Port Townsend Film Festival

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2005 Port Townsend Film Festival
September 24-26, 2005

Greetings from the Director

The second most FAQ (frequently-asked question) that we receive about the film festival is, "What is this year's theme?"

And the answer is, we really don't have one.

Our tastes are eclectic. We like a lot of different films, and because the festival lasts only two and one-half days, there's not time to delve deeply into any one or two genres. But we do look for certain things. We want films that are unlikely to screen at the multi-plexes, or are so out of the mainstream that they cannot find distributors and not even the Rose Theatre can find them. (Having said that, we do search for films of such quality that they develop high enough profiles to be considered for awards, such as last year's Oscar-winning documentary, Born Into Brothels, or gain a national, if not "wide," run, as with Travelers and Musicians.) Our audience is well-informed, so we look for topical films, films about what's going on in the world today. We commit screening slots to classics and, after a three-year hiatus, silent films. For the outdoor movies we look for older "family-friendly" films, although this year we have a new film from Columbia (but it's still friendly). Documentaries are becoming popular with audiences around the country and so we try to follow that trend. (Any town where March of the Penguins out-grosses Star Wars deserves a few documentaries!) We try not to screen films so despairing that you want to go home and shoot yourself. (After a couple of years of showing a number of "dark" films, we learned our programming lesson.)

Nevertheless, certain thematic threads begin to develop out of the sheer volume of films reviewed to put on a three-day festival (more than 350, narrowed down to about 50). For example, this year we have five Spanish-language films, both old world and new, both narrative and documentary. Within this thread are two films that reveal the creative life in contemporary Cuba. The impact of physical disabilities is the subject of two impressive films. Dance, both primal and classical, inform two film programs, and two other films, one a documentary, the other a "mock-umentary," take a look at rock music and its musicians. And in amongst them all are enough comedies and dramas to make your stomach muscles hurt and your tear ducts run dry.

They're all going to make up a diverse program that we hope you'll find interesting, informative, and intriguing.

See you at the movies!

Peter Simpson
Executive Director

Oh, yes, the number one FAQ? "Who's the guest this year?"

The Poster Artist - Linda Okazaki

Each year, the Port Townsend film Festival selects a Port Townsend artist to provide the image for that year's poster. Linda Okazaki is the artist for the 6th annual event, joining Marii (2001), John Craig (2002), Steven Z. Kennel (2003), and two-timer Max Grover (2000, 2004) in the pantheon of festival artists.

Linda's image which she calls "A Rose in a Rose in a Rose," was inspired by Port Townsend's beloved Rose Theatre and expresses both her love for the historic theatre and her romance with film.

The startling beauty of Port Townsend's location and the sense of community was a compelling reason for her to move here in 1980.

Her paintings are in permanent collections such as the Seattle Art Museum, Washington State Arts Commission, Microsoft and private collections. She takes great pleasure in creating special work for Centrum, Wooden Boat Festival, Bumbershoot, The Jefferson Land Trust, and The Port Townsend Leader to celebrate various events which are also a part of her experience of living in Port Townsend.

Program Schedule

Awards

Three-Day Program Schedule PDF Download (100 KB)

The complete 6th annual Port Townsend Film Festival program is announced the first week in September. Check back here for periodic updates or sign up for our newsletter to receive up-to the minute programming and guest announcements

Special Programs

New Venues Programs

Documentaries

Features

Shorts

Taylor Street Outdoor Screenings

Drop-in Theatre

Saturday Schedule 

Sunday Schedule