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Our 11 Picks for the Portland International Film Festival

Arts & CultureFilm & Television
Fiona McCann
Author: Fiona McCann and Rebecca Jacobson
9 min.read
1<i>Dheepan</i> (France)
Three Sri Lankan refugees—strangers to each other—pose as a family to seek refuge in France and escape their own country’s Civil War. What they find in the Paris suburb where they try to build a new life is that violence—in this case, gang-related—is inescapable. Jacques Audiard (The Prophet) took home the Palme d’Or at Cannes for this troubling, timely tale. 5.45 pm Thursday, Feb 25, OMSI. 5.45 pm Friday, Feb 26, Whitsell Auditorium
Three Sri Lankan refugees—strangers to each other—pose as a family to seek refuge in France and escape their own country’s Civil War. What they find in the Paris suburb where they try to build a new life is that violence—in this case, gang-related—is inescapable. Jacques Audiard (The Prophet) took home the Palme d’Or at Cannes for this troubling, timely tale. 5.45 pm Thursday, Feb 25, OMSI.
5.45 pm Friday, Feb 26, Whitsell Auditorium
2<i>The Idol</i> (Palestine)
Shot partially on location in Gaza—the first feature to be filmed there in decades—The Idol recounts the true story of Mohammed Assaf, a wedding singer-turned-Arab Idol champion. PIFF regulars might remember director Hany Abu-Assad: his lauded romantic thriller Omar screened at the fest in 2014. 6 pm Saturday, Feb 20, Fox Tower. 6 pm Thursday, Feb 25, Whitsell Auditorium
Shot partially on location in Gaza—the first feature to be filmed there in decades—The Idol recounts the true story of Mohammed Assaf, a wedding singer-turned-Arab Idol champion. PIFF regulars might remember director Hany Abu-Assad: his lauded romantic thriller Omar screened at the fest in 2014. 6 pm Saturday, Feb 20, Fox Tower. 6 pm Thursday, Feb 25, Whitsell Auditorium
3<i>The Idol</i> (Palestine)
Shot partially on location in Gaza—the first feature to be filmed there in decades—The Idol recounts the true story of Mohammed Assaf, a wedding singer-turned-Arab Idol champion. PIFF regulars might remember director Hany Abu-Assad: his lauded romantic thriller Omar screened at the fest in 2014. 6 pm Saturday, Feb 20, Fox Tower. 6 pm Thursday, Feb 25, Whitsell Auditorium
Shot partially on location in Gaza—the first feature to be filmed there in decades—The Idol recounts the true story of Mohammed Assaf, a wedding singer-turned-Arab Idol champion. PIFF regulars might remember director Hany Abu-Assad: his lauded romantic thriller Omar screened at the fest in 2014. 6 pm Saturday, Feb 20, Fox Tower. 6 pm Thursday, Feb 25, Whitsell Auditorium
4<i>King Georges </i>(US)
Portland foodies prepare: This is a delicious dive into the world of old-school French cuisine, as rigorously defended by French chef Georges Perrier, the man behind Philadelphia’s 40-year-old Le Bec-Fin. As tastes change and food goes out of fashion, Perrier finds himself quixotically fighting to keep the cuisine he learned from his mother alive. Interviews with big name chefs like Thomas Keller and Daniel Boulud seal the deal. 3.30 pm Monday, Feb 15, Fox Tower. 4.30 pm Sunday, Feb 21, World Trade Center
Portland foodies prepare: This is a delicious dive into the world of old-school French cuisine, as rigorously defended by French chef Georges Perrier, the man behind Philadelphia’s 40-year-old Le Bec-Fin. As tastes change and food goes out of fashion, Perrier finds himself quixotically fighting to keep the cuisine he learned from his mother alive. Interviews with big name chefs like Thomas Keller and Daniel Boulud seal the deal. 3.30 pm Monday, Feb 15, Fox Tower. 4.30 pm Sunday, Feb 21, World Trade Center
5<i>King Georges </i>(US)
Portland foodies prepare: This is a delicious dive into the world of old-school French cuisine, as rigorously defended by French chef Georges Perrier, the man behind Philadelphia’s 40-year-old Le Bec-Fin. As tastes change and food goes out of fashion, Perrier finds himself quixotically fighting to keep the cuisine he learned from his mother alive. Interviews with big name chefs like Thomas Keller and Daniel Boulud seal the deal. 3.30 pm Monday, Feb 15, Fox Tower. 4.30 pm Sunday, Feb 21, World Trade Center
Portland foodies prepare: This is a delicious dive into the world of old-school French cuisine, as rigorously defended by French chef Georges Perrier, the man behind Philadelphia’s 40-year-old Le Bec-Fin. As tastes change and food goes out of fashion, Perrier finds himself quixotically fighting to keep the cuisine he learned from his mother alive. Interviews with big name chefs like Thomas Keller and Daniel Boulud seal the deal. 3.30 pm Monday, Feb 15, Fox Tower. 4.30 pm Sunday, Feb 21, World Trade Center
6<i> Lamb</i> (Ethiopia)
The first Ethiopian film to ever play at Cannes, Lamb is the debut feature from Yared Zeleke, who grew up in the slums of Addis Ababa before heading stateside to attend film school at New York University. It’s a coming-of-age tale about a young boy, still recovering from the death of his mother, who’s sent to live with family in the hilly southern countryside. 1:30 pm Saturday, Feb 13, Moreland Theater. 1:30 pm Sunday, Feb 21, Fox Tower
The first Ethiopian film to ever play at Cannes, Lamb is the debut feature from Yared Zeleke, who grew up in the slums of Addis Ababa before heading stateside to attend film school at New York University. It’s a coming-of-age tale about a young boy, still recovering from the death of his mother, who’s sent to live with family in the hilly southern countryside. 1:30 pm Saturday, Feb 13, Moreland Theater. 1:30 pm Sunday, Feb 21, Fox Tower
7<i> Lamb</i> (Ethiopia)
The first Ethiopian film to ever play at Cannes, Lamb is the debut feature from Yared Zeleke, who grew up in the slums of Addis Ababa before heading stateside to attend film school at New York University. It’s a coming-of-age tale about a young boy, still recovering from the death of his mother, who’s sent to live with family in the hilly southern countryside. 1:30 pm Saturday, Feb 13, Moreland Theater. 1:30 pm Sunday, Feb 21, Fox Tower
The first Ethiopian film to ever play at Cannes, Lamb is the debut feature from Yared Zeleke, who grew up in the slums of Addis Ababa before heading stateside to attend film school at New York University. It’s a coming-of-age tale about a young boy, still recovering from the death of his mother, who’s sent to live with family in the hilly southern countryside. 1:30 pm Saturday, Feb 13, Moreland Theater. 1:30 pm Sunday, Feb 21, Fox Tower
8<i>Landfill Harmonic </i>(US / Paraguay / Norway)
In 2012, a video of a Paraguayan youth orchestra playing instruments made entirely from recycled trash—an oilcan cello, a fork that forms a violin bridge—became a YouTube smash. Landfill Harmonic explores this story beyond that three and a half minutes, documenting a musical group born in deep poverty, who then find themselves negotiating a world of sold-out concerts, big stages, and foreign shows. 6.30 pm Saturday, Feb 13, World Trade Center. 3.30 pm Saturday, Feb 20, World Trade Center. 1.30 pm Sunday, Feb 21, World Trade Center
In 2012, a video of a Paraguayan youth orchestra playing instruments made entirely from recycled trash—an oilcan cello, a fork that forms a violin bridge—became a YouTube smash. Landfill Harmonic explores this story beyond that three and a half minutes, documenting a musical group born in deep poverty, who then find themselves negotiating a world of sold-out concerts, big stages, and foreign shows. 6.30 pm Saturday, Feb 13, World Trade Center. 3.30 pm Saturday, Feb 20, World Trade Center. 1.30 pm Sunday, Feb 21, World Trade Center
9<i>Landfill Harmonic </i>(US / Paraguay / Norway)
In 2012, a video of a Paraguayan youth orchestra playing instruments made entirely from recycled trash—an oilcan cello, a fork that forms a violin bridge—became a YouTube smash. Landfill Harmonic explores this story beyond that three and a half minutes, documenting a musical group born in deep poverty, who then find themselves negotiating a world of sold-out concerts, big stages, and foreign shows. 6.30 pm Saturday, Feb 13, World Trade Center. 3.30 pm Saturday, Feb 20, World Trade Center. 1.30 pm Sunday, Feb 21, World Trade Center
In 2012, a video of a Paraguayan youth orchestra playing instruments made entirely from recycled trash—an oilcan cello, a fork that forms a violin bridge—became a YouTube smash. Landfill Harmonic explores this story beyond that three and a half minutes, documenting a musical group born in deep poverty, who then find themselves negotiating a world of sold-out concerts, big stages, and foreign shows. 6.30 pm Saturday, Feb 13, World Trade Center. 3.30 pm Saturday, Feb 20, World Trade Center. 1.30 pm Sunday, Feb 21, World Trade Center
10<i>The Lobster</i> (Ireland / UK / France / Greece / Netherlands)
Colin Farrell is spending a sojourn in “The Hotel," in which he hopes to meet a romantic partner—specifically, a mate. The downside? He only has 45 days to do so, after which, if he fails to hook up, he’ll be transformed into the titular lobster. Surreally satirical stuff from the hands of Greek writer-director Yorgos Lanthimos, that took home the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film festival, and costars Rachel Weisz and John C. Reilly. 6 pm Saturday, Feb 13, Cinema 21
Colin Farrell is spending a sojourn in “The Hotel,” in which he hopes to meet a romantic partner—specifically, a mate. The downside? He only has 45 days to do so, after which, if he fails to hook up, he’ll be transformed into the titular lobster. Surreally satirical stuff from the hands of Greek writer-director Yorgos Lanthimos, that took home the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film festival, and costars Rachel Weisz and John C. Reilly. 6 pm Saturday, Feb 13, Cinema 21
11<i>The Lobster</i> (Ireland / UK / France / Greece / Netherlands)
Colin Farrell is spending a sojourn in “The Hotel," in which he hopes to meet a romantic partner—specifically, a mate. The downside? He only has 45 days to do so, after which, if he fails to hook up, he’ll be transformed into the titular lobster. Surreally satirical stuff from the hands of Greek writer-director Yorgos Lanthimos, that took home the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film festival, and costars Rachel Weisz and John C. Reilly. 6 pm Saturday, Feb 13, Cinema 21
Colin Farrell is spending a sojourn in “The Hotel,” in which he hopes to meet a romantic partner—specifically, a mate. The downside? He only has 45 days to do so, after which, if he fails to hook up, he’ll be transformed into the titular lobster. Surreally satirical stuff from the hands of Greek writer-director Yorgos Lanthimos, that took home the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film festival, and costars Rachel Weisz and John C. Reilly. 6 pm Saturday, Feb 13, Cinema 21
12<i>Office</i> (Hong Kong / China)
The Big Short isn’t the only film employing unconventional tactics to tell a tale of financial collapse. This song-and-dance-filled feature from Hong Kong genre chameleon Johnnie To is set in the aftermath of the 2008 meltdown, as a bunch of business execs try to cover up their shady dealings—while singing about stock options, accounting schemes, and other financial arcana. 5:45 pm Thursday, Feb 18, Whitsell Auditorium. 12:45 pm Saturday, Feb 20, Cinema 21
The Big Short isn’t the only film employing unconventional tactics to tell a tale of financial collapse. This song-and-dance-filled feature from Hong Kong genre chameleon Johnnie To is set in the aftermath of the 2008 meltdown, as a bunch of business execs try to cover up their shady dealings—while singing about stock options, accounting schemes, and other financial arcana. 5:45 pm Thursday, Feb 18, Whitsell Auditorium. 12:45 pm Saturday, Feb 20, Cinema 21
13<i>Office</i> (Hong Kong / China)
The Big Short isn’t the only film employing unconventional tactics to tell a tale of financial collapse. This song-and-dance-filled feature from Hong Kong genre chameleon Johnnie To is set in the aftermath of the 2008 meltdown, as a bunch of business execs try to cover up their shady dealings—while singing about stock options, accounting schemes, and other financial arcana. 5:45 pm Thursday, Feb 18, Whitsell Auditorium. 12:45 pm Saturday, Feb 20, Cinema 21
The Big Short isn’t the only film employing unconventional tactics to tell a tale of financial collapse. This song-and-dance-filled feature from Hong Kong genre chameleon Johnnie To is set in the aftermath of the 2008 meltdown, as a bunch of business execs try to cover up their shady dealings—while singing about stock options, accounting schemes, and other financial arcana. 5:45 pm Thursday, Feb 18, Whitsell Auditorium. 12:45 pm Saturday, Feb 20, Cinema 21
14<i>Open Your Eyes / 50 Feet from Syria</i> (Portland)
A pair of short documentaries—one clocks in at 34 minutes, the other at 39—from Portland filmmakers. In Open Your Eyes (pictured), Irene Taylor Brodsky follows an elderly Nepali couple as they trek from their mountain home to Kathmandu for cataracts surgery. Skye Fitzgerald’s 50 Feet from Syria, meanwhile, centers on a Syrian-American hand surgeon who travels to Turkey to treat Syrian refugees. 3:30 pm Sunday, Feb 21, Whitsell Auditorium
A pair of short documentaries—one clocks in at 34 minutes, the other at 39—from Portland filmmakers. In Open Your Eyes (pictured), Irene Taylor Brodsky follows an elderly Nepali couple as they trek from their mountain home to Kathmandu for cataracts surgery. Skye Fitzgerald’s 50 Feet from Syria, meanwhile, centers on a Syrian-American hand surgeon who travels to Turkey to treat Syrian refugees. 3:30 pm Sunday, Feb 21, Whitsell Auditorium
15<i>Open Your Eyes / 50 Feet from Syria</i> (Portland)
A pair of short documentaries—one clocks in at 34 minutes, the other at 39—from Portland filmmakers. In Open Your Eyes (pictured), Irene Taylor Brodsky follows an elderly Nepali couple as they trek from their mountain home to Kathmandu for cataracts surgery. Skye Fitzgerald’s 50 Feet from Syria, meanwhile, centers on a Syrian-American hand surgeon who travels to Turkey to treat Syrian refugees. 3:30 pm Sunday, Feb 21, Whitsell Auditorium
A pair of short documentaries—one clocks in at 34 minutes, the other at 39—from Portland filmmakers. In Open Your Eyes (pictured), Irene Taylor Brodsky follows an elderly Nepali couple as they trek from their mountain home to Kathmandu for cataracts surgery. Skye Fitzgerald’s 50 Feet from Syria, meanwhile, centers on a Syrian-American hand surgeon who travels to Turkey to treat Syrian refugees. 3:30 pm Sunday, Feb 21, Whitsell Auditorium
16<i>Rams </i>(Iceland)
Two Icelandic, sheep-rearing brothers who haven’t spoken in over 40 years are reunited when their valley—and livelihoods—come under threat. New York Times critic A.O. Scott praised it for “the almost tragic nobility it finds in sad and silly circumstances.” 4 pm Friday, Feb 12, Fox Tower. 6 pm Wednesday, Feb 17, Whitsell Auditorium
Two Icelandic, sheep-rearing brothers who haven’t spoken in over 40 years are reunited when their valley—and livelihoods—come under threat. New York Times critic A.O. Scott praised it for “the almost tragic nobility it finds in sad and silly circumstances.” 4 pm Friday, Feb 12, Fox Tower. 6 pm Wednesday, Feb 17, Whitsell Auditorium
17<i>Rams </i>(Iceland)
Two Icelandic, sheep-rearing brothers who haven’t spoken in over 40 years are reunited when their valley—and livelihoods—come under threat. New York Times critic A.O. Scott praised it for “the almost tragic nobility it finds in sad and silly circumstances.” 4 pm Friday, Feb 12, Fox Tower. 6 pm Wednesday, Feb 17, Whitsell Auditorium
Two Icelandic, sheep-rearing brothers who haven’t spoken in over 40 years are reunited when their valley—and livelihoods—come under threat. New York Times critic A.O. Scott praised it for “the almost tragic nobility it finds in sad and silly circumstances.” 4 pm Friday, Feb 12, Fox Tower. 6 pm Wednesday, Feb 17, Whitsell Auditorium
18<i>Songs from the North</i> (South Korea / US)
In this rare peek into the Hermit Kingdom that is North Korea, South Korean-born director Soon-Mi Yoo offers a collage of on-site footage, archival film and TV clips, and interviews. The film, which won awards in Locarno and Buenos Aires, is more cinematic diary than straightforward documentary. 6:15 pm Monday, Feb 15, World Trade Center. 6:30 pm Friday, Feb 19, World Trade Center
In this rare peek into the Hermit Kingdom that is North Korea, South Korean-born director Soon-Mi Yoo offers a collage of on-site footage, archival film and TV clips, and interviews. The film, which won awards in Locarno and Buenos Aires, is more cinematic diary than straightforward documentary. 6:15 pm Monday, Feb 15, World Trade Center. 6:30 pm Friday, Feb 19, World Trade Center
19<i>Songs from the North</i> (South Korea / US)
In this rare peek into the Hermit Kingdom that is North Korea, South Korean-born director Soon-Mi Yoo offers a collage of on-site footage, archival film and TV clips, and interviews. The film, which won awards in Locarno and Buenos Aires, is more cinematic diary than straightforward documentary. 6:15 pm Monday, Feb 15, World Trade Center. 6:30 pm Friday, Feb 19, World Trade Center
In this rare peek into the Hermit Kingdom that is North Korea, South Korean-born director Soon-Mi Yoo offers a collage of on-site footage, archival film and TV clips, and interviews. The film, which won awards in Locarno and Buenos Aires, is more cinematic diary than straightforward documentary. 6:15 pm Monday, Feb 15, World Trade Center. 6:30 pm Friday, Feb 19, World Trade Center
20<i>Sworn Virgin</i> (Albania / Germany / Italy/ Kosovo / Switzerland)
In parts of Northern Albania, women can choose to escape their destiny as wives, mothers, and second-class citizens by taking a vow of chastity and living life as a man, which brings access to alcohol, guns, and greater social freedoms. Laura Bispuri's Sworn Virgin tells the story of one such woman, who after years of solitude comes to question her choice to live life as a man, and flees to Italy to switch roles all over again.6.15 pm Wednesday, Feb 24, Fox Tower. 8.30 pm Friday, Feb 26, Whitsell Auditorium 
In parts of Northern Albania, women can choose to escape their destiny as wives, mothers, and second-class citizens by taking a vow of chastity and living life as a man, which brings access to alcohol, guns, and greater social freedoms. Laura Bispuri’s Sworn Virgin tells the story of one such woman, who after years of solitude comes to question her choice to live life as a man, and flees to Italy to switch roles all over again.6.15 pm Wednesday, Feb 24, Fox Tower. 8.30 pm Friday, Feb 26, Whitsell Auditorium

 

21<i>Sworn Virgin</i> (Albania / Germany / Italy/ Kosovo / Switzerland)
In parts of Northern Albania, women can choose to escape their destiny as wives, mothers, and second-class citizens by taking a vow of chastity and living life as a man, which brings access to alcohol, guns, and greater social freedoms. Laura Bispuri's Sworn Virgin tells the story of one such woman, who after years of solitude comes to question her choice to live life as a man, and flees to Italy to switch roles all over again.6.15 pm Wednesday, Feb 24, Fox Tower. 8.30 pm Friday, Feb 26, Whitsell Auditorium 
In parts of Northern Albania, women can choose to escape their destiny as wives, mothers, and second-class citizens by taking a vow of chastity and living life as a man, which brings access to alcohol, guns, and greater social freedoms. Laura Bispuri’s Sworn Virgin tells the story of one such woman, who after years of solitude comes to question her choice to live life as a man, and flees to Italy to switch roles all over again.6.15 pm Wednesday, Feb 24, Fox Tower. 8.30 pm Friday, Feb 26, Whitsell Auditorium

 

22<i>Dheepan</i> (France)
Three Sri Lankan refugees—strangers to each other—pose as a family to seek refuge in France and escape their own country’s Civil War. What they find in the Paris suburb where they try to build a new life is that violence—in this case, gang-related—is inescapable. Jacques Audiard (The Prophet) took home the Palme d’Or at Cannes for this troubling, timely tale. 5.45 pm Thursday, Feb 25, OMSI. 5.45 pm Friday, Feb 26, Whitsell Auditorium
Three Sri Lankan refugees—strangers to each other—pose as a family to seek refuge in France and escape their own country’s Civil War. What they find in the Paris suburb where they try to build a new life is that violence—in this case, gang-related—is inescapable. Jacques Audiard (The Prophet) took home the Palme d’Or at Cannes for this troubling, timely tale. 5.45 pm Thursday, Feb 25, OMSI.
5.45 pm Friday, Feb 26, Whitsell Auditorium

The 39th annual Portland International Film Festival opens tonight, Thursday, Feb 11, with screenings of Finnish film The Fencer (at Fox Tower and the Whitsell Auditorium) followed by a reception at the Portland Art Museum. Over 17 days, more than 140 movies—documentaries to dramas, family friendly fare to biting satire—will be gracing big screens around Portland. We’ve combed through the program and pulled together the 11 we’re most excited to see into this handy primer. 

 Portland International Film Festival (PIFF) runs from Feb 11—Feb 27. 




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Fiona McCann
Fiona McCann