Another weekend in Portland, another set of amazing opportunities to get your soul stirred, your mind blown, your spirits lifted, and your ass shook. Hip-Hop legends abound, potential mayors face the music, PIFF pops off, and a whole lot more to keep this weekend mighty full. Hit the links below and load your plate accordingly
Friday, March 6
Portland International Film Festival
After 13 years with New York’s Independent Film Project, Amy Dotson joined the Northwest Film Center in September 2019, following the retirement of longtime director Bill Foster, who led the organization for 37 years. Dotson’s inaugural year sees the conjoining of the globally minded PIFF with the Northwest Film Center’s other big annual event, the Northwest Filmmakers Festival. The melding of festivals means that renowned international films like Brazil’s Bacarau will sit next to Kelly Reichardt’s Oregon-shot First Cow, and France’s animated dog saga Marona’s Fantastic Tale will screen alongside the premiere of Portland filmmaker Jesse Blanchard’s full-length puppet monster movie Frank & Zed—putting locally made work on equal footing with films that have played in festivals around the world. (And on equal footing with mainstream blockbusters, too: This year’s PIFF also includes screenings of Pixar’s latest, Onward.) Visit cinemaunbound.org for a complete list of PIFF entries, venues, and showtimes. (March 6-15, Various Locations) NED LANNAMANN