The 31st Portland International Film Festival runs February 7-23, 2008

The Northwest Film Center announces the 31st Portland International Film Festival (PIFF), it's annual cinematic foray of thought provoking and entertaining works from around the globe. Over the last 31 years, the Festival has provided diverse and innovative films to thousands of people from throughout the Northwest. This year's Festival will showcase over hundreds of compelling new films from three dozen countries, including regional work, to an audience of more than 35,000.

The Festival opens Thursday, February 7th at the Newmark Theatre at the Portland Center for the Performing Arts with the Israeli film The Band's Visit. The Director, Eran Kolirin, will be in attendance, joining the audience for an Opening Night party in the Portland Art Museum's elegant Fields Sunken Ballroom. The Opening Night party is sponsored by Hollywood Video and features music by Portland's The Brothers of the Baladi.

One of the region's most culturally diverse arts events, the Film Festival offers a global, armchair escape in the dark and rainy month of February. The broad mix of new international films, visiting artists, shorts, documentaries, and animation include Oscar Submissions, works by New Directors, Documentary Views, Short Cuts, and a showcase of new Pacific Rim Cinema from China, South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam and Australia.

This year PIFF films will be shown at the Regal Broadway Metroplex, the Film Center's Whitsell Auditorium in the Portland Art Museum, and at Cinema 21. Press screenings will start January 28th. This year's PIFF Presenting Sponsors include The Oregonian and Regal Cinemas. Hollywood Video, Oregon Live, Tropicana, along with major program sponsors include the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, Laika, and Wieden + Kennedy.

The Northwest Film Center is a regional media arts resource and service organization founded 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 flourish. In addition to the Portland International Film Festival, the Center produces the annual Northwest Film & Video Festival and a variety of year-round of film and video exhibition, educational and informative programs serving Oregon and residents of the Northwest.

Festival Screening Locations:
Regal Broadway Metroplex, 1000 SW Broadway
Newmark Theatre, 1111 SW Broadway
Cinema 21, 616 NW 21st Avenue
NW Film Center, Whitsell Auditorium-Portland Art Museum, 1219 SW Park Avenue