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PFCAT (Portland Festival of Cinema, Animation & Technology)

@thepfcat

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•Portland’s Animation Festival, Visionary Films & More!
•Now accepting entries
•Next Festival - Aug 17-22, 2027
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🔗pdxfestofcinema.com

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It’s hard to believe it’s already been a month since PFCAT 2026’s award ceremony. We’ve been thinking back on all the films and the fun unexpected moments that made this festival what it was.

So, one month later, we’re celebrating with a few more awards.

The Special Jury Awards are a chance for our jury to recognize films that stood out in a particular way. This could be a distinctive voice, an eye-opening approach, or something that stayed with them long after the screening.

We’re so happy to share this year’s recipients:

INNOVATION IN IMMERSIVE MEDIA
IMMOTION’s Dinosaur Evolution

FIRST TIME FILMMAKER
Pistis Poiesis

THE DARKCAT AWARD
KÖLEÑKE

OUTSTANDING ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT
Two Ships

OUTSTANDING VISIONARY STORYTELLING
Jeem 1883

CREATIVE DISTINCTION
Tales from Outer Suburbia

SPIRIT OF INDEPENDENT ANIMATION
Big City Pizza

CREATIVE ACHIEVEMENT IN A FEATURE FILM
The Lure of Ponies

BOUNDARY BREAKER AWARD
Encyclopedia Galactica

SCREENWRITING - LIVE ACTION SHORT
Pretty Boys

SCREENWRITING - SERIES
The EKSPATS – We’re Going to Africa

ENVIRONMENTAL VISION AWARD
The Farmer’s Daughter

Congratulations to all of our Special Jury Award recipients.

And to everyone who joined us for PFCAT 2026, thanks for attending and supporting indie animation and cinema! Until next time. by @thepfcat

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7 days ago

It’s happening again!

Our Call for Entries is now live. The Early Deadline is coming up October 5th.

Join the festival that MovieMaker magazine has called “constantly innovating” and see what we have in store for next year. Maybe your work will be included!

"Prominent local film festivals include the constantly innovating Portland Festival of Cinema, Animation & Technology.” -MovieMaker Magazine's "Best Places to Live and Work as MovieMaker"

Cats by @ghirschart by @thepfcat

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24 days ago

PFCAT is Portland's Animation Festival and has been for quite some time.

15 years of PFCAT.
5 years in Portland.

PFCAT averages over 130 animated films each year from 30+ countries (plus innovative live action films, too) We've hosted dozens of animation panels and keynotes including representatives from LAIKA, ShadowMachine and many others.

We launched a Creator Expo that sold out, poised to grow even more considerably next year! This interactive festival event brings together animation organizations, filmmakers and animators, handmade puppets and props, and the people who make Portland so special.

We've built this because we believe animation deserves a place at the center of Portland's creative community.

Now we’re on to building PFCAT 2027. Let's do this. ❤️ by @thepfcat

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20 days ago

Last month, Two Ships won a Special Jury Award at @thepfcat! The Outstanding Artistic Achievement “recognizes a film of exceptional creative expression, originality, and artistic accomplishment.”

Our whole team is truly honored and we wish we could’ve been there in person to see the film on the big IMAX screen at @omsi! Thank you to the festival and the jury for this recognition 🫶 taken in Portland, Oregon by @thepfcat

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2 days ago

Thank you Portland!!

Had an amazing time at @thepfcat screening @xjermsx “There’s A Party (Let’s Go)”. @omsi had a beautiful theater. Made friends and met so many talented filmmakers!

Hope to visit again soon!

Watch the full video, link in bio

#stopmotionanimation #musicvideo #filmfestival #stopmotion #animation by @thepfcat

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9 days ago

“What’s one word to describe PFCAT?”

It was so interesting to hear the responses! These filmmakers, volunteers and audience members had some really delightful answers.

What’s one word YOU would use to describe the festival?

Reel and interview credit goes to @ryan.behindthemachine - thanks so much Ryan! by @thepfcat

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10 days ago

Not going to lie, I was dying to get my hands on this one-of-a-kind award from the Portland Festival of Cinema, Animation & Technology (PFCAT) for the Innovation Award in the Documentary category.

I mean, it was hand-painted by Gary Hirsch as part of #Botjoy, a global art movement spreading joy, courage, and hope. How could I not treasure this forever?

So grateful for everyone at PFCAT, Marisa, Peter, the entire team, and my dear friend Fu. You all made the festival such a wonderful experience.

Getting to see A Man Who Takes Pictures of Flowers on a large LED screen was such a proud moment. And I got to hang out with the incredibly gifted VFX Supervisor Cameron Carson and his wife, who came aboard thanks to Aaron’s introduction. Of course, none of these would have been possible without the generous mentorship and production support from Proof of Concept Accelerator.

Getting the chance to tell Jung Myung Kim’s story truly changed my life for the better, and I will be forever indebted to the incredible crew who helped bring it to life. Most of them have become practically family to me by now.

Thank you, Marisa, Peter, and Gary, for creating something so special. This beautiful award is a reminder that following your passion is a worthwhile journey.

@thepfcat @amanwhotakespicturesofflowers @korean_wildflower @ghirschart #proofofconceptaccelerator #documentary #shortdocumentary #animation by @thepfcat

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11 days ago

OH, DEER does Portland. 🦌🌲🎬 Movies, waterfalls, questionable earrings, lots of coffee, and one very good weekend at PFCAT. taken in Portland Oregon by @thepfcat

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13 days ago

We’re continuing into September to celebrate the animators & filmmakers who won first place at this year’s festival. This selection highlights creativity, craft and originality.

Congratulations to all of our 2026 award winners:

Innovation Award — Animation
The Crown with a Shadow & The Search for Self

Best Animated Children’s Short
Koffee Kat, Lost and Refund

Best Animated Children’s Microshort
She Creates Change: Dewmini

Best Fantasy Animated Short
Hexapod

Best Student Stop-Motion Film
Death’s Peak

Best 2D Student Animated Short
The Bard of the Mountain Valley

Best Student Animated Microshort
The Puppeteer’s Assistant

Best Animated Comedy
My Dog: The Paradox

Best Stop-Motion Mid-Length Film
You Play Too Much

Best Stop-Motion Short Film
Playing God

Best Animated Comedy Microshort
Sweet Enough to Eat

Best Sci-Fi Animated Short
Gravity

Best Music Video
Tender

Best Portland Animation
The Epic of Enkidu

Best Comedy Short
Te Seguiré a la Oscuridad

Best Sci-Fi Short
Focal Point

Best Adaptation
The Vale

A huge congratulations to all of this year’s winners, and thank you to all the talented people who shared their work with PFCAT this year.

#PFCAT2026 #AnimationFestival #AnimationAwards #AnimatedFilm #PortlandAnimationFestival by @thepfcat

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15 days ago

We won at @thepfcat !!! And what a special trophy hand painted by @ghirschart ✨ Reality Looks Back won the “Best Documentary Dome Film” presented in full dome at @omsi Kendall Planetarium.

Special thanks to organizers at PFCAT for having our film presented both in Full-dome & VR this year with nomination in three categories, it’s so special being able to show it in both platforms simultaneously.

We previously won Best VR PFCAT in ‘24 with ‘A Vocal Landscape’ & couldn’t be more excited to present again to the audience at PFCAT in Portland, So grateful for this recognition by the jury, the care @misformarisa & PFCAT organizers give towards our work and deeply touched to have such wonderful audience at PFCAT 💜 thank you!

Event Photos 3 & 4 by @mango_chardiet

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#full-dome #kendal #planetarium #vr #immersive by @thepfcat

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16 days ago

Big win in Portland! Super honoured to have won best animated series at PFCAT 2026 with the Dollop Episode 1: The Rube!! it was an incredible festival and it was great to meet such talented people and to be a part of such an energized and talented animation community. Big thanks to PFCAT, Lakeside animation, the dollop podcast and especially Dave and Gareth. #thedollop #animation #pfcat #bestanimatedseries #lakesideanimation taken in Portland Oregon by @thepfcat

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19 days ago

Congratulations to the 2026 winners!
We’re excited to announce the second wave of PFCAT Awards. The first group of awards was announced last week at our Award Ceremony at OMSI on August 23, and we’re continuing to celebrate this year’s incredible work.

This year’s winners received hand-painted (pf)CAT awards by @ghirschart.

•BEST ANIMATED FILM - LONG FORM / The Gun
•BEST ANIMATED FILM - MID-LENGTH / 1981
•BEST ANIMATED FILM - SHORT FORM / Who’s Waiting for You?
•INNOVATION AWARD - FULL DOME / Traveler’s Introspection
•BEST DOCUMENTARY DOME FILM / Reality Looks Back
•BEST VIRTUAL REALITY FILM / Moments Apart
•BEST SERIES / The Dollop: The Animated Series
•BEST EXPERIMENTAL ANIMATION / Rain, Rain, Go Away

More awards to come.

Thank you to everyone who shared their work with us this year, and thank you to our jury for their time, work, and contribution. by @thepfcat

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