Josh Loeb Released Portland-Centric Film
The restaurant veteran’s new film, In Spite of Ourselves, opens at Portland’s Living Room Theaters.
Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Food and Drink
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Restaurateur Josh Loeb has released a new film, In Spite of Ourselves, which features an LA comedian and a Portland baker. The movie highlights several local spots, including Tabor Bread and Laurelhurst Park.
Why it matters
Loeb, a veteran of the restaurant industry, aimed to capture a nuanced vision of Portland that moves beyond standard cultural stereotypes. The project draws on his background managing professional teams to navigate the film production process.
Josh Loeb has spent 25 years in the restaurant industry and founded the Santa Monica institution Rustic Canyon 20 years ago. His new film is set within a compact 15- to 20-block radius in Southeast Portland.
The players
Josh Loeb
A veteran restaurant owner who founded the Santa Monica establishment Rustic Canyon two decades ago.
Conor Leslie
An actress who starred in the film and married her co-star Brett Dier after they met on set.
Brett Dier
An actor who met and eventually married co-star Conor Leslie while working on this film production.
The details
The film explores the relationship between an LA comedian and a local baker while utilizing recognizable city landmarks like the restaurant Jeju and the Sunnyside neighborhood. During the production, actors Conor Leslie and Brett Dier formed a real-life bond, eventually marrying after meeting on set.
Timeline
Loeb and partner Zoe Nathan began traveling to Portland in 2016.
The film opened at Living Room Theaters on October 9, 2026.
Industry Dynamics
The film follows a pattern set by the historical trend of Pacific Northwest cinema by emphasizing hyper-local neighborhood culture over broader regional tropes. By focusing on a small radius in Southeast Portland, the project departs from standard cinematic portrayals of the city.
Local residents can watch the production by visiting Living Room Theaters where the film is now playing. The movie offers viewers a chance to see familiar neighborhood landmarks in Southeast Portland depicted on the big screen.
The takeaway
This project highlights how professionals from outside the film industry are leveraging their management experience to tell stories about their chosen communities. Viewers interested in the film can visit local venues like Tabor Bread or Jeju to see the sites referenced in the production.
Further reading
For more on the local culinary scene featured in the film, visit Portland Food and Drink.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Axios.
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