The Portland Film, Animation & Technology Festival (PFCAT) will return to the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry Aug. 21-25 with showcases and competitions. Founded as a traveling international film and technology festival, PFCAT rebranded in 2022 and made Portland its permanent home.
Organizers say this year’s lineup will include 150 films from 30 countries, 20 more than last year. Four screens will show films at any given time, with at least two theaters showing films simultaneously. PFCAT will screen 15 films by Portland filmmakers. Winners in categories such as “Best Feature Film,” “Best Oregon Short Film” and “Best Music” will receive awards designed by local artist Mike Bennett. PFCAT audiences will also be able to vote in some categories using an augmented reality smartphone app.
Downwind, a documentary about the impact of nuclear testing on Native Americans in Utah, directed by Mark Shapiro and narrated by Michael Douglas and Martin Sheen, has won multiple awards since its debut at the 2023 Slamdance Film Festival and has the potential to be a PFCAT standout.
Portland animator Joanna Priestley will also be presenting a retrospective of her work in the industry. With over 40 years in the world of independent animation, Priestley has also had retrospectives at the British Film Institute and the Museum of Modern Art. There will also be a “Paths to Animation” panel, presented in collaboration with non-profit organization Women in Animation, to help young creators understand what a career in animation involves.
Last year, animator Bill Plimpton showed us snippets of his latest animated film, “Slides.” Now that the film is complete, Plimpton will be screening “Slides” in its entirety and will also be signing autographs after the film. Plimpton has a long history in animation; his short film “Your Face” was nominated for an Academy Award in 1987, but many may know him from some of the opening “couch gag” scenes of The Simpsons.
PFCAT plans to screen more feature films this year, many of them animated or documentaries. “In terms of the number of screening hours, that’s a significant increase compared to 2023,” PFCAT co-founder Peter Isaac said.
OMSI’s planetarium offers a fresh way to watch original animated films and documentaries, fully immersing the audience in the cinematic experience. Films made for virtual reality systems are also shown in headsets, providing a similarly immersive experience from independent filmmakers.
PFCAT organizers hope to see a return of the strong community ties that were evident in the local film industry at last year’s festival.
“Last year was just so much fun and creative energy,” says PFCAT co-founder Marisa Alexander. “Participants met each other and brainstormed ideas for new projects. We had such a good turnout that we thought we’d try it again and scale it up a bit.”
Check it out: Portland Film, Animation & Technology Festival, OMSI, 1945 SE Water Ave, 503-381-5789, pdxfestofcinema.com. Wednesday, Aug. 21 through Saturday, Aug. 25. $12 adults, $11 seniors, $10 youth, $2 discounted for OMSI members. All-access festival passes are $48 adults, $46 seniors, $44 youth, $3 discounted for OMSI members.
