[1][2] Jay Cornelius helped Leake set up the first festival by recruiting people that he knew from his previous job as a film instructor.
[1] The first film festival was held from August 27 through September 1, 2013 and featured networking events, workshops, a beer garden, and food carts.
[1][4][5] Best Narrative Feature: Princess of the Row by Max Carlson[5] Best Documentary Feature: Fire on the Hill by Brett Fallentine[5] Best Director: Gavin Michael Booth for Last Call[5] Best Short: Janeby Kathryn Prescott[5] Audience Award Winners: The First and the Last Time, Ashes to Ashes, Colour Code[5] Two new award categories were added at the 2019 Portland Film Festival-[5] Best New Director: Tim True for Here Awhile[5] Best Midnight Feature: Crack House of the Dead by Jason Toler[5] The Portland Film Festival nonprofit hosts other film festivals, events, and programs offered year round including the Portland Documentary Film Festival (PDOC) and the Portland Short Film Festival (PDXShorts), as well as others including:[6] The #FutureFilmmakers program offers free educational workshops to children who are disadvantaged.
[7] In the workshops hosted in partner with the Boys and Girls Club of Portland, children work with professionals in the film industry and are taught about movie making.
[9] Those who attend the event are offered appetizers and drinks, and are eligible to join a members only Facebook group to continue to reach others.