WELCOME!

The Northwest Filmmakers’ Festival turns 40 this year, fueled by the constant reinvigoration brought about by new filmmakers and new ideas, remaining a vital symbol of the Northwest’s creative community. Our pleasure at the Film Center is to keep our eyes and arms out for the region’s filmmakers, roll with their momentum and innovation, and fashion a festival experience that provides a singular opportunity for coming together to share stories, resources, and inspiration. There are many to thank as we reach this year’s milestone.

For much of the past four decades, the Festival has enjoyed the ongoing support of such key forces as The National Endowment for the Arts, The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, LAIKA, and Wieden+Kennedy—whose support reveals a shared dedication to recognizing and celebrating the Northwest’s vibrant media arts community. This year, we’re grateful for the new support of The Oregon Cultural Trust, The Jackson Foundation, and smart car, who join the mission.

The Festival is also excited to partner with McMenamins who will provide lodging for our visiting filmmakers at their Crystal Hotel and will surely contribute toward putting more fest in the Festival with six nights of screenings at their Mission Theater and Pub. This year’s Festival Judge, Sundance Film Festival Senior Shorts Programmer Mike Plante, dedicated many hours assessing the merits of this year’s submissions, and we thank him for the generous lending of his objective, enlightened eye.

Special thanks to longtime collaborators Mike Houston and Austin Hilde for the stylish imagery that brightens the Festival’s graphics this year and will help us fill those rows and rows of chairs.

There are many reasons why we call this the Filmmakers’ Festival, and we welcome all makers of the region to join in the conversation, community, and viewing, whether their work is onscreen or not. For those who have not yet made a film (which begs the question: what are you waiting for?), we hope the Festival experience will nudge you nearer to the tipping point of commitment. There will be plenty of inspiration, so grab yourself a seat.

Thomas Phillipson, Festival Manager

Bill Foster, Director, Northwest Film Center