Northwest Film Center

PAM CUT-Center for an Untold Tomorrow
Map
Established1971; 55 years ago (1971) (as Northwest Film Study Center)
1977; 49 years ago (1977) (as Northwest Film Center)
2022; 4 years ago (2022) (as PAM CUT)
Location934 SW Salmon St.
Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Coordinates45°31′04″N 122°40′59″W / 45.5178°N 122.6830°W / 45.5178; -122.6830
Websiteportlandartmuseum.org/pam-cut/

PAM CUT–Center for an Untold Tomorrow, formerly the Northwest Film Center, is a regional media arts resource and service organization based in Portland, Oregon, United States, that was founded to encourage the study, appreciation, and utilization of film. The center provides a variety of film and video exhibition, education and information programs primarily directed to the residents of the Pacific Northwest.

History

The center was founded as the Northwest Film Study Center in 1971,[1] and incorporated into the Portland Art Museum in 1978.[2]

The center was located in Portland's historic Guild Theatre from 1998 to 2006.[3]

Sponsors of the center include the National Endowment for the Arts, Oregon Arts Commission, Oregon Cultural Trust, Washington State Arts Commission, Regional Arts & Culture Council, The Ted R. Gamble Film Endowment, The Rose E. Tucker Charitable Trust, The Paul G. Allen Foundation for the Arts, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and the Mt. Hood Cable Regulatory Commission.

In March 2022, the center was renamed the "PAM CUT–Center for an Untold Tomorrow".[4]

Management

In September 2019, Amy Dotson became the director of Portland's Northwest Film Center. Dotson would be responsible for the Film Center's overall vision, including strategic development, marketing, and guidance of the curriculum. She would also work with the curatorial teams of the Museum, incorporating her vast film and new media knowledge, as well as using her financial, commercial and foreign partnerships to promote the development of the Film Center as a world-class film and digital media production hub.[5]

Events

In the past, events at the Northwest Film Center included the Portland International Film Festival, the Northwest Filmmakers' Festival, Reel Music Film Festival, Portland Jewish Film Festival and the Young People's Film Festival. None of these events have been held since 2020 (except the Portland International Film Festival, which was virtual in 2021).

Northwest Filmmakers' Festival

Past judges of the Northwest Filmmakers' Festival (previously known as the Northwest Film and Video Festival) have included Gus Van Sant, Matt Groening, Todd Haynes, Christine Vachon, Bill Plympton, Dan Ireland, Karen Cooper of Filmforum, B. Ruby Rich, Amy Taubin, J. Hoberman, and John Cooper, Sundance Film Festival and Outfest programmer.

Awards

Judge's Award
Year Category Film Directors
1983[6] Short The Rubber Stamp Film Joanna Priestley
1985[7] Short Voices Joanna Priestley
1988[8] Short She-Bop Joanna Priestley
1993[9] Short Pro and Con Joanna Priestley

Joan C. Gratz

1994[10] Short Grown Up Joanna Priestley
1995[11] Short Hand Held Joanna Priestley
1996[12] Feature Cat Swallows Parakeet and Speaks! Ileana Pietrobruno
1997[13] Short Sabor a mi Claudia Morgado
1997[13] Short Road Movie Gwen Haworth
1998[14] Short Johnny Bagpipes Todd Korgan
2001[15] Experimental Passage Chel White
2004[16] Experimental Grounded Matt McCormick
2004[16] Short Magda Chel White
2005[17] Short Darling Darling Matthew Lessner
2005[17] Short Driver's Ed Thom Harp
2006[18] Most Memorable Regarding Sarah Michelle Porter

Amy Belling

2007[19] Short By Modern Measure Matthew Lessner
2008[20] Short Rifle Workbook Vincent Caldoni
2012[21] Documentary The Sandwich Nazi Lewis Bennett
2015[22] Experimental Robot Pavlov Sputnik Oliver Hockenhull
2015[22] Short Utopia Parkway Joanna Priestley
2015[22] Northwest Feature Frank and the Wondercat Pablo Alvarex-Mesa
2015[22] Feature Birds of Neptune Stephen Richter
Audience Award
Year Film Directors
1996[12] CheckMating William Azaroff
1998[14] Johnny Bagpipes Todd Korgan
2000[23] Soulmate Chel White
2008[20] Hirsute Amy Belling

A.J. Bond

2012[21] David Lynch & Chrysta Bell: Bird of Flames Chel White
2012[21] Dear Pluto Joanna Priestley
2015[22] For Jean-Pierre Melville Ira Flowers

References

  1. ^ Rose Bond. "The Portland Story 1925-76". History of Northwest Animation: The Roots of Creative Variance. ASIFA Seattle. Retrieved 2009-05-14.
  2. ^ 1970s & 1980s
  3. ^ Levy, Shawn (June 25, 2006). "Before flying off with Superman, a good-bye to the Guild". The Oregonian. p. O2.
  4. ^ Turnquist, Kristi (9 Mar 2022). "Portland's Northwest Film Center gets a new name: PAM CUT". The Oregonian. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  5. ^ "Amy Dotson Announced as New Northwest Film Center Director and Portland Art Museum Curator of Film and New Media". Filmmaker. 7 May 2019. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  6. ^ "Northwest Film & Video Festival (1983)". IMDb. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  7. ^ "Northwest Film & Video Festival (1985)". IMDb. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  8. ^ "Northwest Film & Video Festival (1988)". IMDb. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  9. ^ "Northwest Film & Video Festival (1993)". IMDb. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  10. ^ "Northwest Film & Video Festival (1994)". IMDb. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  11. ^ "Northwest Film & Video Festival (1994)". IMDb. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  12. ^ a b "Northwest Film & Video Festival (1996)". IMDb. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  13. ^ a b "Northwest Film & Video Festival (1997)". IMDb. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  14. ^ a b "Northwest Film & Video Festival (1998)". IMDb. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  15. ^ "Northwest Film & Video Festival (2001)". IMDb. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  16. ^ a b "Northwest Film & Video Festival (2004)". IMDb. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  17. ^ a b "Northwest Film & Video Festival (2005)". IMDb. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  18. ^ "Northwest Film & Video Festival (2006)". IMDb. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  19. ^ "Northwest Film & Video Festival (2007)". IMDb. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  20. ^ a b "Northwest Film & Video Festival (2008)". IMDb. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  21. ^ a b c "Northwest Film & Video Festival (2012)". IMDb. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  22. ^ a b c d e "Northwest Film & Video Festival (2015)". IMDb. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  23. ^ "Northwest Film & Video Festival (2000)". IMDb. Retrieved 2025-11-18.