September Spotlight on Portland Video Production
Portland video production is headed into a packed two-week stretch of screenings, shoots, and shifting permit rules that every producer should have on their call sheet.
H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival Turns 30
From Sept 19–21, the 30th Annual H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival & CthulhuCon occupies all three screens of Hollywood Theatre, unspooling cosmic-horror features, fresh shorts, readings, and live radio drama for an audience that regularly travels from across the West Coast. Expect sold-out late-night blocks and specialty merch tables that spill onto NE Sandy Blvd, giving local vendors a welcome revenue jolt.
Dance, Shorts & 48-Hour Mayhem Pack the Calendar
- Sept 17 – Cine | Seen (OMPA) – a curated night of Oregon-made shorts highlighting under-represented voices at Hollywood Theatre. Doors 6:30 p.m.
- Sept 19–21 – Portland Dance Film Fest – 25 dance-driven films from 14 countries at PAM CUT’s Tomorrow Theater, with nightly “Picks” blocks.
Together, these gatherings bring hundreds of out-of-town creatives who will be scouting coffee shops, gear-rental houses, and post-sound suites. For local crew between gigs, each event doubles as a networking mixer—so pack the business cards and Iron Man batteries for marathon schedules.
Prime Video’s Criminal Keeps Cameras Rolling Downtown
Amazon’s eight-episode graphic-novel adaptation Criminal began principal photography at Portland’s Star Theater in 2024 and continues through October 2025. With stars like Charlie Hunnam and Emilia Clarke on set, the production maintains three unit days per week, rotating between Old Town, Forest Park, and the St. Johns Bridge. The Portland Events & Film Office posts neighborhood-notification templates 72 hours prior—still, plan alternative routes around intermittent lane closures on NW 6th and Hoyt after sundown. Economic impact estimates sit near $50 million in wages and local spend for the full Oregon schedule.
New Permit Fees (and Support) for Crews
On June 27 the Film Office published an updated PBOT fee schedule effective July 1, 2025: a full-street closure now costs $259/week (up from $253), while a metered-parking space rises to $28.45/day. B-roll sidewalk shoots of five or fewer crew jump slightly to $130.50/day. Producers planning October commercials or indie features should refresh budget templates and submit applications at least five business days in advance to dodge the 40 % rush surcharge. The good news—one-stop coordination across Parks, Transportation, and the Fire Bureau remains in place, so a single liaison can still shepherd multi-agency approvals.
What It Means for Producers & Creatives
- Festival stack = fresh talent. Panels and Q&As create scouting grounds for editors, choreographers, and VFX artists.
- Traffic & parking. Map crew parking away from Hollywood Theatre on festival nights to avoid meter surges.
- Permits first, coffee later. PBOT’s higher line items are minor compared to day-of delays—lock permits early.
- Series momentum. Criminal proves that long-form streaming work is sustainable in Portland; keep résumés updated.
With marquee festivals, a marquee series, and crystal-clear permit guidelines, September positions the Rose City as a production hub that balances indie spirit with studio scale—exactly why Portland video production continues to bloom.
