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Doors 6:30 p.m.; Event 7 p.m.
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THE EXPERIENCE:

Join us for the Portland premiere of Oregon-based filmmaker Nisha Burton’s documentary Over the Kitchen Table, which reveals the untold story of how her mother Norma Burton was involved in building the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence from grassroots organizing in the 1970s-80s – facing death threats, bombs, and violent opposition while creating a blueprint for resistance movements that remains urgently relevant today. In an era of systematic rollbacks of hard-won rights, Burton’s film demonstrates how small groups of determined people meeting around kitchen tables can create lasting institutional change. The screening will also include Portland filmmaker Courtney Ross’s short film Again and Again, a portrait of the tireless work of a domestic violence advocate and the people she serves. Following both films there will be a panel discussion with Norma Burton along with Nisha, producers of both films, and representatives from the Domestic Violence Resource Center and Bradley Angle. 

ON SCREEN:

Over the Kitchen Table 

2025. Directed by Nisha Burton. Runtime: 21 minutes.

After years of being silenced through violent opposition, Norma Burton, one of the key founders of the first women’s shelter in Tulsa, OK, tells the untold story of the battered women’s movement. LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, and formerly abused women across the US gathered in secret to create a grassroots movement that became today’s National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, despite persecution and death threats.

Again and Again

2020. Directed by Courtney Ross. Runtime 11 minutes. 

Regina, a dedicated advocate, does her best to offer resources to Amber, whose 30 days at the shelter is almost up. Regina’s shift is full of paperwork, phone calls, and unexpected challenges. The cycle continues.

ON STAGE: Nisha Burton, Norma Burton, Jessica Daugherty, Micaela Works, Fran Bittakis, 

Nisha Burton (Director, Over the Kitchen Table)

Nisha Burton has been a filmmaker for over 15 years. As a documentary historian of Oregon, she has been commissioned by organizations like The Oregon Humanities Council and numerous foundations to make films about Oregon’s history, centering the experiences and stories of BIPOC residents. Her most recent film about the fires in Southern Oregon, that destroyed 2,800 homes and affected so many lives, reached thousands of people during its festival run, winning awards and eventually making it onto PBS. Being in the film industry for so long, she’s had many amazing opportunities like working at Sundance, having her short film screened at the Cannes Film Festival, and teaching filmmaking at universities.

Norma Burton  (Subject, Over the Kitchen Table) 

Norma Burton is a pioneering expert in complex trauma healing with over 40 years of counseling experience. She did M.A. and Ph.D. work at Berkeley’s Graduate Theological Union, and M.Div. at Pacific School of Religion with specializations in Hospice Chaplaincy and Psychology. Her distinguished career began with a decade of leadership in domestic violence advocacy, where she served as Director of battered women’s shelters around the country, before serving at the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence headquarters. In the early 1990s, Burton developed the Journey to Completion™, an innovative spiritual-psychological, trauma healing process now practiced internationally. Building on this foundation, she founded and directed The Circle of Trust Healing Center in 2014, a state-certified addiction recovery and mental health facility. Under her leadership, the center conducted groundbreaking studies demonstrating the superior effectiveness of holistic approaches in achieving lasting addiction recovery. Burton’s unique blend of academic rigor, clinical expertise, and innovative methodology has positioned her at the forefront of transformative healing practices.

Jessica Daugherty  (Producer, Over the Kitchen Table)

Jessica Daugherty is a producer and director of documentary and experimental film, podcasts, and live productions. Find her experimental films and music filed under jdaugh. She is co-founder of the production studio Shrine13 in Portland, Oregon, releasing film, podcasts, records and books. She recently co-produced the feature documentaries Fracking the System: Colorado’s Oil and Gas Wars, and the forthcoming Pour the Water as I Leave. She served as a board member of the Documentary Producer’s Alliance between 2022 and 2024, is a member of Women in Film PDX, and an alumni of Rotterdam Producers Lab 2022, International Emerging Film Talent Association, and the New York Film and Video Council. She was also an artistic associate and performing member of The Living Theatre between 2014-2020.

Micaela Works  (Producer, Again and Again)

Micaela Works is a seasoned producer and project manager who helps mission-driven creatives and organizations bring their visions to life with care, clarity, and heart. Over a 15+ year career, she has guided projects across the arts, advertising, and nonprofit sectors, crafting thoughtful processes and cultivating collaboration every step of the way. Her producing work spans campaigns for Intermountain Health Primary Children’s Hospital, Johnson & Johnson Innovation, and adidas, among others. She has also enjoyed working on a variety of music videos for both local and international artists. Micaela earned her BFA in Film & Television from New York University, where she also minored in Cinema Studies. This foundation in both the art and analysis of storytelling continues to inform her approach: intentional, precise, and deeply human. Outside of her professional work, Micaela sings with and volunteers for the Portland Lesbian Choir, where she finds joy in community, connection, and the transformative power of collective expression.

Fran Bittakis (Producer, Again and Again)

Fran Bittakis is a Thai-American indie film producer and the founder of JOOP JOOP, a radical production company focused on socially driven storytelling. She has produced two feature films and eight short films. She co-produced New Life, which premiered at the Fantasia Film Festival, and recently produced There’s A Devil Inside Me (AFI DWW+ Class of 2025), which premiered at LALIFF and is currently on the festival circuit. Fran is in pre-production on two new projects: Silver Blankets, a short film by Karina Lomelin Ripper supported by the Latino Film Institute and Netflix in January 2026, and Yo No Soy Mi Mamá, a short film by Betty Alcaraz, set to shoot at the end of November 2025. Fran’s work centers historically excluded voices and challenges traditional production systems. She received the WIF-PDX Vision Grant for Yo No Soy Mi Mamá and co-founded the CINE/SEEN film festival to uplift Oregon-based filmmakers of color. She has served on the board of Catalyst Film Collective, the advisory board of Portland Panorama, and the DEI Committee of the Oregon Media Production Association. Fran is a member of IATSE Local 488 and works as a Production Coordinator. Her focus is on building inclusive, intersectional film sets and creating sustainable models for independent filmmaking.