Presenting the best in independent, foreign and local films. Incudes the annual awarding of the Filmmaker on the Edge Award, the 2007 recipient was Todd Solondz. Past recipients include John Waters, Jim Jarmusch, Gus van Sant, Mira Nair Gregg Araki..

A juried survey of new moving image arts by independent Northwest film and video makers, the Festival draws over 300 entries in all genres each year and is judged by a prominent filmmaker, curator or critic. Now in it's 36th year, the Festival provides a forum where outstanding independent work receives public recognition, critical appraisal, and an engaged and enthusiastic regional audience. Past judges have included Gus Van Sant, Matt Groening, Todd Haynes, Christine Vachon, Bill Plympton, Dan Ireland, Karen Cooper of Filmforum, B. Ruby Rich, Amy Taubin, Jim Hoberman, and John Cooper, Sundance and Outfest programmer. Generally, 30-45 shorts, features, and documentaries are screened during the Festival, then 10-15 shorts are selected for the Best of the Northwest Tour program which travels the following year throughout the Northwest to media arts centers, museums, arts councils, and universities. Total audience exceeds 6000.