PISS.

a.k.a. Portland International Short Shorts. Here's the report:

It was great fun to be in Portland. The people who ran the festival were great. Nice people who I'd like to spend more time with. Especially Tara and ... rats. Can't remember her name! That's bad. Shouldn't even be admitting that right here in front of the whole world! I'll look it up.
The hotel I stayed in was the Booty Call Motel. Well, that's what fellow filmmaker from BC, Karen, and I decided it should be called. The free condoms in the room, the discount for post-midnight check in, no closet, the slogan "get a room", well, it all spoke to the mission of the place. Fortunately they also had free wi/fi so those of us not there to... you know... wouldn't be lonely. The party took place at the hotel too. Great if you like free beer. I had a vodka tonic which was not free, but was quite tasty. I guess I wasn't in much of a party mood, but even if I had been, the kids at the party were way more into the performance artists than any sort of discussion about film. Fortunately I had a very interesting talk with one of the people who put the fest on (yes, the lady who's name is escaping me now). She is also a film maker and is in the process of making a documentary with her partner. I said it was almost shocking how easy it was to distinguish films that were made by men and those made by women. She concurred and added that there were 4 people on her selection committee - 2 men, 2 women and it was amazing how right down gender lines the selection process often went. This is a depressing wake up call. It's not that I didn't know it already, but most films are chosen by men. This gives not only LRRH a tougher row to hoe, but all films I will ever make in the future! What frightens and annoys me is that my films are not super main stream to begin with... then add the fact that I'm a woman and see things from a woman's perspective... It's an up hill battle for sure. But I'm not one to give up! I'll keep up the good fight. I just wish it could be easy! Yes, I wish every thing could be served to me on a silver platter. I don't mind admitting it! I know that it won't be, however, which just makes me fight all the harder. It's good to have you people on my side! Thanks for your support.