The Portland Women's Film Festival (a.k.a. POW Fest) is pleased to announce that acclaimed director, Kathryn Bigelow, one of Hollywood's most innovative filmmakers - whose films include K-19 (2002) with Harrison Ford; The Weight of Water (2000) with Sean Penn; Strange Days (1995) with Ralph Fiennes; and Point Break (1991) with Keanu Reaves - will be in Portland to screen her latest film, The Hurt Locker, an action thriller, as part of a benefit for the Portland Women's Film Festival, POW Fest, on Monday, July, 20th, 2009. The evening will kick-off at 6:00 p.m. with a pre-show reception and silent auction, followed by the screening at 7:30p.m. All events will take place at Portland's historic Hollywood Theatre.

The Hurt Locker, winner of the "Best Film" Award at the Venice Film Festival has been called a "near perfect war film" by TIME Magazine. A riveting, suspenseful portrait of the courage under fire of the military's unrecognized heroes: the technicians of a bomb squad who volunteer to challenge the odds and save lives doing one of the world's most dangerous jobs. This fictional tale was inspired by real events chronicled by journalist and screenwriter Mark Boal, who was embedded with a special bomb squad unit in Iraq. In Iraq, it is soldier's vernacular to speak of explosions as sending you to "the hurt locker."

"POW Fest is honored to have Kathryn Bigelow come to Portland to screen her latest film before it is released Nationwide later that month," said POW Fest Executive Director, Tara Johnson-Medinger. "Kathryn is an inspiration to female directors, having been one of the few women to break through the Hollywood gender gap and have a successful, extended career making ground-breaking and influential films. Hearing her speak about her craft will be a key part of the evening." As part of the screening, Bigelow will be on-hand for an extensive discussion after the film.

The purpose of the evening is to raise funds for POW Fest's third annual film festival scheduled for March 18 - 21, 2010. In addition to the film screening and one-on-one with Bigelow, benefit festivities
will also include a wine & beer reception and special auction of one-of-a-kind experiences and merchandise. Tickets for the event are $20 (includes reception and auction) or $12 for the screening only and can be obtained at www.powfest.com as well as The Hollywood Theatre box office. For more information, go to www.powfest.com.

POW Fest Summer Benefit with Filmmaker Kathryn Bigelow
Monday, July 20, 2009
6:00 p.m. Pre-Show Reception and Silent Auction
7:30 p.m. Screening
The Hollywood Theatre
4122 NE Sandy Blvd
Portland, Oregon 97212
(503) 493-1128