Portland Panorama is a new festival for Portland, Oregon that draws from the years of experience our team has running the Portland International Film Festival and the Northwest Filmmakers’ Festival as well as work we’ve done for countless other events of all sizes. In addition to a larger celebration of the arts, at its heart, Portland Panorama is a two-part film festival bringing important international cinema to our well-informed and cinematically adventurous audiences and then pivoting mid-week to a celebration of the work of our beloved filmmakers living right here in Northwest North America.

We are looking for a well-rounded survey of films offering our audiences panoramic and intimate views of foreign and familiar lives and culturally unique styles of storytelling. We approach our programming from a transparent and inclusive angle, while also inviting established arts organizations to program screenings based on their own cultural expertise.

We formed our non-profit to serve artists, fellow arts organizations, and adventurous audiences. Our team, composed largely of filmmakers, has some ideas about how to make Portland Panorama different—in a good way. Just one small example: We will use the modest entry fees to equitably offer honoraria to filmmakers attending the festival. We pledge to subject our filmmakers only to moderated Q & A’s led by skilled conversationalists. We’ll build not-awkward-at-all filmmaker events where you can share ideas and inspiration and connect with future friends and collaborators. You’ll be refreshed by our festival staff’s clear communication and this overwhelming sense that we care about your experience and how your film is received. You’ll help us build audiences for your film with our tireless direct outreach to unearth and entice your future biggest fans. Portland is a great city to just be let loose in, but we’ll have some fantastic events planned for the Festival that you with your artist’s pass can freely browse or burrow into. We love our sponsors and audiences, but we want there to be no doubt that those who make the art are our first priority.

Rules & Terms

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW (RULES & TERMS)

Portland Panorama is looking for a variety of Narrative, Documentary and Experimental works and will present the selected works either in our International or our Regional (Northwest North America) Showcases.

Participation in the Northwest Filmmaker’s Showcase is open to permanent residents of Alaska, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, The Northwest Territories, Oregon, and Washington State.

Only works completed after January 1, 2024 will be considered. Feel free to inquire about exceptions to this rule prior to entry— e-mail: info@portlandpanorama.org

Entries that are chiefly marketing enterprises are not likely to be selected.

Work that is intended as installation or might require any special projection needs should be discussed prior to entering by sending a detailed (but concise) e-mail to info@portlandpanorama.org explaining the potential accommodations required. We are likely to be intrigued by the way, but we just want to make sure we can present your work in its best light before you pony up the entry fee.

Entries will be evaluated by our diverse screening committee and links will be treated with discretion (and excitement!) by our diverse screening committee and may be shared with selected individuals at arts and cultural organizations whom we may engage to ensure cultural appreciation and sensitivity.

WHAT WE’LL NEED FROM YOU:
Entries must be submitted either by uploading directly into FilmFreeway or by a protected link. Passwords should be made active for the duration of the submission process.
If selected, entrants agree to provide a DCP file of the work to Portland Panorama by March 10, 2025. If you have questions or are unsure how to create a DCP file, please inquire at info@portlandpanorama.org.

Foreign language films must be subtitled in English. Any costs necessary to deliver the exhibition file to Portland Panorama in the required format, or for any necessary subtitling, is the responsibility of the entrant.

Any costs associated with delivery of the exhibition copy of your selected film is the responsibility of the entrant. For foreign entries, be sure to include all of the proper customs documentation required by your shipping service. Portland Panorama will cover return shipping to the address designated as the Print Source, or to another festival or destination, within the continental United States via ground shipping.

Our team will take conscientious care with exhibition material in our possession (we may even sing it to sleep each night), but Portland Panorama or its agents are not responsible for loss or damage. Please do not send originals, special prints or master tapes or anything else that, if lost or damaged, will make us cry.

Portland Panorama is committed to accessibility and all filmmakers are strongly encouraged to include a closed-caption file for exhibition.

Premiere status is not required for selection, but In order to entice a robust attendance for our screening for your film—we ask that you not screen or broadcast the submitted project in Portland, Oregon two months ahead of Portland Panorama 2025, and that you not share it publicly online prior to your screening at Portland Panorama 2025. If there are any questions or extenuating circumstances, please let us know—ideally prior to submission— via e-mail at: info@portlandpanorama.org.

If the submission becomes an "Official Selection" and/or wins a Jury or Audience Award, Portland Panorama requests that this be noted on all promotional materials. Festival laurels are available to all Official Selections and Award winners.

All selected films grant Portland Panorama and their designated agents permission to utilize clips, trailers, and images from the film for Portland Panorama promotional content.

Portland Panorama retains the right to conduct Press & Industry screenings of selected films prior to the Festival.

And finally, by submitting your film you agree the terms listed above and the following:
I understand that I have the legal right to submit this work to Portland Panorama, that submission of this work authorizes Portland Panorama to use the work for exhibition and/or publicity related to the festival, that submission fees are not refundable, that all statements made in this application are true and accurate, and that all necessary rights and clearances have been secured to exhibit the work in connection with the festival.