The seventh annual Bicycle Film Festival is gearing up for its first-ever stop in Portland next week. About halfway through its worldwide tour, the fest has already made stops in Paris, Los Angeles, New York, and other cities.
For Portland, organizers have planned a four day feast of bike culture that will feature parties, performances and over 50 bike films from all over the globe.
Featured films include Toronto Film Festival Special Jury Award Winner Monkey Warfare, BMX flick Grounded, a four-person manned vessel of adventure in BikeCar and Klunkerz, a documentary about the history of mountain-biking.
(Photo: BFF)
This is also your chance to view The Yodeling Lesson, a film that features a beautiful woman bombing down the Mississippi Ave. hill (part of my daily commute) with no hands and no clothes! It was created by local filmmaker Vanessa Renwick.
The fun starts on Thursday night (9/6) with the “Bikes Rock” party and a “Bikes or Cars?” debate hosted by VICE Magazine and Dewars at Holocene (1001 SE Morrison St.).
Then, the films flex their muscles starting Friday night (9/7) at 7pm and there’s a full day of bike movies on Saturday (9/8). All films will be screened at Cinema 21 (616 NW 21st Ave.).
If you’d like to get into the movies free (and score a free meal), volunteers are needed for the valet bike parking service on Friday night and all day Saturday. If you’re interested in helping out, contact Portland event organizer Zoe Schack via email at zoe [at] bicyclefilmfestival [dot] com.
Sprockettes on Sunday.
(Photo: Jonathan Maus)
The finale of the festival happens at rontoms (600 E Burnside) on Sunday (9/9) with the Bicycle Film Festival DVD release party. Happening from 2pm till late, you won’t want to miss performances by The Sprockettes, Here Comes a Big Black Cloud, and others.
Admission to the film programs is $7, or you can purchase a festival pass for $27.
For the full program and film details, and to reserve a festival pass, check out the event website.