New Theatre Brings Avant-Garde Cinema to PDX

Portland’s renowned Hollywood Theatre has partnered with the airport to offer free screenings of short works by local filmmakers in a small arthouse movie theater tucked away in Concourse C.

Portland, OR is well-known for celebrating local artists and Portland International Airport (PDX) certainly does its part when it comes to supporting homegrown cultural contributions. Through its Airport Art Program, PDX has provided a venue for tens of millions of travelers to gain exposure to some of the greatest creative minds the region has to offer.

Now, the airport has found yet another way to introduce passengers to Portland’s one-of-a-kind charms.

“The mission of the Portland International Airport Art Program is to provide a portal into the dynamic cultural life of our region and provide a showcase for Northwest expression,” officials said of the unveiling of the latest art-space at PDX. “Exhibits at PDX feature the best of our area’s painters, sculptors, photographers, illustrators and other visual artists, but where would Oregon be without its filmmakers?”

A small screening room that just opened in Terminal C in partnership with the city’s historic Hollywood Theater may help to provide an answer to that very question. The new airport cinema screens short works by Oregon filmmakers on a rotating basis. The Hollywood Theatre at PDX currently features a slate of about a dozen short films each running between four and ten minutes.

Much like the menu at one of the city’s many farm-to-table restaurants, organizers say that the made-in-Oregon feature presentations on offer will be updated seasonally. Admission to the airside mini-film-festival is free (bring your own popcorn). Unfortunately, the screen itself is located past the security checkpoint and can only be enjoyed by ticketed passengers.

[Photo: Shutterstock]