Port Townsend becomes the movie-mecca this weekend with the kickoff of its 15th Port Townsend Film Festival on Sept. 19-21.
Organizers lined up 87 films from 23 countries for the weekend including the popular and free outdoor movies on Taylor Street at night. This year, 60 filmmakers are flying into Seattle and being shuttled to Port Townsend for the festival.
Headlining the weekend are special guests writer/director John Sayles and producer Maggie Renzi who worked together on films like “Lone Star” and “Matewan.”
They’ll be at events through the weekend including a showing of “Lone Star” at 6:30 p.m. Saturday in the Northwest Maritime Center. Renzi speaks 3:30 p.m. Sunday, after a showing of “Honeydripper” about the role of a producer in films, and the pair also added a free lecture open to the public at 1:10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19, at Port Townsend High School’s auditorium.
Janice Halliday, development director for the festival, said a couple of festival supporters were at a yoga camp in Mexico, met Sayles and Renzi and inquired if they’d be interested.
Festival Executive Director Janette Force wrote them, Halliday said, and they agreed. The festival provides transportation and housing but filmmakers have to provide their own airfare, Halliday said.
One unique opportunity opened up for 16 film students. For two nights they’ll stay at Fort Worden while taking in the festival free of charge thanks to the Screen Actor’s Guild Indie. Halliday said next year she anticipates they’ll bring in 32 student filmmakers to talk shop and enjoy the festival.
Festival passes remain on sale online at ptfilmfest.com, by phone 360-379-1333 or at the festival’s office, 211 Taylor St., Suite 401A, Mount Baker Block, fourth floor, Port Townsend. A one film pass, and festival membership and discounts costs $35; up to six movies costs $100; a festival pass (unlimited films) $185; a director pass (unlimited films, concierge service and other exclusives) $650 with $450 tax deductible; and mogul (all of the above and more exclusives $1,250 with $1,000 tax deductible.
Festival goers show their pass at a theater, receive a numbered ticket one hour before the film starts and 30 minutes before a film begin lining up. Those with concierge level passes can go in up to one hour ahead of time. Rush tickets are $12 and sold 10 minutes before a film begins if seats are available.
Show times are in the printed programs, at ptfilmfest.com, and posted on Taylor Street.
Featured events include:
• 4 p.m. Friday opening ceremonies
• Outdoor movies start at 7:30 p.m. outside on Taylor Street with “The Secret of Roan Inish” by John Sayles on Friday, “The Black Stallion” by Carroll Ballard on Saturday, and Woody Allen’s “Annie Hall” on Sunday night. Organizers added toasted cheese sandwiches and soup sales at 6:30 p.m.-9 p.m. Friday 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday/Sunday
• “Boys in the Boat” author Daniel James Brown speaks about the 1979 film “Breaking Away” at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in the Rose Theatre
• “Return of the River” by John Gussman and Jessica Plumb about the removal of the Elwha River dams show at 6:30 p.m. Friday in the Rose Theatre and 12:15 p.m. Saturday at the Peter Simpson Free Cinema in the American Legion Hall.
• Filmmakers panel 10 a.m. at Area 51 Saturday/Sunday
• Award Ceremony in the Rose Theatre at 6:30 p.m. Sunday
