10 Things You Don't Know About PDXFF
For the fifth year in a row, Portland is going to be home to what Movie Maker called “One of the coolest film festivals.” PDXFF 2017 is gearing up to be bigger and better than ever and the best way to enjoy all the events, workshops, and—of course—films is to buy passes so that you can have first dibs to all the fun. If you’ve never attended, here’s a list of 10 things about PDX Film Festival that’ll prove that this fest is way more than just movie screenings.
John Malkovich showed up at the first Portland Film Festival in 2012 and last year Vanna White displayed her fabulous waving skills at the fest. You never know who you’ll see at PDXFF. Except that we do know Francis Ford Coppola will be there and every VIP pass holder will get to see him at the opening day champagne toast. Plus, every VIP pass holder will be entered in a lottery for a private meet and greet with the legend himself.
PDXFF shows more independent movies (from every genre) in a week than most cinemas play all year, giving you the opportunity to see hard to find films that you otherwise probably wouldn’t even hear about. Screenings often sell out but pass holders who arrive 10 minutes early to showtime are guaranteed a seat. Check out Portlandfilm.com for updates.
PDXFF strives to be a positive force in Portland that helps fill cultural voids. That’s why we’re the first festival to have more female than male film directors. Last year, 53% of our directors were women. We also play more LGBTQ films than any festival in the area (except of course the Portland Queer Film Festival).
In 2015 we hosted 99 events and workshops and this year we’ll have classes for every aspect of filmmaking you could hope to learn. Buying passes is a sure fire way to reserve your spot at a class taught by the main stuntman from Blade Runner or a screenwriting workshop with the writer of Overboard.
The festival is run entirely by volunteers. With between 300 to 400 people donating their time, energy, and creativity just for the love of film, PDXFF is made by and for cinephiles.
The Portland Mayor has previously declared Portland “the city of film” during the week-long festival, and with support from the Oregon Governor’s Office of Film, Oregon Film, OMPA, IATSE, SAG AFTRA, Women in Film, and other local organizations, this year’s festival will surely not be one to miss.
Every Tuesday, a dedicated group of PDXFF supporters meet for a movie followed by a discussion at rotating local bars. You can stay connected to the festival year round and make new friends by joining the Portland Film Club on Meetup.com. There’s also a pub crawl during the festival and, for even more movie talk, all pass holders are invited to a daily catered director's chat from 12-2 at Kink.fm’s downtown location.
Early bird prices end on October 23rd so don’t wait! You wouldn’t want to miss Oregon’s largest Filmmakers Networking Event on October 30th and passes are the only guarantee for this usually sold out event.
An invite only soiree at the Historic Pittock Mansion with drink, food, and music will be held on [date] for VIP pass holders. It’s just our way of thanking you for supporting independent film in Portland. There’s also a champagne toast on the first day of the festival for all pass holders.
Passes are the only way to go! Whether you buy take advantage of the Honored Guest Pass price, jump for All Access or opt for the VIP experience, passes insure not only free popcorn but also a guaranteed spot at every event, workshop, film, and panel as long you show up 10 minutes before the start time. All Access also offers a free bumper sticker, while VIP’s get a swag bag with a festival shirt, tote and bumper sticker, 10% off any festival merchandise, and access to the VIP lounge, where you can mingle with filmmakers and enjoy free food and drinks daily 11am to 5pm.