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10 or Less Fest
Zonker Films, in association with Sour Apple Productions, is currently planning its sixth popular installment of The 10 or Less Fest (formely the Portland International Short Short Film Festival). 10 or Less Fest is a locally based but internationally recognized annual show case for some of the best independent short films from around the world. All selections must be 10 minutes long, or shorter.

Austin Unbound by Eliza Greenwood
Austin Unbound documents the transition of a double minority - a transgender member of Portland's Deaf community. From the age of three, Austin knew that his female anatomy did not fit him. In middle school, he changed his name and began to dress as a boy. Austin Unbound documents this Deaf man's choice to get a double mastectomy. The film follows Austin in the transformative months before and after his top surgery.

Benjamin by Jeff Streich
Benjamin is a story about a personable and responsible young man who murdered his girlfriend, Cassondra, with no apparent motive. This documentary will examine the lives of Benjaminand Cassondra, and their families and friends in an attempt to shed light on this dark mystery. The film wil rely heavily on interview material from people close to Benjamin and Cassie (i.e. friends, family, other parents, teachers and counselors) bringing human faces and personal views to light.

Harvest of Shadows by Larry Johnson
Harvest of Shadows interweaves the poignant stories of two friends after the deaths of their fathers.  One attempts to understand his father through a storage unit full of the stuff he left behind, while the other overcomes years of pent-up anger as he drives his father's ashes to Iowa for burial next to his father's mother.  This is an intimate and unflinching tale that affects us all.

The Land Piranhas by Vanessa Renwick
Land Piranha is a 16mm experimental documentary essay about the reintroduction of gray wolves into the modern West. It focuses on the battles that humans play out over control of the wolf, the most managed animal in the West, and the political borders that the wolves unknowingly cross.

The Money Fix by Alan Rosenblith
Have you ever wondered what money is or where it comes from?  While most of us take the monetary system for granted, it has silent and  profound implications for everyone.  The Money Fix is a feature-length documentary comparing and contrasting local currency with federal dollars.  This film looks at the heart of wealth creation in both the human and the natural worlds, and through this story we learn how we can become more empowered by recreating the lifeblood of the economy at the local level.

On the Eve of War by Stephani Skalak and Tara Johnson-Medinger of Sour Apple Productions
This documentary explores the emotional journey of National Guardsmen who have been called for active duty in Iraq and the ways in which their families and communities are impacted by their departure. It examines the changes that our sons and daughters, brothers and sisters must make on the eve of war.  

Papers
Graham Street Productions is now in production on a full-length documentary entitled Papers, a story about undocumented youth and the choices they must make as they become adults without legal status. In Papers you will hear stories from young people whose parents took great risks to give their children a better life. Some of these young men and women arrived in the U.S. at nine months old, others at three or six years old. They are young people who were educated in American schools, hold American values, know only the U.S. as home, and who, by virtue of turning 18, will become criminals. It's a moving story about coming of age, a human eye on the current immigration debate and a look at how the long-time custom of scape-goating continues to haunt America.

Rock 'n Roll Mamas by Jackie Weissman
This film documents the struggles and triumphs of both emerging and established rock stars who are also raising their children. These powerful stories examine the choices "regular" moms have to make to pursue their non-so-regular dreams. Featured artists include: Kirsten Hersh of Throwing Muses, Corin Tucker of Sleater-Kinney, Zia McCabe of the Dandy Warhols, Lisa Miller of Lisa Miller and Her Kin, and Su'ad AbduRafi.

The Story of Hurt by Edward Davee
Based on a true story, this narrative examines the mindset of family man O.V. Hurt in turn of the Century Corvallis Oregon as he struggles to save his family from the influences of a fanatic Cult leader. Fighting his own temptations and psychological obstacles, O.V. somehow manages to remain the devoted father even as the actions of his family and the cult go against everything he holds dear, and ultimately lead to a shocking and tragic series of events.

Switch by Brooks Nelson
Switch, A community in transition is a documentary about a progressive, multicultural community and the response of the community to a member’s changing gender expression. The basic premise of this film is that it is not the individual that transitions, but the community.

Umbrella by Cat Tyc
Umbrella is a film in the genre of experimental narrative: The Lady is recounting the experience of being followed by two men in gray suits who keep hitting her over the head with umbrellas to her therapist triggered by an appointment to deal with the unexpected pregnancy that is pressing at the Lady's mind.