Local Filmmakers Shine at Quilcene’s Fireweed Film Festival

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Fireweed Film Festival’s official poster, designed by Makenna O’Keeffe  [/caption]

Art News by Molly Maverick

The Fireweed Film Festival was held September 13-14 at the Gray Coast Guildhall in Quilcene.  This charming, exceedingly local event is but one of many opportunities to appreciate the art equivalent of terroir: creative endeavors made here, by folks from here, influenced by our environment.

Most of the 20 short films and trailers for lengthier features were steeped in our own backyard of the Olympic Peninsula. As the lights went down and each film started, there was a certain giddy electricity that manifested from the crowd as they began recognizing locations, friends and even their favorite grocery checker on the big screen.

In its third year, Fireweed expanded to a 2 day event, showing the same short films (8 minutes or less) both days with the featured documentaries Holding Back the Tide, a deep dive on the oyster and its place in the former oyster capital of the world, New York, and Up on the Mountain,  about how global fungi demand is fed by migratory wild mushroom harvesting on the west coast, showing on the second day. We were also treated to a trailer for local filmmaker Gabe Van Lelyveld’s Michael and Damian (four years following two men's journeys navigating homelessness, addiction and the work it takes to heal), set to show at this year’s Port Townsend Film Festival later this month.

The subject of each short film selection ranged from the absolute clownishly silly to deeply profound, from educational to verging on profane. This event buoyed me as I continue a lengthy personal struggle with my own creativity, rooted in my fear of failure.  It felt medicinal, watching the creative output of so many people, who seemed to produce so freely in spirit, giving me a lot to ponder about my hangups and the big questions, “what if you did that?” and “why can you so freely accept other people’s creativity but not your own?”

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Earthen Watson at Fireweed. Photo by Sara Yingling Post  [/caption]

The vibe of fostering creativity was the essence of this film festival from the beginning, according to organizer Earthen Watson, who reminded me of the many encouragements to participate offered by Fireweed over the years. “The original invitation said something like ‘Never done this before? Great! Only have a phone camera? Perfect! Want some help? We’d love to help you!’ or something like that, which I felt was a beautiful invitation. It framed the project as a kind of anti-perfectionism spell. I read that as a version of “come as you are.”

Watson said many people have endeavored to make movies for the very first time because of Fireweed. “It has also prompted some of us who have various practices working in film to just make and complete something fun (or serious) in that spirit of just doing it. For me it’s clear how much that is needed: art for community’s sake.”

Another important aspect of this festival that amplifies the idea of community is its location at the Gray Coast Guildhall, a not-for-profit project led by community volunteers. Over the last couple of years, the hall has gotten a new roof and other improvements as this historic building is lovingly brought back to life through the generosity of locals who recognize the importance of a public space like this for the area.

Watson says that due to participation and turnout, there will definitely be a Fireweed in 2026.  This is your invitation to start considering your own entry.

There were a few standouts I highly recommend and hope to see again:

• Cat of the Year by Michael Turner, a household’s important annual tradition to determine which housecat performed best, complete with quirky names, cute kitties and the bonds shared between human and feline.
  
  
• Dean Johnson’s Before You Hit The Ground music video filmed around North Beach in Port Townsend is like a black and white gift in a three and a half minute package.
  
  
• From the Desk of Mrs. Edge tells the story of the creation of the Olympic National Park, giving much credit to a woman rarely recognized for her work. We thank Eliza Goode for bringing this history to light.
  
  
• Working Remote by May Weinmaster, a pack of businesswear-clad gals work and yearn at their aquatic office on Linger Longer Beach, as they lip sync to The Cranberries' 1993 song Linger.
  
  
• Homemaker from Keagan Nordstrom, a 50’s style day-in-the-life narrative that may include a Rocky Horror Picture Show level of comedic cannibalism and questionable charcuterie.
  
  
• Bola de Pau by Charles Espey may have been filmed the furthest away in Brazil, showing a ball game that I did not immediately understand, but by the end, I genuinely cheered the apparent victor along with the theater crowd as he cockily strutted while swigging beer.