Portland's Annual International Film Festival

The 40th Portland International Film Festival [PIFF] begins Feb. 9-25. The festival shows nearly 100 feature films and more than 60 short films. PIFF is the Northwest Film Center’s annual showcase of new world cinema.
The festival has been running since 1977 and has more than 35,000 attendees. What started as a small showcase in the core of Portland expanded to other parts of town and now is the largest festival in Oregon.
Oscar nominees from Northwest Film Center include “My Life as a Zucchini” (Best Animated Feature), “Land of Mine” (Best Foreign Language Film) and “I Am Not Your Negro” a documentary written by James Baldwin.
This years films include an Italian film “Indivisible”; a Slovakia/Czech Republic film, “The Teacher”; and a Serbian film, “Train Driver’s Diary” and the opening film “I Am Not Your Negro” based on James Baldwin’s unfinished novel, Remember This House and directed by Raoul Peck. The documentary according to the website, “Tying past and present together, the film narrates the absurd—and deeply tragic—relationship between the United States and skin color.”
The schedule and location for this years festival can be found at https://nwfilm.org/app/uploads/2017/01/PIFF40_final.pdf. The Northwest Film Center also provides classes to improve filmmaking skills as well as resources for personal use. Tickets can be bought online by choosing your movie or class.