POW Fest specifically features the work of today’s top women directors, honoring the true pioneers as well as providing recognition and support for rising stars. Although the festival’s contributors include Oscar winners and Hollywood heavy hitters, special attention is also paid to dynamic young  filmmakers and outstanding local talent in Portland’s burgeoning film industry. To that end, we are dedicated to promoting and creating professional development and networking opportunities for women filmmakers of every level.

The third annual festival is scheduled for March 18-21, 2010. The roster of events will include an opening night reception, locals showcase, family screening,  moderated filmmaker panels, and the exhibition of over 50 films directed or co-directed by women, including features, documentaries, shorts and animation.

POW Fest is produced by Sour Apple Productions in partnership with Film Action Oregon.

 

Festival History:

POW Fest Executive Director Tara Johnson-Medinger and Film Director Allison Anders

 

2008:   In its reinvigorated format, after a five-year hiatus, POW Fest screened 60 films from 18 countries over four days in May, with 40 of the filmmakers in attendance and participating in moderated panels. The festival also included a kick-off gala at The Cleaners at the Ace Hotel, a screenwriting workshop, an all-women vendor marketplace and performance by the Rock N Roll Camp For Girls band Teeath on family day, and a closing night awards ceremony. The guest of honor and first POW Fest Pioneer Award winner was Allison Anders (Gas Food Lodging, Mi Vida Loca), who met with attending filmmakers and fielded pitches, in addition to screening two of her films.

 

Irene Taylor Brodsky at the 2009 Portland Women's Film Festival

2009:    After deciding to switch the festival to March in honor of Women’s History Month, organizers opted to forgo the traditional call-for-entries in favor of a curated festival for 2009, in order to accommodate the earlier date. The showcase featured five films by established women filmmakers, including: 2009 Academy Award winner Smile Pinki; 2009 Academy Award nominated The Betrayal; Coming Up Easy by local award-winning filmmaker Rebecca Rodriguez; The Bigamist, a 1953 film by Ida Lupino, the second woman ever inducted into the DGA; and 2009 Academy Award-nominated The Final Inch, by local documentary filmmaker, Peabody Award winner and second POW Fest Pioneer Award winner Irene Taylor Brodsky. In addition to receiving overwhelming praise from the press, the local film community and festival attendees, the 2009 POW Fest was integral to establishing the Portland chapter of Women in Film (WIF-PDX).

 

2009 POW Summer Benefit:     Held on July 20, the first installment of the POW Fest Summer Benefit Series literally started off with a bang, featuring a screening of director Kathryn Bigelow’s critically acclaimed new film, The Hurt Locker. “If The Hurt Locker is not the best action movie of the summer, I’ll blow up my car,” said reviewer A. O. Scott of the N.Y. Times. The evening included an in-depth interview with Ms. Bigelow herself, moderated by The Oregonian’s Kristi Turnquist, in front of a sold-out audience of 475 people. Benefit attendees enjoyed local beer, wine, chocolate and cheese as well as a silent auction featuring a wide range of items graciously donated by local businesses. Each summer, the Benefit will continue to highlight a single film by one of the biggest names among today’s women directors, as a fundraiser for POW Fest.