page featuring a selection of events. To find even more things to do in Portland, visit our full calendar, which you can search by date and event type.

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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.

Pedalpalooza Bike Festival

Portland's cycling culture peaks during June's multi-week Pedalpalooza (returning June 1–30, 2019), featuring 200+ local-led, themed rides, all open to the public.

Read more

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.

August Events

Biking across bridges and cheering on soapbox racers are two of many great August events in Portland.

Read more

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.

Festivals, Film

Feminist Fests

More Film
Cinephiles line up for a Portland Queer Film Festival screening.

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 features women-led films, workshops and moderated panels.

POW Film Fest

Every March, POW Film Fest returns to showcase films by female and non-binary directors from the Portland area.

Lagartijas Tiradas al Sol at TBA 2012

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

Full Calendar
Editor's Pick
Filmed by Bike Film Festival
May 20–23, 2021

Filmed by Bike Film Festival

Virtual

The festival will take place as a YouTube livestream event in 2021. 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.

Editor's Pick
Festival
Film

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