Northwest Film Center

Everyone loves movies, but the Northwest Film Center should be your destination if you want to learn more about the art of film. With a variety of film exhibitions, classes and programs, the Northwest Film Center is an invaluable resource for both Portland residents and visitors to the city.

Located in downtown Portland, the Northwest Film Center is only a few blocks north of the Portland Art Museum. The center was founded in order to "encourage the study, appreciation, and utilization of the moving image arts, foster their artistic and professional excellence, and to help create a climate in which they may flourish."

Throughout the year, the Northwest Film Center hosts many local film festivals including the Portland International Film Festival and the Northwest Film & Video Festival. A good recommendation if you want to see the cutting edge of cinema is the Young People's Film & Video Festival held each July. This showcases the talents of student filmmakers around the northwest.

From international films to experimental works, the Northwest Film Center will expand your understanding of what film and cinema represents.  It can be a good idea to research the film on the center's website to make sure that it fits your tastes as not all films are right for everyone.

For those looking to learn more, the Northwest Film Center has a school of film and offers classes across a variety of subjects. The school can even give you credit at your college through its programs. For youth and teens, the film center has great classes aimed at the burgeoning film director in your family. These classes can also make the perfect gift for a birthday.

Whether you an avid film lover or new to the art of film, the Northwest Film Center has a variety of exhibitions and programs for everyone. The center may not be as well known as nearby the Pacific Northwest College of Art, but its contribution to further Portland's arts and culture scene is unparalleled.

HelloPortland Tip: The Northwest Film Center hosts a event called Top Down: Rooftop Cinema on the roof of the nearby Hotel DeLuxe. It can be a great way to enjoy a film under the Portland summer sky.

- by William Crane, Portland Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

William Crane

William Crane is an accomplished print and online journalist (http://www.william-crane.com) His work covers a variety of topics including features, local community news, sports, music, and political/social issues. Graduating from Seattle University with a B.A. in Journalism, William's writing has appeared in a variety of different publications including the Stranger, Capitol Hill Times, the Skanner, Backfire Magazine, and the Internationalist.