26th Port Townsend Film Festival Set to Illuminate the Olympic Peninsula
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Andrea Animates: A Wooly Love Story is one of the films being shown this weekend that features the talent of local filmmakers. [/caption]
Art News by Angela Downs
Port Townsend Film Festival (PTFF) is the oldest and largest film festival on the Olympic Peninsula. Approximately 2,000 attendees, 30+ filmmakers, 70+ films, and hundreds of volunteers participate in the annual event. This year, the four-day event starts on Thursday, September 18.
Even if you’re not a film buff or don’t want to spend the last blinks of summer warmth indoors, there will be free events worth attending, including the filmmaker parade, outdoor movies, and a kids' activity called "Zoom into Zoetropes”, a pre-film optical toy that creates the mirage of motion.
PTFF is a nonprofit organization, showcasing film and film festivals, nurturing filmmakers, and offering programs for film education and practice. The first PTFF was September 22, 2000. Rocky Friedman, Linda Yakush, Jim Ewing, and Jim Westall developed the festival with the intention of offering something for everyone.
The festival includes workshops, panel discussions, and live performances, with a focus on free community discussions about housing, youth, and comedy. And if you can’t make the festival in person, they also offer a virtual event from September 22-28.
“Community discussions are getting sparked by the content that is coming up on subjects or issues that our specific community here is interested in, and what the films are presenting. ”
— Keith Hitchcock, PTFF Marketing & Development Director
More than film magic, the free community discussions are about connection and collective concerns, inspired by the content in the films, but focus on shared experiences. You don’t need to have seen the films to have something to contribute.
“Community discussions are getting sparked by the content that is coming up on subjects or issues that our specific community here is interested in and what the films are presenting. On Friday, the community discussion is around housing, sparked by local filmmaker Gabe Van Lelyveld, with his first feature-length film, Michael and Damien,” Keith Hitchcock, Marketing & Development Director of PTFF, said.
More than 300 volunteers donate time, money, materials, housing and frequent flier miles to keep their filmmakers and their films coming each year.
Forum events include workshops, 12 different panel discussions and presentations led by established filmmakers, and live table reads of short screenplays, performed by players of Salt Fire Theater, all taking place in the Pope Marine Building.
Workshops cover various topics, such as stop motion animation, collaboration between directors and actors, and crowd making for filmmakers. The storytellers panel offers behind-the-scenes stories from filmmakers, and the industry panel provides insights into the film industry.
Last year, the festival had a track focused on people of the global majority. This year, the main track is the Women in Film track. The Women in Film panel features five different filmmakers discussing their experiences and challenges.
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The featured film “Come See Me in the Good Light” tells the life story of poet Andrea Gibson [/caption]
There will be two opening night films on Thursday. The featured film is “Come See Me in the Good Light”, which tells the life story of poet Andrea Gibson, who recently died.
“She was a real creative force in the world; she will be missed. Playing this film here will be a celebration of her life and work. We're thrilled to be presenting that as our featured opening night film,” Said Hitchcock.
The filmmaker parade, where filmmakers arrive in classic cars and trucks, kicks off Friday. Followed by a musical performance by Abracadabra Trip. As a thematic match to the old cars, the outdoor screening will feature “Grease,” directed by Randal Kleiser. Outdoor movies are scheduled for each main evening at 7:30, with free music and picnic options available beforehand. Organizers are hoping for good weather, but suggest bringing layers and blankets for the outdoor showings in case it gets cooler in the evening.
Saturday on Taylor Street, there will be free Jazz music at 5:30 and a screening of “Soul”, an animated movie. There will be a special appearance by Tom Skerritt at the free outdoor showing of “Top Gun” on Sunday.
Festival revenues support PTFF's special events and their yearly filmmakers tour for local schools. They offer a Filmmaker in Residence program providing local housing for filmmakers to dedicate to their work, and they host the Women & Film Festival each April and First Tuesday Salons at the Rose Theatre monthly.
The opening gala dinner on Thursday, September 18, is a fundraiser and celebration, attended by filmmakers and special guests, including Tom Skerritt, who has appeared in over 170 films, and Mina Savari, an actress and producer of many American classics. The gala is “creative black tie”, meaning guests can come dressed in traditional black tie, or a creative spinoff version.
For more information on venues, showtimes and to get your tickets, visit the Port Townsend Film Festival
