About Us

Peripheral Produce is a video label that started distributing experimental film and video compilations in 1996. Born out of a screening series of the same name, Peripheral Produce currently represents 26 artists and has released 14 titles. 3 are multi-artist compilations and the remaining feature the work of one artist or collective. Artists whose work can be found on Peripheral Produce releases include Bill Brown, Miranda July, Deborah Stratman, Brian Frye, Matt McCormick, Animal Charm, Vanessa Renwick, Bryan Boyce, Naomi Uman, Sam Green, Jim Trainor, Negativland, and many others.

Peripheral Produce was founded in Portland, Oregon by filmmaker Matt McCormick with the intention of creating an outlet for experimental film and video to be purchased and collected by the general public. With small independent record labels serving as a model, Peripheral Produce compiles the work of selected artists and packages it for easy consumption.

In 2001, Peripheral Produce began organizing the annual Portland Documentary and eXperimental Film Festival, a five day event that showcases non-narrative film and video from around the world. An annual festival, special guests have included Jem Cohen, DeeDee Halleck, Elisabeth Subrin, David Gatten, and Garrett Scott.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Just what is PERIPHERAL PRODUCE exactly?

A: Peripheral Produce is a couple things at this point. It started in 1996 as a screening series that focused on showcasing local experimental film and video. In 1998, we decided to become a video distribution label, and began compiling work and releasing it for mass consumption. In 2001 we decided to compress the screening series into a giant weekend blow-out, and hence the PDX Film Festival was born. PERIPHERAL PRODUCE IS NOT a venue, a production company, or as organized as we should be.

Q: How did this all get started, and where did that dumb name come from?

A: PERIPHERAL PRODUCE began as a screening series in Portland, Oregon in 1996 that featured experimental and underground film and video shorts. Shows were monthly and nomadic, and would take place anywhere from a punk club to a movie theatre to an art gallery. Shows were a balance between local and non-local artists, and became the common meeting ground for the Portland film scene. As the shows grew in popularity, questions like “how can I get a video copy of that” became so common that we had no choice but to release a ‘best of’ style compilation video in the form of the AUTO-CINEMATIC VIDEO MIX TAPE. The tape featured 12 favorite hits from past shows and became the cinematic flagship for the PERIPHERAL PRODUCE video label. The dumb name was inspired by the numerous road-side produce stands you find in agricultural areas, and came out of the idea of art being created and sold in a similar fashion (as fresh as it gets).

Q: How can I stay up-to-date on Peripheral Produce happenings?

A: You can subscribe to our e-mailing list by entering your email address in the sign up box on the news page of our website.

Q: What is up with the PDX Film Festival, and will the regular screenings still continue?

A: The PDX Film Festival is basically the equivalent of a year’s worth of PERIPHERAL PRODUCE screenings all wrapped up into one action packed weekend. The pull of other projects and the host of new organizations in town that are doing monthly screenings has inspired us to focus our energy into a more high-profile event. We may still decide to do some random off-shoot screenings and traveling shows, but for the most part the regular shows will no longer continue.

Q: How do you select the work you choose to distribute?

A: PERIPHERAL PRODUCE has incorporated many spies within the film festival circuit that report back on what’s the hot new thing. We have also been known to hijack video submissions destined for the PDX Film Festival. Filmmakers interested in being distributed by Peripheral Produce are encouraged to enter work to the festival.

Q: Festival entry fees are lame, do I have to pay it?

A: We here at Peripheral Produce and the PDX Film Festival completely agree that paying an entry fee to enter a film festival is lame. However, in this day of scarce arts funding, we have found that we simply can’t get by if we don’t charge them. Please know that we do make a vigorous effort to find funding in other places and try to keep the submission fee as low as possible.

Q: Speaking of submissions, I entered my film to last year’s fest and never heard anything back. What’s up with that?

A: If this has happened, we are very sorry. Keeping up with submissions has proven to be one of the most challenging aspects of running a festival, and occasionally contact information gets lost. If you have entered a film and not heard back from us, please drop us a line because it means that somehow your correct contact information did not make its way into our roll-a-dex.

Q: Just what is the Peripheral Produce Invitational, and how are the competitors for the INVITATIONAL selected?

A: The Peripheral Produce Invitational is a rock-em-sock-em competitive film event that takes place during the PDX Film Festival. It is a one-night ordeal in which pre-selected artists make work to show in the competition. At the end of the night, the audience votes to decide who the winner is. Qualifying for the PERIPHERAL PRODUCE INVITATIONAL is no easy task. We have a crack team of scouts that pay rigorously close attention to the statistics and standings to ensure only the finest gladiators of underground cinema are invited to compete. It would simply not be fair and far too many injuries would arise if il-prepared competitors were allowed in, but if you are a prospect that’s confident you were overlooked and want a shot at the championship, then all we can say is PROVE IT ON THE SCREEN!

Q: Who is the current Peripheral Produce champion?

A: AT the 2005 Invitational, Vladimir and her 400 View-Masters became the first returning champion to defend their crown. To date, there have been 4 champions: Vanessa Renwick (who teamed up with Dawn Smallman) took home the first trophie, while Trevor Fife won it all in year two. Vladimir took over in 2004 and hasn’t looked back since. For more information, please see the Peripheral Produce Invitational page.

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