This Weekend: Portland Oregon Women’s (POW) Film Fest + Interview W/ POW Fest Executive Director, Tara L. Johnson-Medinger

This weekend the Portland Women’s Film Festival returns to the Hollywood Theatre with a 4-day showcase of short and feature films made by women, filmmaker panels, and film industry networking events.

PDX Pipeline recently had a chance to talk with POW Fest’s Executive Director, Tara L. Johnson-Medinger, about this year’s festival:

PDX Pipeline: What’s new about this year’s POW Fest?

Tara: We have returned to our original format with more events, more films and more filmmakers! We will showcase 44 films starting Thursday March 18th with our Locals Showcase! This 21+ event is FREE and will feature several home-grown filmmakers. Friday night is our Documentary focus night, Saturday is a day full of film including animated shorts, documentaries and narrative showcases and ending in some great features as well as the always fun (and sometimes shocking) Rated “M” For Mature Shorts Showcase. Sunday we bring back POW Fest Family Day and will host a Mother + Daughter screening (appropriate for 13+)

PDX Pipeline: Kathryn Bigelow’s Academy Award win this year for Best Director was a major accomplishment for female filmmakers; what changes do you expect to see as a result of it?Tara: For me, Kathryn Bigelow receiving the Best Directing Oscar is significant and I believe serves as an inspiration to all women filmmakers. It is my hope that her win will encourage more women to take on the director’s chair and have their voices heard.

PDX Pipeline: What local filmmakers are being featured in this year’s festival and how can people find out about them?

Tara: We will feature the work of Heather Harlow, Liz Vice, Kristina Whipple, Jainee Dial and Patti Duncan. All the film details are at www.powfest.com

—
FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

Thursday – Local Showcase and Film Industry Night Reception
6:30 PM Local Showcase – Shorts Program and Reception
9:00 PM Finding Face

Friday – Documentary Showcase
7:00 PM   Playground
9:00 PM Motherland / In the Name of Freedom

Saturday – Shorts, a couple of Features, and Rated “M”
1:00 PM  Animation/Experimental Showcase – Shorts Program
2:30 PM  Documentary Shorts – Shorts Program
3:00 PM  Many Faces of Womanhood Showcase – Shorts Program
4:30 PM  Stages / Mezzanotte Obscura
5:15 PM Raspberry Magic / So Far and Soar
7:30 PM Love Hurts
9:30 PM Rated “M” for Mature – Shorts Program

Sunday – Family Day
1:00 PM  Mother/Daughter Screening – Shorts Program
2:45 PM  Hey, Hey It’s Esther Blueburger

All screenings will be at the historic Hollywood Theatre, located at 4122 NE Sandy Boulevard, Portland, OR 97212.

—

TICKETS

Individual Tickets:  $7 / screening
Friday Night Documentary Night $10
Saturday Night Feature + Mature Shorts Showcase  $10
4-Day, All-Festival Pass $25

Tickets can be purchased in-person at the Hollywood Theatre box office and online from boxofficetickets.com.