PORTLAND OREGON WOMEN’S FILM FESTIVAL (POW FEST) ANNOUNCES 2011 PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

After months of jurying over 400 films from female filmmakers from around the world, the Portland Oregon Women’s Film Festival (a.k.a. POW Fest) is pleased to announce the programming highlights planned for its fourth annual festival scheduled to take place March 9 – 13, 2011.   “I am always thrilled after the POWFest schedule comes together to see the amazing talent of women filmmakers. We strive to showcase not only women who have been working for many years, the true pioneers in women-created cinema, but also those who are just getting their start. Every year our festival grows, building on the year past, and truly creating a collective hub of women,” shared Tara L. Johnson Medinger, POWFest Executive Director.

For a complete list of programming and schedule details, visit www.powfest.com.

Opening Night – Wednesday, March 9th, 2011, 7pm – Hollywood Theatre

Join us for the world premiere of THREE VEILS, a compelling drama about three young Middle-Eastern women living in the U.S; each with her own controversial and personal story, by Arab-American and Portland native, Rolla Selbak.  Selbak was the recipient of a 2008 Faerie Godmother Fund grant and will be on hand to discuss the film.  Immediately following the screening and Director’s discussion, join the Opening Night Party hosted by @Large Films located at 807 NE Couch St., Portland. Free with THREE VEILS ticket stub or POW Fest Festival Pass.

Thursday, March 10th, 2011,  7 pm – Hollywood Theatre

ED HARDY: TATTOO THE WORLD by Emiko Omori, is about an artist’s journey.  At the age of 10, Hardy knew the magic of art and art on living canvasses was not only magical, but mystical and powerful.  For the next twenty years, he immersed himself in the world of tattoos.  With his fine art training and drawing on his vast knowledge of art history, the art and cultures of Asia, Polynesia and Mexico, he refined and reinvigorated tattoo imagery which led to an unexpected rise to cult status and phenomenal influence on pop culture.  With one foot in the world of tattooing and the other planted in the fine arts, each informed the other.

Friday, March 11th, 2011, 7pm – Hollywood Theatre

LOVE, LUST & LIES by Gillian Armstrong, this year’s recipient of the POWFest Pioneer Award.  Her body of work includes films that feature strong female characters in leading roles such as OSCAR AND LUCINDA, LITTLE WOMEN, and CHARLOTTE GRAY.

In 1977, Armstrong was commissioned by the South Australian Film Corporation to make a documentary about 14 year old Adelaide girls, Smokes and Lollies. It was her first paid job as director. The film explored issues surrounding what it meant to be a teenager and asked questions about sex, family, work and school. Armstrong then developed her own interest in the girls and went back to interview them again and again over a period of forty years at ages 18, 26, 33 and 46.  LOVE, LUST & LIES is the fifth film in the documentary series about the lives, hopes and dreams of the three lively, working class Adelaide girls from teenagers in the swinging 60’s to grandmothers in the new millennium. Filled with revelations throughout, this documentary lives up to its title.

Saturday, March 12th, 2011,  Starting at 12 pm – Hollywood Theatre (running in two theatres)

  • Animation/Experimental Showcase, 12PM.
  • Documentary Showcase and Panel Discussion, 3PM.  Documentaries are the style of film POW Fest receives the most of.  Included in this showcase are RETURN and SURVIVING, both films explore the lives of World War II survivors and confront issues of victimization, blame, loss and ultimately, forgiveness.  Immediately following the screening of the showcase, viewers and filmmakers will be invited to participate in a moderated discussion, “The Art of the Personal Documentary.”
  • LUNA Mixer and LUNA Fest to benefit The Breast Cancer Fund.  6PM

LUNAFEST is a distinctive touring film festival that honors the talents and stories of women everywhere through a series of short films. This 90 minute program of films by, for and about women will be shown as part of POWFest.  With a vision of uniting women through film, LUNAFEST was established in 2000 by LUNA®, makers of the whole nutrition bar for women, to simultaneously promote women filmmakers, raise awareness for women’s issues, and support worthy women’s nonprofit organizations. 50% of LUNAFEST ticket sales will be donated to LUNA’s primary cause partner, the Breast Cancer Fund, an organization dedicated to identifying and advocating for the elimination of environmental causes of the disease.

  • Shorts I Showcase – underlying themes touch on the many different aspects of womanhood from adolescence through adulthood, 9PM.

POWFest Workshop, 1pm – 5pm – Hotel deLuxe Green Room

“Auditioning for the Camera” – in this 4 hour workshop, learn from the successes, as well as the challenges experienced by veteran actress and filmmaker, Christine Elise McCarthy.  In her career, she has had regular roles in Beverly Hills, 90210 and ER, and she wants to share her secrets to find work as an actor with you. Registration is limited.  Must be 18 years or older.  Workshop registration $35, enroll at www.powfest.com.  (Note:  McCarthy’s film BATHING AND THE SINGLE GIRL, is part of the Shorts II Showcase on Sunday.)

Sunday, March 13th, 2011, 12 noon – Hollywood Theatre

  • Shorts II Showcase, including, FLYING HIGH STANDING TALL a documentary on the women of Portland’s Circus Artemis. Followed by a WIF-PDX Panel – Join leaders from Portland’s chapter of Women In Film for a group discussion on Finding work in Portland and Balancing It All.
  • MADE IN INDIA – a feature length documentary film about the human experiences behind the phenomena of “outsourcing” surrogate mothers to India
  • POW Family Screening & Young Women Filmmakers Showcase includes a screening of PLAY AGAIN, an award-winning, locally-made film about how new media is impacting the lives of our children.   At a time when children play more behind screens than outside, PLAY AGAIN explores the changing balance between the virtual and natural worlds through this moving and humorous documentary.

Tickets and membership festival passes available at www.powfest.com or the Hollywood Theatre boxoffice. Tickets are $7/person for regular screenings and $10/ person for the opening film & party; Guest Of Honor Screening and LUNAFEST. Membership festival passes are $50 for individual and $90 for a duo membership.

POW Fest is especially grateful to have been awarded a Media Grant by the Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) in the amount of $4,500 for the 2011 festival, and appreciates our sponsors: LUNA, New Belgium Brewing Company, ADi, KZME, The Hotel DeLuxe, @Large, Video Verite, The Faerie Godmother Fund, Yelp, Baby Wit, Portland Women Magazine, Optic Nerve Arts, NW Media, Showbiz Media, REX Post, WIF-PDX, OMPA, In The Can, FARM, and Milagros.

ABOUT POW FEST

POW Fest showcases the art and cinematic contribution of women filmmakers from around the world and seeks to present films that have been directed or co-directed by women; of any length, style, or genre.  By providing a platform to exhibit the work of today’s top women directors and co-directors, POW Fest is helping to create opportunities for women working in all areas of the film industry.   By honoring female pioneers in film, we provide the support and recognition necessary for the next generation of leading women filmmakers.

Contact

Tara Johnson-Medinger

Executive Director, The Portland Oregon Women’s Film Festival

[email protected]

www.powfest.com

503.267.1126

POWFest is produced by Sour Apple Productions in partnership with Film Action Oregon

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