The best of the new

This upcoming week marks the 31st Northwest Film and VideoFestival. The full week of screenings of 46 shorts, documentariesand feature-length films and videos, along with a few invitationalpieces as well as workshops and celebrations has been organized andwill be put on by the Northwest Film Center. The Film Center hopesthis event will serve the filmmakers who supplied the selectedentries and give them the chance to have some exposure and bringout the resources available around them.

The juried survey draws over 300 entries in all genres each yearand is judged by a prominent filmmaker, curator or critic. Now inits 30th year, the festival provides a forum where outstandingindependent work receives public recognition, critical appraisaland an engaged and enthusiastic regional audience.

Past judges have included Gus Van Sant, Matt Groening, ToddHaynes, Christine Vachon, Bill Plympton, Dan Ireland, Karen Cooperof FilmForum, B. Ruby Rich, Amy Taubin, Jim Hoberman and JohnCooper, Sundance and Outfest programmer.

This year’s judge Sam Green, director of “The WeatherUnderground” will follow last year’s judge, experimental filmmakerJames Benning.

The festival which takes submissions from Alaska, BritishColumbia, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington will have at theend of the jury selection process 10-15 shorts that are selectedfor the Best of the Northwest Tour program which travels thefollowing year throughout the Northwest to media arts centers,museums, arts councils and universities. General audienceattendance exceeds 6000.

Festival dates: November 5-13, 2004
Where:
The Guild Theater
S.W. Ninth and Taylor
Portland, OR

Tickets: $40 Festival Pass
$7 General
$6 Students, Seniors and Art Museum members
$4 Silver Screen Club-Friend/Artist level

Box office hours open one half-hour before showtime.