German cinema continues to be among the world’s most vibrant and enduring, and this selection of recent award-winning films confirms that new talents impress along with established directors. Our thanks go to Zeitgeist NW, presenting sponsor of the series, and to The Goethe Institute; The Berlin and Beyond Film Festival, San Francisco; and the Regional Arts and Culture Council for their support.

The 30th Reel Music Festival showcases films that tell the creative, unexpected, and sometimes transformative origins of sounds so infused in our experience. We hope that our annual celebration of sound and image, music and culture, offers something that will perk your curiosity, warm your soul, and send you scouting for new, and renewed, discovery—whatever your musical tastes.

Special thanks go to Music Millennium, Willamette Week, Oregon Music News, KINK.fm, Musicfest NW, Search Party, KMHD Jazz Radio, opbmusic.org, and McMenamin’s for helping make it all happen. Enjoy.

FESTIVAL PASSES are available online now. Click here to purchase yours today!

While cinema provides entertainment and escape, for many filmmakers and viewers it is a vital portal into the lives of others, a medium of engagement, and a powerful tool for social action. Tackling wide-ranging, thought-provoking issues, activist filmmakers and individuals help deepen our awareness of injustice, the values of dignity and equality, and the price of commitment as they tell passionate stories of struggle and triumph. We hope that the informative and inspirational stories presented in this year’s series will broaden understanding and inspire involvement as they reveal the courage of individuals whose hearts and minds are focused on bettering our world.

Our special thanks go to Human Rights Watch, Mercy Corps, World Affairs Council of Oregon, and other organizations worldwide that help bring important events, issues, and media works to light.

THANKS TO OUR MEDIA SPONSORS KBOO RADIO AND THE PORTLAND ALLIANCE.

The Northwest Film Center presents a grand retrospective of vintage 35mm noir films! Featuring rarely seen gems beautifully restored and preserved in all their celluloid glory by the Film Noir Foundation, along with traditional noir favorites, this series promises a cinematically sinister foray into the dark heart of post-war America. The usual suspects are all here: crooked cops, thugs for hire, double-crossing dames, and more—come take a walk with us on the seedy side of the street. Author, film historian, and president of the Film Noir Foundation Eddie Muller will be in attendance opening weekend to discuss the enduring legacy of film noir.

The ongoing Northwest Tracking series focuses a spotlight on the work of independent filmmakers living across the Northwest—Alaska, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington—whose work reflects the vibrant cinematic culture of the region. Due to the popularity and importance of offering valuable perspectives on the history of filmmaking and the filmmakers in the region, we are delighted to announce that our “Essential Northwest” screenings, created to celebrate the Film Center’s 40th Anniversary Season, will continue into the future. They will be integrated into our year-round Northwest Tracking program, and regular admission policies will apply. Please join us for these screenings of important but rarely screened Northwest works.