BANDS: DIRTY MITTENS, BRAINSTORM
Portland Art Museum's Field's Ballroom, 1119 SW Park Avenue

Put the babies to bed and join us for the Film Center’s 40th Birthday Party. We like to think we’re a young 40, and we’ll have two of Portland’s hottest bands on hand, BRAINSTORM and DIRTY MITTENS, to quiet the naysayers.

In addition to the no-host bar, there will be complimentary snacks available and, thanks to generous donations from many of your local bakeries, a stunning display of birthday cakes to be admired and served. To add to the excitement, we’ve invited Chris Lael Larson to add a superstar video installation titled SPIRIT UP 2011.

Thank you to MacTarnahan’s Brewing Company, New Deal Vodka, Odwalla, TAZO Tea, and Alicia J. Rose. Birthday cakes donated by Alder Pastry & Dessert, Artisan Cake Company, Cupcake Jones, New Cascadia Traditional, Papa Haydn, Pearl Bakery, Saint Cupcake, Voodoo Donuts, and more!

ADMISSION: $10 Party-only; $15 includes Opening Night Screening at 7 p.m. Party 21+.

In honor of the Film Center’s 40th anniversary, we present “Essential Northwest,” a new monthly, pay-what-you-will film series featuring vintage classics from Northwest filmmakers. If you want to know what Northwest filmmaking is all about, these are the films you need to see. Essential Northwest kicks off with Gus Van Sant’s first feature, MALA NOCHE, based on an autobiographical novella by Portland poet Walt Curtis and set on the rainy streets of Portland. Walt (Tim Streeter) works in a convenience store selling beer and cigarettes to seedy neighborhood characters. He develops a crush on an illegal immigrant named John who, new to Portland, is willing to use Walt for food and lodging while rejecting his advances. “Original, offbeat films such as MALA NOCHE—the kind that reflect authentic lifestyles without glorification or stereotyping—come few and far between. It’s always a pleasure to see them.”—Washington Post (78 mins.)

ADMISSION: PAY WHAT YOU WILL (Tickets available at the door.)