Today, Portland Festival of Cinema, Animation and Technology (PFCAT) is pleased to announce that legendary director and animator Bill Plympton will be in attendance at the 2023 Portland Festival of Cinema, Animation & Technology on August 4th at 8pm. This special event will be held at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry's (OMSI) Empirical Theater.
Admission to this special event is $25 and includes the screening, presentation and reception at Theory Restaurant. After the screening and presentation, Plympton will sign autographs and offer complimentary sketches to audience members. Tickets are available at https://omsi.edu/events/portland-festival-of-cinema-animation-and-technology/.
Often called the "King of Indie Animation," Mr. Plympton will be presenting a special retrospective screening of some of his favorite past works as well as clips from "Slide," his newest animated feature, which is about a mythical cowboy who appears in a corrupt logging town in the 1940's. This animated western is set in Plympton's home state of Oregon and marks his 9th animated feature film.
Mr. Plympton grew up on the Clackamas River and attended Oregon City High School and Portland State University, where his cartoon work was first published. After moving to NYC in 1969, he continued to do work for Willamette Weekly and The Oregonian.
Twice nominated for an Oscar® for his animated short Your Face (1988) and Guard Dog (2004) and the winner of the Prix Special du Jury at the Cannes Film Festival for Push Comes to Shove (1991), Bill Plympton's animation style is unmistakable and iconic. Other career highlights include directing and animating numerous music videos including Weird Al' Yankovic, 8 The Simpson's Couch Gags and over 40 animated shorts. The Academy Film Archive currently holds a collection of over 180 Plympton items.
The Portland Festival of Cinema, Animation and Technology will be taking place at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) from August 3rd – 6th and will include screenings of 119 films including 110 World or Regional Premieres from 22 countries, as well as panel discussions, parties, and presentations. The festival will feature 68 animated projects ranging from stop-motion and rotoscope to hand drawn animation, 3D animation as well as a range of features, documentaries, sci-fi shorts and projects that feature a focus on VFX and the use of cutting-edge technology. The complete schedule of screenings and special events can be found at www.pdxfestofcinema.com.
About The Portland Festival of Cinema, Animation & Technology (PFCAT)
Portland Festival of Cinema, Animation & Technology presents visionary and diverse works from filmmakers and animators. In 2022, the festival rebranded from its previous name, The International Festival of Cinema and Technology. Past festivals include more than 30 events in eight U.S. cities, three Australian cities, as well as numerous events in Toronto, Paris, Sydney, and more. More information can be found at www.pdxfestofcinema.com.
A Bold Depiction of The Immigrant Struggle and The Cost of The American Dream
Carmona Pictures, a New York-based production company, proudly announces that Chisel, the short film written and directed by Julissa Scopino, has been selected as an official entry at the 2024 Chelsea Film Festival. The film, which powerfully explores the immigrant experience, will screen at the prestigious event, held from October 16-20 at Regal Theaters Union Square in New York City. In Chisel, a jobless teenage immigrant desperately seeks employment, only to be met with cold indifference from fellow laborers on a street corner who are also desperately looking for work. Isolated and longing to fit in, he faces a moral crossroads: follow the right path or get involved in a risky opportunity that promises quick success. The film offers a raw and urgent portrayal of the immigrant struggle, addressing labor exploitation, inequality, and the harsh realities of chasing the American dream. The film's main character is portrayed by actor Nico Bustamante (Riverdale, Gotti, and Bel Canto), who brings an emotional depth and authenticity to the role, capturing the internal struggle and desperation of his character. Chisel draws its power from Scopino’s sharp directorial vision and her dedication to illuminating this untold story of the Latino labor community. Influenced by cinematic giants like Vittorio De Sica (The Bicycle Thief) and Martin Scorsese (Gangs of New York), Scopino captures the emotional and physical toll of working-class life in an unforgiving system. "This film resonates profoundly with me as I witness the pervasive struggles in our New York City streets, where individuals grapple with challenges ranging from theft and violence to homelessness and unemployment," states Scopino. "The impact of inflation has... Read More