Citizen Screen: A Fresh Perspective on Community at the Heart of Port Townsend Film Festival
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Photo by Keith Hitchcock [/caption]
Citizen Screen is a monthly column dedicated to film and film-related topics, sourced and curated by Port Townsend Film Festival. This month’s column is by Ricardo Gomez, a professor of information science at the University of Washington who has lived in Port Townsend since 2023.
Returning to the Port Townsend Film Festival for a second year, I experienced the event through an entirely new lens. The festival itself maybe hadn't changed dramatically, but my understanding of its essence certainly had.
Last year, after having just moved to town, I approached the festival with a singular focus: to watch as many films as possible. I was alone, and I filled my days with four screenings each day, believing this marathon viewing was the core of the festival experience. How mistaken I was.
This year, I halved my film intake and attended with my spouse, who was experiencing the festival for the first time. This shift in approach allowed us to discover the true heart of the event: the sense of community it fosters and the conversations it ignites.
The Port Townsend Film Festival includes spaces and events that encourage connection and dialogue. The outdoor bar, for instance, serves as a hub where festival-goers mingle between shows, sharing thoughts on films they've just watched or anticipating those to come. The beautifully decorated indoor forum not only sells festival merchandise but offers a place to meet, rest, and recharge between shows.
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Ricardo at this year's film festival. Photo courtesy of Port Townsend Film Festival. [/caption]
Even the streets of Port Townsend become part of this community event. The free music stage with bands rotating in the afternoon and the evening free outdoor movie screenings help create a joyful atmosphere that extends beyond the movie theater walls. Fortunately, the weather cooperated beautifully this year, enhancing these outdoor experiences and truly allowing the town to become one large festival ground.
The festival's inclusivity is further emphasized by the meal tickets included with each pass. These act as invitations to explore local businesses and maybe share a meal with other fellow attendees, fostering connections.
Special events add another layer to the community spirit. The opening gala, with its creative interpretation of "black tie," encapsulates Port Townsend's unique character while providing an excellent opportunity to meet new people in a festive setting. The filmmakers' parade, with its vintage cars and movie character costumes, turns the arrival of filmmakers into a town-wide celebration.
One of the most enlightening aspects of the festival was the after-show talks. Hearing directors answer questions and discuss their creative choices added depth to the viewing experience.
As I reflect on the differences between my first and second years at the festival, I realize that there may be some changes in the event itself, but more importantly, I have changed. A year ago, I was a newcomer, I had few friends and was focused solely on the films. I was missing the rich community woven around the festival experience. Now, with a year of local connections and a better understanding of the festival's ethos, I could appreciate it for what it truly is: a celebration of not just film, but of the conversations and connections that the movies and events inspire.
However, I still see room for growth in fostering connections among attendees. Perhaps the forum and bar could incorporate cards with conversation starters or prompts about favorite film moments or characters. While breaking the ice with strangers can be challenging, the festival's community-oriented nature could be a place to help overcome such barriers.
I've learned that the true measure of the Port Townsend Film Festival isn't just in the number of films I see, but also in the opportunity for connections and conversations. The Port Townsend Film Festival stands out not just in its excellent curation of independent films, but in its cultivation of community. It's a reminder that in our increasingly digital and fragmented world, there's still immense value in coming together to share in the power of storytelling.
As I look forward to next year's festival, I'm excited not just for the films I'll see, but for the people I'll meet and the discussions we'll share. Because that, I now know, is what makes this festival truly special.
We look forward to exploring a variety of film and film-related topics in the months to come. Want to propose a topic? Send your thoughts to: info@ptfilm.org.
