Today, Fifth Avenue Cinema is Oregon’s only operating college cinema, and it’s entirely student-run. Providing films of all varieties, the theater has been a part of the PSU film community for decades and is looking to expand that role with its growing Visuals Film Festival. The Visuals Film Festival, beginning its fifth run tonight, is fitting for its venue because of the many student films it features.
Visual appeal
Today, Fifth Avenue Cinema is Oregon’s only operating college cinema, and it’s entirely student-run. Providing films of all varieties, the theater has been a part of the PSU film community for decades and is looking to expand that role with its growing Visuals Film Festival.
The Visuals Film Festival, beginning its fifth run tonight, is fitting for its venue because of the many student films it features.
“I feel that for student filmmakers, there aren’t a lot of avenues in which you can show your work,” said Cait Porter, cinema coordinator for Fifth Avenue. “People in bands can go out and play a show, and if you’re an artist, you can get your work shown in galleries. I think for any filmmaker, you put all this effort and love into something. To not have the ability to see that on the big screen, I feel like, ‘why should that be an obstacle?'”
The Visuals Film Festival has been Fifth Avenue’s annual outreach to PSU filmmakers, giving them a chance to have their work viewed outside of friends’ basements and coffee shop projection screens.
Visuals has been open for submissions from all local filmmakers in years past, but this year it has restricted entries to PSU students in the interest of encouraging campus filmmakers.
“The reality is that film production at PSU isn’t too common at this point,” Porter said.
Still, Fifth Avenue’s Film Committee got about 25 submissions this year, up from its usual average of 20.
“We try to pick films that have something going on for them in terms of production values,” Porter said of the selection process. “Or if they have a great idea, or are funny … we try to show basically everything we can.”
Food and entertainment are usually featured during intermission at Visuals, and this year’s festival is no exception. Hot Lips Pizza will cater food, and local musician Milo Randolph will play songs on the baritone guitar.
The films of the night are split between more documentary and art-focused films in the first half and more comedic and action-y stuff in the second.
“So if you want to bring kids, you can just bring them to the first half if you’d like,” Porter said.
The end of the night is capped off with an awards ceremony for the best film shown. Attendees can vote for their favorite film for the “Viewer’s Choice” award, whereas the festival’s “Film Committee Palm D’or” is selected by the committee that runs Fifth Avenue Cinema.
“Each one of them gets a custom trophy and a book of tickets to Cinema 21,” said Porter of the festival’s winners.
What’s the custom trophy?
“Gold-painted troll dolls,” Porter said dryly. “They’re the most unique trophy you could possibly ever win.”
Visuals Film Festival 7 p.m., tonight Fifth Avenue Cinemas, 510 S.W. Hall St.FREE
Tonight’s lineup includes: Planet Earth: Our Response, a combination of original and public-domain footage. The director won the Film Committee Choice award at the 2006 Visuals Film Festival.Luisa’s Legacy, a documentary about a Portland local who spends his post-retirement days helping those around him in honor of the memory of his wife.Remembering Tree, a meditation on the memory of trees.The World At Our Feet, a short film about wildlife living within the Portland city limits.
The second half will feature:Gus Over Easy, the story of a social misfit with over-easy eggs for ears.I’m Done, a story about a young man who decides to quit his life of crime only to have his brother kidnapped as punishment for his desertion.The Envelope, wherein an unexpected gift leads to conflict.Whispers II, the story of an everyman who discovers the dangers of subscribing to fanaticism.
