Portland Dance Film Fest

Portland Dance Film Fest Portland Dance Film Fest is an adjudicated film festival bringing dance films from around the world to the greater Portland, OR area.

Portland Dance Film Fest is about supporting and sharing what we think is the increasingly important work of dance for film. It is no secret that the current technology age has changed, and is continually changing, the way we go thru life. Who and what we are aware of and privy to is infinite and what this means for us a society and as a global people can feel like a rope slipping thru our fingers

as we try and understand the implications and impact. Our shifting realities of self are mirrored back at us from the wormhole of the web, and in some ways is adding to our discontent and disconnection to ourselves and our communities. And, as with everything, there is a brilliant side. The beauty of technology is endless as well. We are dancers in Portland Dance Film Fest so naturally we are excited to uplift and bare witness to one of the most ancient and sacred art forms while utilizing the brilliance of technology by providing a screen and an audience for artists who are making dance for film. As Portland is a hub for creation and the spirit of Yes we are inspired by our local dancemakers, musicians, and filmmakers and keen on showcasing them alongside their peers from all over the globe. In the terms of technology’s progression, Film is not a new form so much, but we have watched dance for film have more and more of an audience over the last several years. When words feel limiting, we can find recognition of ourselves or something bigger than ourselves in the visual and audio arts.

10/03/2024

🎥 LIVE DANCE FILM CREATION PREMIERE 🎥

Created in real time during the 8th Annual Portland Dance Film Fest, FEEDBACK is the result of the collaboration between director Matthew Tomac, choreographer/dancer Franco Nieto, and the 2024 Portland Dance Film Fest audience. Over three days, this film took shape with your participation—so if you see yourself, give us a wave! 👋

Directed by Matthew Tomac
Choreographed & Performed by Franco Nieto
Made in Collaboration with Portland Dance Film Fest
With Financial support from Regional Arts & Culture Council
Cinematography & Editing by Matthew Tomac
Lighting & Projection Assistance Provided by PAM CUT Technical Staff: Arika Oglesbee, Michael Anderson, Miles Sprietsma, Ben Popp, & Laice Van Blokland

Feeling all the inspiration after Audrey Rachelle's workshop, DIALOGUE, last weekend! A big thank you to , to , to for...
10/01/2024

Feeling all the inspiration after Audrey Rachelle's workshop, DIALOGUE, last weekend! A big thank you to , to , to for the space, and to for festival financial support.

PDFF starts in 2 DAYS! Picks 1 starts the festival off with 8 films - made in France/Vietnam, Greece, India, USA, Canada...
09/24/2024

PDFF starts in 2 DAYS! Picks 1 starts the festival off with 8 films - made in France/Vietnam, Greece, India, USA, Canada, Austria, and The United Kingdom.

Tickets at the link below.

Still from Now I Hold You Close dir. by Audrey Rachelle, choreo. by AnA Collaborations

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/portlanddancefilmfest?

09/23/2024

No weekend plans? Join us at the Tomorrow Theater for 3 nights of stunning dance films.

Picks 1: Thursday, Sep 26
Picks 2: Friday, Sep 27
Picks 3: Saturday, Sep 28

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/portlanddancefilmfest?

Clip from SPINNING HUG dir. by Omar Pérez Rosales, choreo. by People Watching

09/21/2024

5 days until PDFF!! We can't wait to see you there! ✨

Clip from carefully by Austin Goodwin

ONLY SIX DAYS until PDFF begins! Don't miss out on three unique nights of great films, delicious concessions, informal a...
09/20/2024

ONLY SIX DAYS until PDFF begins! Don't miss out on three unique nights of great films, delicious concessions, informal after-screening gatherings and more!

Tickets available at the link below. Still from Dancing with Time by Marie Lavorel, Tamar Tembeck & Paul Tom

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/portlanddancefilmfest?

This year, the return of one of our favorite PDFF endeavors, the Live Dance Film Creation, is a collaboration of industr...
09/18/2024

This year, the return of one of our favorite PDFF endeavors, the Live Dance Film Creation, is a collaboration of industry hustlers, Matthew Tomac / Director and DP, and Franco Nieto / Choreographer and Dancer. They will be filming all three nights of the festival, before and after screenings, so look out for them and for your chance to be woven into the film!

We are honored and excited to have the exceptionally talented New York artist, Audrey Rachelle , from offer a workshop ...
09/17/2024

We are honored and excited to have the exceptionally talented New York artist, Audrey Rachelle , from offer a workshop during this year's festival called DIALOGUE, held at NW Dance Project.

Audrey Rachelle is a movement artist with 14 years of performing experience, 8 years of choreographing, directing, and producing multidisciplinary works both on and off screen, and 12 years as a dance educator. She is currently a Rehearsal Director at Sleep No More NYC and is best known for her performances as Lady MacBeth in the hit immersive theater show.

Festival funding support by and studio space provided by !

Slide 1: Photo by Blake Horn
Slide 2: Photo by Allina Yang
Slide 3: Photo by Amanda Kaye

Check out all the events happening at the 8th Portland Dance Film Fest! September 26th - 28th at the Tomorrow Theater! M...
09/16/2024

Check out all the events happening at the 8th Portland Dance Film Fest!

September 26th - 28th at the Tomorrow Theater! More info and tickets in our bio!

09/12/2024

WORKSHOP ALERT!
We are honored and excited to have the exceptionally talented Audrey Rachelle instruct a workshop at this year's festival. DIALOGUE: A Conversation Between Dance & FIlm will be on Saturday, September 28th from 2:15PM - 4:14PM at NW Dance Project

More about the workshop:
What are the ways a dancer can ”speak” to the camera without words? How can a camera operator better understand how to move with a dancer in support of the story being told? How does a director decide on the ways to best utilize cinematography and choreography to bring their vision to life?

In this workshop, we will explore answers to these questions through movement and discussion. We will begin with a movement warm-up aimed at expanding each dancer’s range of expression and awareness. Then we will work in groups with a scene script and play out the roles of director, cinematographer, camera operator, and dancer/actor. Finally, we will close with a discussion around our discoveries and remaining questions about how these points of view can remain in conversation with each other in service of a true collaboration between dance and film.

09/12/2024

If Picks 3 were a dinner party, it would carry on late into the night, slipping into the realm in between this and that.

Picks 3 screens on September 28th at 7:30pm at the Tomorrow Theater.

https://portlanddancefilmfest.com/24-picks-3/

09/06/2024

With the films of Picks 2, we contemplate many revolutions. Revolutions of the Earth itself, revolutions of resistance and love, and revolutions of magnetic release that entice us into relationships with our humanity.

Picks 2 screens on September 27th at 7:30pm at the Tomorrow Theater.

https://portlanddancefilmfest.com/24-picks-2/

Please give a warm welcome to our PDFF 2024 judges!~ Rae CollinsRae Collins (she/they) is a daughter of dance, entering ...
09/03/2024

Please give a warm welcome to our PDFF 2024 judges!

~ Rae Collins
Rae Collins (she/they) is a daughter of dance, entering Planet Earth at the coordinates of 45.4426° N, 122.6398° W. Collins holds an MA in Dance Education and enjoys the making of screendance.

~ Matthew Tomac
Matthew is a cinematographer and the founder of RUNTHISBLOCK, a video production team based in Portland, Oregon specializing in the creation of commercial and documentary films rooted in dynamic movement and athletics.

~ Tony Carnell

Two time Princess Grace award nominated Tony Carnell began their dance training at age nine. Tony continues to perform and choreograph in the worlds of classical ballet, hip hop, contemporary and jazz. Currently, Tony is represented by Go2talent Agency in Los Angeles California.

~ Laura Cannon
Laura Cannon is a dancer, choreographer and educator who has spent over 25 years exploring site-specific work and innovative ways to create dance beyond the traditional boundaries of a stage. She is the founder and director of ProLab Dance, a site-specific project-based dance company in Portland, OR.

08/30/2024

Nostalgia, longing and reckoning move throughout the films of Picks 1. We say hello and goodbye to our ways of life, our memories that orient us to who we think we are, and our thirst.

Picks 1 screens on September 26th at 7:30pm at the Tomorrow Theater.

https://portlanddancefilmfest.com/24-picks-1/

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Videos

FEEDBACK
FEEDBACK

🎥 LIVE DANCE FILM CREATION PREMIERE 🎥 Created in real time during the 8th Annual Portland Dance Film Fest, FEEDBACK is the result of the collaboration between director Matthew Tomac, choreographer/dancer Franco Nieto, and the 2024 Portland Dance Film Fest audience. Over three days, this film took shape with your participation—so if you see yourself, give us a wave! 👋 Directed by Matthew Tomac Choreographed & Performed by Franco Nieto Made in Collaboration with Portland Dance Film Fest With Financial support from Regional Arts & Culture Council Cinematography & Editing by Matthew Tomac Lighting & Projection Assistance Provided by PAM CUT Technical Staff: Arika Oglesbee, Michael Anderson, Miles Sprietsma, Ben Popp, & Laice Van Blokland

3 days
3 days

No weekend plans? Join us at the Tomorrow Theater for 3 nights of stunning dance films. Picks 1: Thursday, Sep 26 Picks 2: Friday, Sep 27 Picks 3: Saturday, Sep 28 https://www.tickettailor.com/events/portlanddancefilmfest? Clip from SPINNING HUG dir. by Omar Pérez Rosales, choreo. by People Watching

Simulation
Simulation

Simulation (United States) Directed by Purdie Baumann & Heather Lang | Choreography by Heather Lang, Anna Marchisello & Cast Simulation is about reclaiming the sacred love of dancing. Our body knows, if we listen, that there is a deeper call for community, ritual, and radical joy. The unfurling movement mirrors nature with its complex ecosystems and chaotic beauty. Screening at the Tomorrow Theater on September 27th at 7:30pm

5 days
5 days

5 days until PDFF!! We can't wait to see you there! ✨ Clip from carefully by Austin Goodwin

Last Boy Left
Last Boy Left

Last Boy Left (Sweden) Directed by Shawn Fitzgerald Ahern | Choreographed by Pascal Marty & Emilie Leriche A reflection on mourning a loved one and the process of moving on, Last Boy Left is an experimental short film featuring dance. The film follows a man on a road trip who aims to tie up loose ends left behind by his deceased brother. Screening at the Tomorrow Theater on September 28th at 7:30pm

in the silence is the offering presented
in the silence is the offering presented

in silence is the offering presented (United States) Directed and Choreographed by Li Chiao-Ping This short screendance work borrows its title "in silence is the offering presented" from a quote attributed to Chinese philosopher Confucius, which is instructive of taking the path of peace over violence. Looking across the body of water, memories of homeland and feelings of displacement merge as the two main characters, mother and son, find themselves as refugees. Home, hope, dreams, safety, security, and love can be found in the silence. Screening at the Tomorrow Theater on September 27th at 7:30pm

ONE WEEK
ONE WEEK

PDFF opens in ONE WEEK! Get your tickets now at the link below. Clip from Sameness : Magnificence dir. by Alana Waksman, choreo. by Jacqueline Cousineau https://www.tickettailor.com/events/portlanddancefilmfest?

My Role · My Life
My Role · My Life

My Role · My Life Directed by 李祥政 (Li Xiangzheng) Wandering in the corners of space, discovering surprises in both black and white time and space; The multifaceted life collides with new sparks through the dialogue between modernity and opera. The art of traditional Chinese aesthetics - traditional Chinese opera and modern people have a certain degree of consistency, showcasing life and the joys and sorrows of the world. Screening at the Tomorrow Theater on September 28th at 7:30pm

At first sight
At first sight

At First Sight (United States) Directed and Choreographed by Kate Harpootlian Movement Collaborators and Dancers: Chantelle Good & Douglas Burkhardt In a poignant tale of serendipity and heartbreak, "At First Sight" follows the fateful encounter between a man and a woman whose lives intertwine in a single, life-altering moment. Drawn together by an inexplicable force, they experience love at first sight, only to have their bond tragically severed by a sudden accident moments later. Before being drawn apart, they are granted a brief glimpse into an alternate reality, where they explore the depths of their connection and envision the future they could have shared. Screening at the Tomorrow Theater on September 27th at 7:30pm

Burn from the inside
Burn from the inside

Burn From The Inside (United Kingdom) Directed by Mthuthuzeli November "Burn from the Inside" is not your typical narrative work. It delves into the exploration of music and its origins, examining why we have an innate desire to dance or move when we hear music, sound, or voices. It seeks to understand the essence of what triggers our movements and the emotional responses evoked by music. Screening at the Tomorrow Theater on September 26th at 7:30pm

a foreigner
a foreigner

a foreigner (United States) A film by Eiko Otake & Patrizia Herminjard Once a person is a foreigner, she never ceases to be a foreigner. No place is hers, except her shadow. This film features award-winning, movement-based interdisciplinary artist Eiko Otake, who has been a pivotal figure in site-specific dance for more than five decades. ‘a foreigner’ was filmed during Eiko Otake's ‘i invited myself vol. II’ exhibition at the Fine Arts Center at Colorado College in 2023. Screening at the Tomorrow Theater on September 28th at 7:30pm

Dead Flesh
Dead Flesh

Dead Flesh (United States) Directed and Choreographed by Kate Fleming Dead Flesh is an exploration of how dance and film can create visceral reactions within the viewer. The piece focuses on mental distress caused by trauma and how that trauma can impact the body. Screening at the Tomorrow Theater on September 27th at 7:30pm

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Our Story

Portland Dance Film Fest is about supporting and sharing what we think is the increasingly important work of dance for film. It is no secret that the current technology age has changed, and is continually changing, the way we go thru life. Who and what we are aware of and privy to is infinite and what this means for us a society and as a global people can feel like a rope slipping thru our fingers as we try and understand the implications and impact. Our shifting realities of self are mirrored back at us from the wormhole of the web, and in some ways is adding to our discontent and disconnection to ourselves and our communities. And, as with everything, there is a brilliant side. The beauty of technology is endless as well. We are dancers in Portland Dance Film Fest so naturally we are excited to uplift and bare witness to one of the most ancient and sacred art forms while utilizing the brilliance of technology by providing a screen and an audience for artists who are making dance for film. As Portland is a hub for creation and the spirit of Yes we are inspired by our local dancemakers, musicians, and filmmakers and keen on showcasing them alongside their peers from all over the globe. In the terms of technology’s progression, Film is not a new form so much, but we have watched dance for film have more and more of an audience over the last several years. When words feel limiting, we can find recognition of ourselves or something bigger than ourselves in the visual and audio arts.