Start Fresh Festival

01/14/2026

WOW
I could barely fit it onto the grid, we'll see what we can get up to next year. I've got some ideas on how to expand it out but I couldn't do this without the help of our amazing creative community in Portland. I'm so, so proud of what we were able to get up to with the festival. I learned so much and I'm eager to apply that to make next year even more kick ass. Seriously, I'm so, so grateful, thank you 💖 See you next year! and now, the post-fest laydown week!

01/13/2026

We had such a great crowd for the 3×30 block at Clinton St! People loved the Q&A with the OGRE band members and filmmakers! we got an extra special treat of a mini-lecture at the end by indie actor/producer/director/filmmaker/community leader Jerry Bell Jr. we'll have a regular-length lecture for you guys next time! I was so enthralled with The Ogre that I didn't snap a pic, guess you guys will have to check it out yourselves at the next screening. I loved seeing the audience reactions, though, it was my favorite part. A wonderful way to wrap up Start Fresh 25-26!
❄️💖

01/13/2026

I kept meaning to come back and post this!
The social hour and screening at Echo was so much fun! I always enjoy getting to meet and chat with filmmakers, it's a fun experience to sit down and watch a variety of films together, too! It warms my heart when we get to be the first festival for people, we got to be that twice this year. My heart 🥰
[the actual] Jose couldn't make it, but our "honorary Jose" Vincent Truman voted for Room Tone to be his favorite in the industry inside jokes block. congrats to him for winning ALL THREE of the NYE 60 second cinema challenge awards, too! Take that Jesus! (it's funny bc Jesus won all three at the Christmas one). Congrats to Timothy Blackton for winning our Audience Favorite award for this year! Trophy incoming!

01/07/2026

Olivia, our Nasha in Deception, gave a chilling performance. it was scary good but my favorite part was throwing roses at her at the end.
David D. Levine, our Aniloyoda had a great accent in the play. You guys killed it. Seriously!
(I had to crop this clip to avoid spoilers)

01/07/2026

THANK YOU to all of our wonderful actors, crew, and production team for the mini-play-a-thon! 🌹
There's not enough roses in the world for you guys and all of your hard work. I'm so glad we came together to do the damn thing. I'm so, so proud of everyone. THANK YOU
💖

01/07/2026

Rough Start had a full house! The audience laughed, cried, and awh'd along with the storytellers! Jasmine proposed this show, we wanted to include storytelling with the YOLO mic last year, so this fit in perfectly with the vibe. Jasmine and Zane cohosted! I'm so glad that we got some magic at Start Fresh this year. How lucky are we?! 💖

01/06/2026

YOLO mic returns! Josh Henri and Lori Van Deman hosted this year over at Great Notion (on 28th). I was sad to miss this show but I heard it was a riot!
We had a variety of comedians and Zane graced us with a song and even wore some sunglasses 😎
I had the "I did an open mic" shirts with me.... at the play-a-thon venue. whoops. next year we'll bring 'em.
It seems like people had fun and it's a fun tradition!
Rough Start followed the YOLO mic, Jasmine hosted and told stories with Zane, Josh, and a lineup of other comics. Great interactions/vibes with the audience!

01/06/2026

Our Featured Feature If You Should Leave Before Me was featured on Everyday Northwest this morning! Awesome!
‘If You Should Leave Before Me’ captures grief on camera

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Grief, love and loss are themes explored in many stories. We all have experienced loss, but it can be hard to find media that represents our experiences. If You Should…

01/05/2026

What a lovely group of authors/book lovers at Rose City Book Pub. The second I saw RCBP, I knew that I wanted to have an event there. Lori Van Deman hosted the reading featuring Aaron Simon, Brandon J Custy, Jennie Bricker, Jane Carlsen, Mari Matthias, and Tuna Cole*
I would like to find them and personally thank them
[an author who offered to read and joined the lineup in what I can only imagine was one of those "is there a doctor on the plane?!" situation but not as dire.] THANK YOU everyone, I was sad to miss this event but I knew Lori and Elise at RCBP would take care of you guys!

01/05/2026

I wanted to take another moment to say THANK YOU to our vendors that came out for weekend 2. I'll be honest, there were more challenges this weekend, but that comes with the territory of starting/learning something new.
We had to adjust the hours which means we had to adjust logistics but there were some unintended consequences of that like lunch delivery getting messed up. This was a lesson in making sure to check in/follow up more to keep everyone on the same page. We had some snacks and bagels but I really wanted to provide a proper lunch so people felt more appreciated, even with the half day. Maybe we could do a brunch or something special so vendors can chit chat and they don't even have to load a booth in or out?
THANK YOU
Unsolicited Press (books)
Greg Bigoni (art)
Olivia's Originals (crochet)
Chisel Creative Studio (wood crafts and pottery)
Ryan Cuddihy Ceramics (mini pottery)
Cheryl K Crafts (pottery, paper crafts, mosaics)
Jordan Cerminara/Handcut (collage and comedy)
THANK YOU The Get Down for having us back!
THANK YOU to everyone who came out this weekend!
We definitely want to keep the doors open for people who want to come visit the vendors and attend the creative workshops, but we want to be kind to the vendors and the venue, too, so it's a balance. Vendors need people and people need vendors! If you had fun at the market, please tell your friends and come back next year! I was hoping we'd get some gifts to flip but maybe next year! I learned a lot and we want to keep learning and growing! I even got a sandwich board and balloons for weekend 2! So official!

01/05/2026

If You Should Leave Before Me (Call An Uber) was the name of the custom cocktail that Dots Cafe made for the afterparty for IYSLBM after their screening at Clinton Street Theater last night. I got back there just in time for the Q&A after wrapping up at the mini-play-a-thon and Jon Bennett's newest play This Will Only Ever Happen Once [part 1] at Echo Theater Company. what a fun, wild night. I'm glad we got some Portland peeps to come out to the showing! Plus, they sold some merch! win-win-win!
BIG THANK YOU to Clinton St and Dots for hosting us and Dave Lowery for hosting the Q&A and Dave Carrico for helping at the venue. The two Daves! 💖

12/31/2025

SO EXCITED to announce the cast of our mini-play-a-thon mini-plays*, which is headlined by Jon Bennett's newest play This Will Only Ever Happen Once [pt 1] it'll be such a great night at Echo!
Jon broke up TWOEHO into two parts but we gotta keep it mini, so he's saving part 2 for his next show!
YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS THIS ON SATURDAY!
TICKETS:
linktree.com/StartFreshPDX