Vancouver filmmaker Phil Borsos (1954-1995), whose shorts SPARTREE, COOPERAGE, and NAILS are also B.C.-made films, had an extraordinary international hit with his first feature film. In 1901, after having served 33 years in San Quentin for stagecoach hold-ups, “Bill Miner was released into the 20th century.” According to legend, Canada’s most romantic outlaw went to see Edwin S. Porter’s THE GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY and decided at age 60 to embark on a career that would make him Canada’s most notorious train robber. Breathtaking cinematography, accomplished performances, and skillful direction earned this elegiac western a record 13 Canadian Genie (Oscar) Award nominations and awards to Borsos for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Screenplay. (93 mins.)

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

In celebration of the Film Center’s 40th Anniversary Season, we invited Northwest filmmakers to enter the MAKE IT SHORT film contest. Submissions could be in a variety of genres and formats—narrative, documentary, experimental, animation, 16mm, camera phone—as long as the film’s running time was 40 seconds or less. Join us for a screening of the entries and vote for your favorite! After the screening, prizes will be awarded for Audience and Judge’s Choice winners in youth and adult categories. Entries will be accepted through January 6!

FREE ADMISSION

Come early for a pre-film reception at 6 p.m.

Break out your sweatsuits, kick off your shoes, and get ready to fundraise—the Northwest Film Center continues its year-long 40th anniversary celebration with a movie marathon of epic proportions. Join us at McMenamin’s Bagdad Theater for a veritable smorgasbord of classic cinematic entertainment. Hosted by the always entertaining Sean McGrath of Live Wire and Sweat fame, the event also boasts film trivia, live performances, special guests including Dan Halsted and Cort and Fatboy, and more than a few surprises. It’s all here for you—more than twelve hours of cinematic ecstasy. The question is: can you last?

LOCATION: MCMENAMIN’S BAGDAD THEATER, 3702 SE Hawthorne Blvd.

ADMISSION: $40 (available online or at the door)

Want to give more? Like a true marathon, we challenge participants to help us raise money by enlisting their friends and family to sponsor their attendance over and above the $40 ticket price. Prizes will be awarded to the participants who bring in the most money!

BUY TICKETS OR FUNDRAISE THROUGH JOIN ME

VISITING ARTIST—Made at the same time as Terrence Malick’s BADLANDS, ROCKADAY (nationally released in 1975 as B-titled STARK RAVING MAD) is based on the infamous Starkweather-Fugate murder spree in 1958. Portland actors Russ Fast and Marcie Severson star as the pair who left a disastrous trail of carnage from Nebraska throughout the Midwest as they desperately tried to cover up one killing with another. Written and co-produced (with Tiger Warren) by Don Gronquist and shot by John Mincey, a large cross-section of the Portland film community worked on the film, which was also George Hood’s first feature. “A compelling, if modest, work ... neither high-brow nor exploitation. Fast has a brooding presence and is genuinely chilling. ... Severson has natural screen charm.”—Variety (88 mins.)

George Hood and Don Gronquist will be in attendance.

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

VISITING ARTIST—This Spokane-made first feature by Jerry Cook retains the charm and wit that made it a standout among regionally made films in the 1980s. The film depicts J. Jordan, a sort of ’80s Maynard G. Krebs/Rube Goldberg gadget-loving guy who quits his job as a bored and hassled local television news photographer to make a movie about a guy who quits his job to make a movie. Cook describes his film as “the TV dinner of movies ... it didn’t cost a lot, but it’s still pretty good.” Technically assured and full of heart, laugh-out-loud ambience and humor, and off-the-wall hipness, Cook’s debut will warm the hearts of anyone who has made, or dreams of making, a movie. “A clever comedy, well worth seeing.”—Ted Mahar, The Oregonian. “The film’s delightful atmosphere wins you over.”—D.K. Holm, Willamette Week (95 mins.)

Jerry Cook will be in attendance.

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