http://www.ThePortlandAlliance.org/POW

Lights, Camera, ACTION! 2017 submissions are now open! Do you have a film you’ve been working on this past year? Did you miss the submission period last year? Good news! Today’s your lucky day! Submissions for the 10th Annual POWFest are now open for early bird entries! From now until June 17th, you can throw your hat in the ring for only $25. Visit our pages on FilmFreeway or Withoutabox before our final deadline on September 16th. POWFest is open to all genres and lengths of films. The only rules: it must have been directed or co-directed by a woman and have been completed in the past 3 years. We think POWFest is pretty great, but you don’t have to take our word for it! Check out what Laura Black, director of the webseries Agnes & Estelle, had to say about her experience at POWFest last year:   POWFest Spring Fundraising Drive! Love watching movies directed by women? Want to help the next generation of women filmmakers learn the skills to compete in a male-dominated industry? Great! POWFest is here to do just that! But we can’t do it alone! We need your help to make it happen. Click here to learn how you can help!       In May, we celebrate the next generation of filmmakers, with a spotlight on Youth & POWGirls films! Join us on Memorial Day (Monday, May 30th) for this awesome free event! Join us for a collection of youth-directed films! Narrative, documentary, experimental, comedy, drama and horror! Who could ask for more?? Includes a premiere of the first ever POWGirls Silent Films! The line up: Ear Buds ~ Directed by POWGirls The Night Shift ~ Directed by POWGirls Not Just a Tree ~ Directed by Reyna Colt-Lacayo, Marwaun Brooks, Mauricio Romero, Walden Smith Human Lights ~ Directed by Emma Mills We the Mountain, We the Sea ~ Directed by Agnieszka Kolaczynska (Agi K) STOP. ~ Directed by Julia Retzlaff Collision ~ Directed by Abbey Sacks School of the Living Dead ~ Directed by Maisie Winnard Girl ~ Directed by Abbey Sacks Finding Ellie ~ Directed by Asuka Lin Lily’s Journey ~ Directed by Julia Elihu, Andrew Boyles, Gabrielle de Boucaud, Akeel Najimudeen, Thomas Wade Platinum ~ Directed by Katharine So Sticks & Stones ~ Directed by POWGirls Glazing Saddles ~ Directed by POWGirls Free entry for all, but donations to support the POWGirls program will be accepted! Doors open at 6:30 pm, and the films start at 7pm. Join our facebook event! POWFest Monthly is sponsored by New Belgium Brewing and Hotel deLuxe! POWGirls Summer Workshops – Spots are still open! If you know a girl, aged 15-19, who wants to take part in a POWGirls workshop, she still has time to sign up for the Summer Sessions!  Click here for more details and to sign up! Upcoming Portland Events & Screenings An Evening with Kathleen Turner ~ Double Feature plus a Q&A with Kathleen herself! ~ Tuesday, May 3rd at 7 pm ~ Clinton Street Theater WIF-PDX May Meetup ~ Featuring POWFest’s own Tara Johnson-Medinger ~ Wednesday, May 4th at 6:30 pm ~ Portland Community Media NW Animation Festival – May 9th-15th at The Hollywood Theatre Oregon Doc Camp ~ May 12th – 15th at Silver Falls Conference Center, in Sublimity, OR For more information and to apply visit the website: www.oregondoccamp.com Clambake at QDoc ~ Director Andrea Meyerson in attendance ~ Friday, May 20 at 6:30 pm ~ Hollywood Theatre POWFest Monthly ~ Celebrate youth filmmakers! Free event! ~ Monday, May 30th at 7pm ~ Clinton Street Theater Want to help POWFest grow? -Ready to donate? Click Here! -Ready to Volunteer? -Ready to Sponsor the festival? Contact tara@powfest.com -Ready to Host a POWParty? -Tell a friend about POWFest! Forward this newsletter and encourage them to join in! The Mission of POWFest POWFest provides space where women can thrive as media makers. We accomplish this by putting strong, women-directed films on screen, growing the next generation of women filmmakers, and making it easier for women to make films.

PORTLAND OREGON WOMEN’S FILM FESTIVAL (POWFEST) ANNOUNCES

2016 WOMAN OF HONOR – TWILIGHT DIRECTOR CATHERINE HARDWICKE

Portland, Oregon – February 4, 2016 – The Portland Oregon Women’s Film Festival (a.k.a. POWFest) is pleased to announce this year’s guest of honor, award-winning director and gender equality advocate, Catherine Hardwicke, who will be in attendance throughout the festival taking place March 3 – 6, at The Hollywood Theatre.  

Hardwicke’s direction of the film adaptation of Stephenie Meyer’s best-selling novel, Twilight, launched the worldwide blockbuster franchise, The Twilight Saga and earned nearly $400 million at the worldwide box office and made her made one of the most commercially successful women film directors. In addition to her impressive filmography, it has been her willingness to be vocal in the ACLU and Equal Opportunity Commission’s investigation of gender bias and pay disparity in the entertainment industry of late that made her the standout woman to honor at this year’s festival.  

“Catherine Hardwicke’s strong voice and willingness to step publicly into Hollywood’s gender discussion is something to celebrate.  Because of her, women are less fearful of being vocal as there has been a groundswell of support to amplify these voices. There is a revolution going on and she is one of the women in the lead.” said POWFest Executive Director, Tara Johnson-Medinger.  

With a theme of best friendship as in her most recent film Miss You Already starring Toni Colette and Drew Barrymore, and having tackled the challenges of adolescence as in Thirteen and Lords of Dogtown, Hardwicke is certain to foster a connection with the participants of the POWGirls workshop where girls ages 15-19 are mentored to realize their power, creativity and voice in media production.  Hardwicke will also be in attendance for her screenings of Miss You Already (Sat. 3/5, 6 p.m.), Thirteen (Sat. 3/5, 9 p.m.) and Twilight (Sun. 3/6, Noon) with Director’s Q&A,and she will host a Master class on Sunday, March 6th at The Hollywood Theatre at 10 a,m.  

Now in its 9th consecutive year, POWFest continues to be the only film festival in Portland that exclusively places a spotlight on women directors with a goal to eliminate the gender disparity that exists for women working in the film industry. Dedicated to creating professional development and networking opportunities for women filmmakers of every discipline and skill level, each year, the festival seeks to actively represent the work of diverse women directors from around the globe while strengthening the community of women making films; encouraging the next generation of female filmmakers through its monthly programming and annual festival.

This year’s lineup of 50 intelligent, inspiring and entertaining selections was curated from over 1,000 submissions with many of the directors in attendance.  Some of the standout screenings include:

• Armor of Light – A film that follows an Evangelical minister and the mother of a teenage shooting victim who ask, is it possible to be both pro-gun and pro-life? By Abigail Disney.

• Sista in the Brotherhood – A short film about a young, black tradeswoman who must learn to prove herself on a new job site. By local filmmaker, Dawn Jones.

• From Salem to the Salon, the story of how Portland-based salon owner Amber Starks changed Oregon state law. By local filmmaker, Christian Henry.

Tickets will go on sale Monday February 15th and  are $8-$15 individual screenings / $60 festival pass for premium access to all festival activities. Purchasing an all-access pass to POWFest gives you the opportunity to see as many films you want during the festival without fumbling with individual tickets while saving money and showing your support. Festival pass includes access for early seating and admission to our educational panels facilitated by Seed & Spark.

For a complete list of programming and schedule details, visit www.powfest.com

ABOUT POW FEST

The Portland Oregon Women’s Film Festival (POWFest) empowers women to find their voice and share their stories through innovative and quality filmmaking by showcasing the work of today’s top women directors at our annual festival and strengthening the community of women in film in Oregon year-round.  We honor the true pioneers in the industry while providing support and recognition for the next generation of leading women filmmakers.  In the past nine years POWFest has hosted the following prominent and very accomplished women directors: Allison Anders, Irene Taylor-Brodsky, Kathryn Bigelow, Gillian Armstrong, Amy Heckerling, Barbara Kopple, and Penelope Spheeris, Ondi Timoner and Joanna Priestley.
 

POWFest is produced by Sour Apple Productions in partnership with The Hollywood Theatre

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