I've been stuck with an unusual work schedule since right around Labor Day. Through the middle of February I'll continue to be trapped at my office every Thursday through Sunday, which isn't exactly ideal for someone like me who enjoys things like occasionally seeing friends and family.

While it's allowed me plenty of time to do laundry while everyone else I know is at work, I'd have to say my "weekend" is almost completely useless and annoying. That was until Tuesday afternoon came along.

The good folks organizing the 32nd Annual Portland International Film Festival have agreed to let me cover this year's fest. I've attended the annual festival for years but this will be the first time I've been involved as a member of "the press."

On Tuesday I was given a shiny, new press pass enabling me to spend the next three weeks sucking down as many arthouse and indie films as I can handle on all these otherwise worthless days off. Naturally, I plan to use this pass only for good and I have no intentions of revealing what goes down at the fest's press screenings, complain about the lack of vampire movies, attempt any gonzo journalism stunts or write about what Shawn Levy talks about before the movies start. Not that I've been eavesdropping or anything.

So far I've seen four films that will screen for the public once the festival kicks off with the premiere of Coraline at the Schnitz on February 5th. I'll start posting reviews the early part of next week. I hope to see as much as I can but the festival is a Unicron-sized cinematic behemoth (click here for a rundown on this year's selections). Even the Oregonian's staff has a hard time keeping up with the dozens upon dozens of movies, shorts and documentaries that will screen over the course of the next few weeks and I am but one bored blogger with a craptacular full-time work schedule.

Labels: PIFF