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Office of Events and Film

Source: PDF pp. 398-401 ↗ · raw: 398 · 399 · 400 · 401

Breadcrumb: Service Area Summaries > Community & Economic Development > Prosper Portland > Office of Events and Film

City of Portland Fiscal Year 2026-27 Proposed Budget Community & Economic Development > Prosper Portland > Office of Events and Film Office of Events and Film Budget Revenues by Fund 2023-24 Actuals 2024-25 Actuals 2025-26 Revised Budget 2026-27 Proposed External Revenues $0 $0 $56,080 $56,080 Recreational Marijuana $0 $0 $56,080 $56,080 Tax Fund Internal Revenues $1,076,736 $2,014,284 $1,370,462 $1,181,615 General Fund $1,076,736 $2,014,284 $1,370,462 $1,181,615 Grand Total $1,076,736 $2,014,284 $1,426,542 $1,237,695 Program Expenses by Major Object Program expenses only include personnel, internal materials and services, external materials and services, and capital. 2023-24 Actuals 2024-25 Actuals 2025-26 Revised Budget 2026-27 Proposed External Materials and $1,635,092 $1,996,276 $1,426,542 $1,237,695 Services Grand Total $1,635,092 $1,996,276 $1,426,542 $1,237,695 Program Description and Goals Prosper Portland's Office of Events and Film (OEF) serves as a guide and liaison for event and film production in support of the creative economy. The office works to recruit new TV, film, and commercial productions to Portland and supports the existing local industry. The Portland Film Office opened in 2008. In 2022, the office expanded to include support for events as well as My People's Market, which debuted in 2017. This office has become an essential piece of Prosper Portland's overall economic development support, strategy, and community work. OEF aims to strengthen the events and film industry by providing support in the following areas:

  • Grants: The OEF grant programs support economic and cultural revitalization of the city of Portland through direct financial support to event producers and filmmakers who demonstrate an impact on the local economy and center a diversity of creators.
  • Navigation and support for film and event producers interested in producing in Portland: OEF focuses on four core areas: permit navigation, safety and attendee experience, business engagement, and customer service.
  • Signature events and activations: The events office produces the twice-annual My People's Market and supports outreach and recruitment of new productions (both film and events) to the city. 398

City of Portland Fiscal Year 2026-27 Proposed Budget

  • Marketing: In addition to direct support, OEF amplifies events and films through earned and social media to increase engagement and attendance. Under the city council's direction, Prosper Portland created the Office of Events and Film in FY 2022-23. In doing so, OEF developed an outcomes framework centered on three outcomes aligned with “Advance Portland Objective Three: Foster a Vibrant Central City and Commercial Districts.”
  • Leverage events and film to aid in reputation recovery and amplify Portland brand values.
  • Increase tourism and foot traffic to Central City
  • Expand the film and events industry footprint by supporting local talent and industry professionals and strengthening infrastructure for events and film. Events Office The Events Office manages three event grant programs:
  • Large Event Grant: Retain, recruit, and stabilize large events that have a regional draw and sizable economic impact.
  • Scale Up Event Grant: Provide support and technical assistance to grow local events with the potential to be destination events drawing visitors from more than 50 miles away
  • Uniquely Portland Grant: Leverages the vibrancy of events to support local neighborhood business districts. Funds are available to events that are free and open to the public and encourage visitors to support area businesses In addition to the grant programs offered the Events Office also provides event producer support via:
  • One-on-one navigation and consultation. Event producers can schedule time to meet with the Events Office staff for support with permit navigation, safety and attendee experience concerns, business and community engagement. The team prioritizes timely response and collaborative problem-solving.
  • Event Tactical Team. Event producers can request to present at the event tactical team, a group of permitting partners and support programs, to address complex logistics and safety and security concerns.
  • Lunch and Learns. This recurring series provides skill-building opportunities for local event producers including topics like fundraising, marketing, and permitting. In FY 2023-24, the team launched a grant program targeted at scaling up local mid-sized events; debuted the Portland Winter Ice Rink; furthered cross-bureau coordination in support of large events; and deepened the relationship with Travel Portland in developing program goals that support tourism. In FY 2024-25, the team completed the following:
  • Secured and administered $605,000 in Visitor Development Fund dollars to support seven large events.
  • Developed and launched the Large Event Grant Fund, which provided six grants to support large-scale events in Portland, including new-to-Portland and local legacy events like Waterfront Blues Festival and the return of the Grand Floral Parade to downtown Portland.
  • Developed and launched the Film Festival and Screenings Grant and provided twelve grants.
  • Directly assisted in the recruitment of large-scale events like Rockstar Energy Open, Project Pabst, and Providence Park concerts for Foo Fighters and Green Day. In addition, the team has continued the Scale-Up grant program with funding from Travel Portland and has provided technical and financial assistance to seven local mid-sized event producers.
  • Piloted a skill-building workshop for event producers on topics of fundraising and marketing and launched a film and events newsletter to regularly deliver resources and opportunities to the local industry
  • Produced a second season of the Portland Winer Ice Rink and funded the debut of the New Year's Eve Drone Show and dance celebration at Pioneer Courthouse Square. The OEF team facilitated the collaboration between public and private partners in support of the successful Downtown for the Holidays campaign. The Portland Film Office The Portland Film Office (PFO) facilitates filming in Portland for productions of all sizes, captures economic impact for the city, promotes Portland as a film location, and supports the industry's success locally and internationally. Prosper Portland's PFO collaborates with city bureaus and regional partners, such as Oregon Film. The office serves as a 399

City of Portland Fiscal Year 2026-27 Proposed Budget connection point between filmmakers and the city, helping productions navigate permitting, understand procedures, and connect with City bureaus. In FY 2024-25, the Portland Film Office explored the feasibility and implementation of a sound stage, expanded concierge services to support greater recruitment, and strengthened local industry talent to further encourage large-scale productions. PFO led a competitive bid for the Sundance Film Festival, and although Portland was not selected, the bid advanced through three rounds of evaluation. In FY 2024-25, the team successfully supported the recruitment of 46 film projects in the Portland area, including Amazon Prime's “Criminal," which generated more than $375,000 in permit revenue in addition to the millions spent in local production spending. With support from Travel Portland, the Portland Film Office will continue to offer grants to local productions to amplify Portland and support the local industry. My People's Market My People's Market (MPM) is celebrating its ninth year. The market launched in November 2017 and grew from a desire to create pathways for entrepreneurs of color to connect with the travel industry and new market opportunities. MPM is a collaborative event organized by Travel Portland and Prosper Portland. The marketplace aims to advance opportunities for business owners of color by connecting them with the travel industry and other professionals who can help expand and scale their businesses. MPM has also grown into a beloved local twice-annual shopping tradition. Services Navigation support for the film and event industries, grant administration, industry capacity building, production recruitment, collaboration with other teams at Prosper Portland to support event and film production needs. Equity Impacts OEF's programs provide resources and technical support that promote events and film productions that benefit communities of color.

  • My People's Market has provided a vendor space for more than 400 unique businesses owned by people of color since its inception in 2017. Between 90 and 150 businesses participate per market.
  • The 2024 Post-Production grant was awarded to five local filmmakers who demonstrated an impact on the local economy and centered on underrepresented populations in the production and/or through the process of making the film. Recipients included a first-time feature-length filmmaker and a documentary about Oregon's first transgender mayor.
  • Funding for workforce development opportunities and sponsorships through established organizations such as the Black Friday video series, touring Historically Black Colleges and Universities and companies across the Country, and a minority focused women-led directors' workshop. The objectives of this funding are to continue supporting local filmmakers, so Portland's crew base continues to grow in skill and to create more equitable ways to make our local industry more diverse.
  • Grant programs prioritize events that create opportunities to share art, culture, and community with all Portlanders and are a welcoming space for all, especially those who are traditionally under-served or under-represented. Changes to Program 400

City of Portland Fiscal Year 2026-27 Proposed Budget Looking ahead to FY 2026-27:

  • Identify funding opportunities to sustain the Large Event and Uniquely Portland Event Grants
  • Cultivate corporate sponsorship relationships
  • Determine Portland-specific event economic impact dashboard Resources
  • General Fund: Prosper Portland's ongoing portion of the General Fund is projected at a similar level as FY 2025-26.
  • Recreational Cannabis Tax: Prosper Portland's portion of the RCT is projected to stay at current FY 2025-26 levels.
  • Enterprise Zone: Funds are meant to support programs during recessions and when there is insufficient funding from the City General Fund. Enterprise Zone resources are one-time in nature and are depleted as expenses significantly outpace new revenue in the current economic climate.
  • Other Revenue: OEF has a contract with Travel Portland to market and promote the city of Portland, increase filming within the city and fund city-wide events. Additional revenue is collected through private-partner sponsorship of events. 401

Parent: Prosper Portland · PDF: pp. 398-401 ↗