As cinema moves into its second century, the preservation of classic films is finding new life through digital technology and collaborative efforts by film archives and studios worldwide. At the same time, appreciation for the glories of 35mm film prints and the opportunity for new generations to see the originals on the big screen remains a distinct pleasure. The Film Center is pleased to present this selection of iconic classics enjoying a second life via restoration or preservation, either by digital magic or lovingly made film prints. We hope you’ll discover something new, or see a longtime favorite in an entirely new light.

Welcome to our 32nd edition of Reel Music. We’ve been on the lookout all year for new works—and timely classics— for this annual celebration of sound and image, music and culture, and the origins of sounds infused in our experience. Whether your passion is jazz, blues, rock, soul, folk, funk, or punk, we hope you find this mixture of old and new, familiar and strange, to be full of inspiration and discovery. As always, our special thanks go to Music Millennium, Willamette Week, Walker, Day & Koch LLP, Oregon Music News, KINK.fm, MusicFestNW, All Classical Portland, PDX Jazz, KIND Healthy Snacks, XRAY.FM, KMHD, PDX Pipeline, Yelp!, Vortex Magazine and Portland Radio Project.

Unless otherwise noted, all movies are shown at the Whitsell Auditorium, in the Portland Art Museum.

This retrospective of modern Polish Cinema features works produced from the 1950s through the 1980s—an era marked by a loosening of political strictures and striking personal expression. The series is curated by Martin Scorsese and organized by his non-profit Film Foundation along with Milestone Films. Each film in the program has been digitally remastered and newly subtitled. Circulation of the program has been made possible with the assistance of the Propaganda Foundation, DI Factory, CRF, Kino RP, Tor, Zebra, and Kadr, with the support of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland, the Polish Film Institute, and the Polish National Audiovisual Institute. Special thanks to the Polish Library Association, Portland, for their support for our presentation.

While cinema provides entertainment and escape, for many committed filmmakers and viewers it is a vital medium of engagement and a powerful tool for social action. Tackling wide-ranging, thought-provoking issues, activist filmmakers help deepen our awareness of injustice and the values of dignity and equality as they tell universal stories of struggle and triumph. We hope these informative and inspirational films will broaden understanding and stimulate involvement as they reveal hearts and minds focused on challenges that touch us all. Our thanks go to the Human Rights Watch Film Festivals in London and New York for their showcasing and circulating of works of vitally engaged filmmakers, and KBOO Community Radio for their media sponsorship.

Northwest Tracking showcases the work of independent filmmakers living and working in the Northwest—Alaska, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington—whose work reflects the vibrant cinematic culture of the region. Whether presenting single-artist retrospectives, new features, documentaries, or inspired collections of short works, this ongoing showcase offers testimony to the creativity and talent in our flourishing media arts community.