After turning hundreds of people away from the sold-out
festival last year, Filmed by Bike is rolling into its seventh year
with big plans: more screenings, more beer, and more bike-centric
advocacy.
This year, the fest is pushing beyond one night, booking the Clinton
Street Theater for an entire week’s worth of bike-inspired screenings.
Thirty-plus short films have been split into two programs, “Ruckus in
the Street” and “The Art of Biking,” which alternate showtimes at the
Clinton Street Theater from Friday through Tuesday. And looking beyond
Portland’s bike-friendly boundaries, the festival has teamed up with
well-known New York City transit rabble-rousers Streetfilms to host a
panel discussion and one night of quick, punchy advocacy films on
Wednesday, April 22.
But the Filmed by Bike regulars who care less about filling potholes
and more about filling their every orifice with alcohol are also in
luck: This year’s Filmed by Bike organizers got the permits to shut
down two blocks of SE Clinton next to the Clinton Street Theater for
the fest’s opening night. “Last year, people took over the street
anyway,” admits organizer Ayleen Crotty, explaining that a beer garden
will hopefully help moviegoers “embrace the line.”
The Portland characters in the always-raucous line can often
overshadow the characters in the movies—the consensus around town
seems to be that the least exciting parts of the Filmed by Bike
festival are the films themselves. But, as always, there are still some
charming moments in this year’s picks, which organizers narrowed down
from 100 submissions to 32 final short films that chronicle bike fun,
the thrill of speed, and the woes of Spandex cameltoe.
For more info, see filmedbybike.org.