Robert Manger / The Mossy Log
Located on Division Street in the southeast of Portland, the Tomorrow Theater hosts to creative endeavors and venues, including independent film viewings of budding local artists. According to their web page, the Tomorrow Theater “embrace(s) cinematic storytelling in all its forms — and that means any media art, storytelling, or creatively undefinable cultural happening that feels cinematic — and these days, that’s certainly a longer list than just film.”
It certainly is more than just film, with offerings spanning a diverse array of eclectic events 24 nights a month. While general screenings are free to attend, others require a fair sum of cold, hard cash. For Portland Art Museum frequenters, a discount applies, so it may be worthwhile to get that pass you have been dreaming of. Fortunately, the proceeds are directed at paying artists and creators a fair, liveable wage in return for their entertainment and talent. On each of these 24 nights, one can expect two separate events in a vaudevillian approach, meaning that if one is a film, a separate art medium will be displayed that relates to storytelling in shape or form.
The Tomorrow is but one wing of the Portland Art Museum Center for an Untold Tomorrow (PAM CUT), an organization dedicated to showcasing the works of artists that do not fit a singular mold. Aside from the Tomorrow Theater, PAM CUT provides programming, funding, continued education and global recognition for cinematic artists
in the Portland Art Museum as well as numerous other galleries.
“The Portland, Oregon based organization focuses on pioneering, multi-faceted artists changing for whom, by whom and how cinematic stories are told,” their mission statement reads.
The Tomorrow’s spacious, cushiony seats with orange and purple coloring raise the bar for movie theater comfort and bring a retro feel to the otherwise modern architecture. Additionally, the intimate ambiance makes it great for two (Valentine’s Day is coming up, you know). More importantly, the theater is largely accessible to those with disabilities, with accommodations including wheelchair seating, assistive listening devices and closed captioning for the hearing impaired.
The Tomorrow is proudly featuring a multitude of films by Black artists based in Portland throughout February in recognition of Black History Month, alongside other classic films and newly released independent films, a portion of which have a queer focus. If none of that jazzes you up, they are always accepting programming input. So, if you have a story to tell via an artistic medium, or would like to share one that resonates strongly with you, let them know! You can easily submit a suggestion form under the “Got an Idea?” tab on their website, tomorrowtheater.org.
While the Tomorrow Theater alone is certainly worth the trek, the Clinton Theater and its weekly showing of the cult classic Rocky Horror Picture Show is only a hop and a skip away. Surrounded by a myriad of restaurants (including really good bagels), small businesses, galleries and nightlife opportunities, there is all the more reason to support some local artists and enjoy an intimate viewing experience that screams Portland.
CORRECTION: “southwest” changed to “southeast”
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A small typo: the venue is located in SE, not SW.