The Confluence

Athena’s Gem Theatre officially opened its doors last month after two decades of dedicated and meticulous refurbishment. The weekend long celebration culminated with a screening of locally shot “City Girl” coming home to premiere at the theatre in the town where it was shot 97 years ago. The screening featured a live quartet accompanying the silent film playing before a sold out crowd. In addition, host and Chief Renovator, Rob McIntyre, showed a 20 minute documentary highlighting the people and the projects that have taken place to open the doors to this wonderful little theatre over the last 20 years.

The Rise 2025 Program for the December 4 Screening at the Tomorrow Theater Is Here!

We are so excited to bring you this unforgettable night of shorts:

• Cockroach– Heather Older (Writer, Director)

• Controlling The Narrative– Eva Moss (Writer, Director)

• House On Fire– Heather Hawksford (Director)

• Leaders of Men– Lorenzo Lowe III (Director, Cinematographer)

• There’s A Devil Inside Me– Karina Lomelin Ripper (Writer, Director)

• Help Solve A Murder– Mary Matthews (Director)

• Salt And Pepper– Cheryl Willis (Director)

• Rash– Lyssa Samuel (Writer, Director, Star)

The fill Rise line up screens on December 4 at the Tomorrow Theatre.

Step inside LAIKA’s world of “Wildwood,” where a powerful golden eagle commands the skies and magic takes flight.

In this first look, meet The General, voiced by Honorary Academy Award® recipient Angela Bassett, a fierce warrior and leader of the skies. Behind the scenes, the brilliant artists at LAIKA Studios are hand-crafting a character that soars beyond the screen through breathtaking stop-motion animation.

From director Travis Knight, “Wildwood” is LAIKA’s next stop-motion animated feature film, based on the bestselling novel by Colin Meloy (lead singer of The Decemberists) and illustrated by Carson Ellis.

Rise: A Community Cinema Showcase
Date: December 4, 2025
Time: 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Location: Tomorrow Theater, 3530 SE Division St
Cost: Free

We are thrilled to be partnering with WIF-PDX, Portland Events & Film, & Tomorrow Theater to screen our member’s short films, music videos, animations, & docs.

Audience choice award grand prize $500! Second/third prizes as well.

Brought to you by Catalyst Film Collective, Women in Film—Portland, Portland Events and Film Office and PAMCut.

Get more info and tickets here.

Variety recently featured numerous articles on the #OregonMade “Dream Factory” LAIKA, its present projects and its future ambitions.

Twenty years ago, Laika decided to re-invent stop-motion animation from its boutique-style studio in Portland, Ore.
“Here we are 20 years later, and during that period, we’ve transformed ourselves into a global storytelling powerhouse,”says David Burke, the studio’s chief marketing officer and chief operating officer.

Laika’s lineup of beloved and innovative stop-motion features started with 2009’s “Coraline” and was followed by other handcrafted delights such as “ParaNorman,” “The Boxtrolls,” “Kubo and the Two Strings” and “Missing Link.”

The OMPA has announced its annual showcase which will be held at the Vance Hotel on December 11. You can find out more about the details and how to submit your work on Instagram @OregonMediaProduction.

“The Netflix crime thriller ‘Night Always Comes’ was always going to be set in Portland, Ore., like the Willy Vlautin novel from which it was adapted. But it wasn’t necessarily going to shoot there.”

And yet it did shoot in Portland!

Variety’s Todd Longwell spoke to producer Chris Stinson about production in Oregon and tells us why it makes sense on a number of levels.

Check it out here.

From October 25-28, Laika’s “ParaNorman” will be back in theaters in remastered 3D, along with an exclusive new short, “ParaNorman: The Thrifting,” featuring Anna Kendrick returning as Courtney and a brand-new character voiced by Finn Wolfhard.

“ParaNorman” follows 11-year-old Norman Babcock (voiced by Kodi Smit-McPhee), who has to use his unique paranormal powers to save his town of Blithe Hollow after it’s overrun by zombies. Thirteen years after its release, the film has cemented itself in cinephile circles as one of the best scary movies and one of the best animated movies of the 21st century, thanks to the unique stop-motion technology from LAIKA Studios, lovable characters, and a reverence for the history of horror cinema.

The latest episode of “Portland’s Famous” from the Portland Events & Film Office highlights Klamath born and #OregonMade documentarian Skye Borgman.

Skye is an award-winning documentary director and cinematographer whose work has captivated millions worldwide and she talks to Elyse Taylor Liburd about her powerful approach to true-crime storytelling.

Known for her work on Netflix hits like “Unknown Number: The High School Catfish,” “My Father, the BTK Killer,” and “Abducted in Plain Sight,” Skye brings a blend of truth, empathy, and cinematic vision to every story she tells.

Last month our friends at Travel Oregon highlighted the autumn as a great time to get out, see all of Oregon and watch films.

Film buffs already know that Oregon is a great place for a movie. Filmmakers have shot more than 700 films in the state, including beloved classics like “The River Wild,” “Free Willy,” “Goonies” and “Stand By Me.” You can find many of the sites on the Travel Oregon-sponsored Oregon Film Trail on a road trip, or you can cozy up inside and check out some of Oregon’s latest, most creative releases.