ABOUT THE PORTLAND ECOFILM FESTIVAL
Founded in 2013, the Portland EcoFilm Festival is the premier ecological and environmental film festival in the USA Pacific Northwest. We are a signature program of The Hollywood Theatre, Portland, Oregon’s modern-historic nonprofit movie house.
Our mission is to utilize the art of cinema to nurture a more active, inspired, diverse, and connected community of environmental advocates and ecologically minded people.
We embrace the radical (root) definition of ecology, exploring what it means for humanity to attain, hold, honor, and transmit knowledge of the vast, interconnected home (eco) system that makes just and joyful lives possible for all generations.
Every year we showcase many of the world’s best new films about nature and ecology, environmental justice, frontline communities, activism, and conservation.
Our annual Indigenous Voices series features festival selections and award winners that center Indigenous wisdom, accomplishments, stories, and struggles.
Filmmakers from around the world submit films on many subjects related to a living definition of ecology that is expansive and evolving. We encourage BIPOC and disabled filmmakers to request submission fee waivers, and we do our best to accommodate those requests.
We invite organizations working on broad-based, multifaceted solutions to connect with our audiences, prioritizing those which represent and serve frontline communities. We also invite filmmakers and films subjects to engage with our audience in dialogue about the films and issues depicted therein.
Each year we select outstanding films (and film subjects) for the following awards: Best Short Film; Best Feature Film; Visionary Film Award; EcoHero Award; Best Conservation Film
Please note that our festival archive is currently under construction. Please let us know if you have questions about past selections and/or award winners.
The 2024 Portland EcoFilm Festival at The Hollywood Theatre
About 1,200 people attended our 2024 festival season, which brought dozens of official selection premieres and special presentations to the Hollywood Theatre. Thank you to those of you who attended, sponsored, and shared your films with our audience.
Special thanks to our sustaining sponsor, Crag Law Center, a 501(c)(3) non-profit environmental law center that supports community efforts to protect and sustain the Pacific Northwest's natural legacy.
Submit your ecological film(s).
We are currently accepting submissions of new ecological films (completed on or after January 1, 2025) for consideration for our 2026 festival season. Details are available on our FilmFreeway page, which you can access by clicking the button below.
Join our 2026 Film and Awards Selection Committee
We will soon begin accepting applications to join our 2026 Film and Awards Selection Committee.
The main requirements are: a passion for and knowledge of cinema and ecology; the ability to articulate opinions about films in (written) english; and a strong desire to participate
People of all ages living everywhere are eligible to apply
Filmmakers are encouraged to apply
The rolling application period begins on March 1, 2025
Period of service begins when you are invited to join the committee (duration of service depends on your availability)
Minimum time commitment is 40 hours
Committee members receive several “perks,” including free admission to all Portland EcoFilm Festival screenings
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