Skip to main contentThe anticipation has been building, but Willamette Week's Longbaugh Film Festival is finally here. For weeks I've been fielding questions about the festival, and now seems like as good a time as any to answer them.
What the hell is the Longbaugh Film Festival?
In short, the festival is a showcase for independent films. But not the sort of films that pass off as "indie" at festivals like Sundance, Telluride and Toronto. Nowadays many "independent" films have recognizable stars and are actually put out by mega-companies like Miramax and Sony Pictures Classics. The movies we're showing at Longbaugh (rhymes with "kong pow") are the sort of films that aren't "commercial" enough to fit into that new paradigm of indie film, but at the same time are "too commercial" to be given respect in the underground world of avant-garde and experimental filmmaking.
Who came up with the idea of doing a film festival?
Since being a film critic isn't a "real job," my bosses decided it was time I earned my keep. My options were either to put together a film fest or to start writing a sex-advice column (and that's just too much pressure).
Doesn't Portland already have enough film festivals?
Good ones?
What the hell is a "Longbaugh"?
The name for the film festival came during a brainstorming session with Jonah and Marie Loeb of IndieDVD, a local company that puts out really obscure films. We were trying to come up with a name that was clever (OK, something that could have more resonance than "City of Roses Film Festival"). Jonah half-seriously suggested calling the festival The Butch Cassidy Film Festival, as a reference to Robert Redford's Sundance Film Festival, which takes its name from the character he played in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. I liked the idea but felt it was way too obvious. That's when I said, "It would be cool if we named the festival after Harry Longbaugh, which is the real name of the Sundance Kid."
How many films are in the festival?
There are a total of 39 feature-length and short films. The festival is divided into individual programs--six features with accompanying shorts, five sets of documentaries, three collections of shorts.
Are there any local films in the festival?
Most of the films were created by local filmmakers. Longbaugh's primary goal is to provide a showcase for local filmmakers who may not be known to Portland's general audiences. As a local critic, I knew there was a lot of great work out there that hadn't been widely seen. But what surprised me was how much stuff there really was. Truth is, we actually liked more films than we have the ability to show, which is a little disappointing but means we'll have more stuff for next year.
How were the films selected?
I've worked in the film industry since 1988, and in that time I've met a lot of filmmakers. Once it was certain there was going to be a festival, I talked with people in the local film community--including other critics--to see what was needed to keep this thing from sucking. I contacted people I've known over the years--not just in Portland, but in New York, Chicago, Philadelphia and Los Angeles. Once we started getting submissions, I asked movie critics Kim Morgan, Mike Russell and Dawn Taylor to help with the screening process.
What's the best film to see at Longbaugh?
This is going to sound like a load of promotional BS, but everything at the festival is good--if not great. Between the screening committee and me, we really made sure there were quality independent films from diverse genres. There are art films, lowbrow comedies, documentaries and animated shorts. As they say, "There's something for everybody." And, if you're so inclined, the schedule is such that you will have an opportunity over the course of the weekend to see everything.
Will there ever be another Longbaugh Film Festival?
Let's hope so. I'm not sure the city of Portland is ready for my views on carnal knowledge.
Hollywood Theatre, 4122 NE Sandy Blvd., 281-4215. Friday- Sunday, April 4-6. $8 one-day pass, $20 full weekend pass.
For a full listing of films, check out the handy pullout section located in this issue of
, or go to www.longbaugh.com .
WWeek 2015