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Portland Film Festivals
Check out our guide to the city's top cinematic events.
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.
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.
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
Every March, POW Film Fest returns to showcase films by female and non-binary directors from the Portland area.
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
Vanport Mosaic Festival
The 2021 festival will be a hybrid event, including virtual events, in-person tours, pop-up performances, a museum, an altar and video installations. In these times of collective amnesia, remembering is an act of resistance. For the fourth year, Vanport Mosaic invites you to explore the many silenced histories that surround us, in order to better…
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…
The Lot with Hollywood Theatre: Troop Beverly Hills + Opening Set by Plastic Cactus
Join TheLot and Hollywood Theatre on Tuesday, June 22 for the 1989 comedy, Troop Beverly Hills, and a special performance by Plastic Catcus. Rated PG, 1h 45m.
The Lot with Hollywood Theatre: Coming to America + Opening Set by Cool Nutz & DJ Fatboy, Presented by The Mirarchi Family
Join The Lot and Hollywod Theatre on Saturday, June 26 for the 1988 comedy, Coming to America, with a special performance by Cool Nutz & DJ Fatboy, presented by The Mirarchi Family. Rated R, 1h 57m.
The Lot with Hollywood Theatre: Stand By Me
The Lot with Hollywood Theatre presents a series of film and music. Join us on Monday, June 28 for the 1986 classic Stand By Me and a special performance by The Shivas, presented by Oregon Film. Rated R, 1h 29m. Doors | 6:30 PM Music | 7:15 PM Movie | 8:00 PM $35-50 per person….
Buster Keaton Silent Movie Nights with Matan Porat at the Gresham Arts Plaza
Pack a picnic and bring your own seats to experience the multi-talented pianist and composer Matan Porat’s live, on-the-fly soundtrack performances for classic movies starring the master of silent comedy, Buster Keaton. Matan has garnered international acclaim for his “…vivid, propulsive, and fun…” (The New York Times ) musical improvisations to silent films. The projected…
Buster Keaton Silent Movie Nights with Matan Porat at the University of Portland Campus
Pack a picnic and bring your own seats to experience the multi-talented pianist and composer Matan Porat’s live, on-the-fly soundtrack performances for classic movies starring the master of silent comedy, Buster Keaton. Matan has garnered international acclaim for his “…vivid, propulsive, and fun…” (The New York Times ) musical improvisations to silent films. The projected…
The Lot with Hollywood Theatre: Labyrinth
The Lot with Hollywood Theatre presents a series of film and music. Join us on Tuesday, July 8 for the 1986 fantasy Labyrinth. Rated PG, 1h 41m. Doors | 6:30 PM Movie | 7:30 PM “Sixteen-year-old Sarah is given thirteen hours to solve a labyrinth and rescue her baby brother Toby when her wish for…
The Lot with Hollywood Theatre: The Muppet Movie
The Lot with Hollywood Theatre presents a series of film and music. Join us on Tuesday, July 27 for the 1979 family-friendly film, The Muppet Movie. Rated G, 1h 35m. Doors | 6:30 PM Movie | 8:00 PM “Kermit and his newfound friends trek across America to find success in Hollywood, but a frog legs…
The Lot with Hollywood Theatre: Casablanca
The Lot with Hollywood Theatre presents a series of film and music. Join us on Wednesday, July 28 for the 1943 seminal classic, Casablanca, and a special performance by Onry. Rated PG, 1h 42m. Doors | 6:30 PM Music | 7:15 PM Movie | 8:00 PM “A cynical expatriate American cafe owner struggles to decide…
The Lot with Hollywood Theatre: WALL-E
The Lot with Hollywood Theatre presents a series of film and music. Join us on Tuesday, August 3 for the 2008 heartfelt adventure, WALL-E. Rated G, 1h 38m. Doors | 6:30 PM Movie | 8:00 PM “In the distant future, a small waste-collecting robot inadvertently embarks on a space journey that will ultimately decide the…
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