Past newsletters - 2011
December 28, 2011
December 7, 2011
November 30, 2011
October 26, 2011
September 30, 2011
September 19, 2011
August 31, 2011
August 17, 2011
July 20,2011
July 13, 2011
June 29, 2011
June 2, 2011
April 25, 2011 April 1, 2011
March 8, 2011
February 18, 2011
January 28, 2011
January 11, 2011 (1/11/11)
December 28, 2011
In this Issue:
First Night on New Years Eve- Short Films from PTFI First Tuesday Salon, January 3d - HUGO with Special Guest!! GREASE! Sing-a-long Saturday, January 14th @ The Rose Theater Never too late for a 2011 Donation (Hint Hint!!)
First Night December 31, 2012 , 6pm-9pm An enchanted evening in our little town, thanks to the Jefferson County Historical Society and many other supporters. Join your neighbors for an evening of family friendly fun thru out the last night of the old year. Festivities will include a selection of short films, screened in the lovely new "Theatre Gallery" in the Historical Museum- enter on Water Street. Stop by and say "Happy New Year!" and then step outside for the fireworks!! Click here for more information.
First Tuesday Salon: Jan. 3, 2012 @ 7:30pm
The Rose Theatre welcomes the New Year with "HUGO" Special Guest, Film Historian Bruce Hattendorfx Hard as it may be to believe, Martin Scorcese -- yes, THAT one -- has made a kids' movie. "Hugo" works for adults, too, and it's the featured film in the PTFF's First Tuesday salon of the new year, on Wednesday, Jan. 3. This film was made in 3-D, but seeing it at the Rose, it's eye-popping enough in 2- D with its rich, textured look inside a big Parisian train station just after WWI. Hugo Cabret -- expressive blue eyes and all -- is a 12-year-old orphan who stows away in a warren inside the train station, where he winds the mighty clocks and recalls his late father, who helped build him a marvelous, human-like machine, now a broken automaton. Hugo dodges the Javert/Clouseau-like station gendarme (Sacha Baron Cohen) and befriends an imperious shopkeeper, Georges, played with his usual command by Ben Kingsley. Georges is eventually revealed to be legendary French filmmaker Georges Melies, an underappreciated genius who cranked out 800 films, including the first science-fiction movie. Some of the one-camera shots here will leave cinephiles gasping in amazement, even as the story slows down and the film becomes an homage to Melies' filmmaking career. One reviewer says that seeing this in 3-D is essential to getting the film's full effect, but most of those who've seen this unusual film here would probably disagree. I didn't see anyone asking for their money back. "Hugo" is the steamiest film of the year. But not in the usual. way. In every scene, steam from the big station's hearing vents wreathes everything, -- Bill Mann
GREASE!~ SING-A-LONG- GOT TICKETS? GOING FAST! SATURDAY, JANUARY 14, 2012 at The Rose Theatre Two screenings...12:30 pm and 10:00 pm General admission $15 Children 12 & Under $7 Call 360-379-1333 for details. Tickets at The Rose box office or online at rosetheatre.com 'THE MOST FUN YOU WILL HAVE AT THE MOVIES!' Get out your leather jacket, your spandex dance tights, your poodle skirt and your pony tail! At 12:30pm on Saturday afternoon, you can attend the matinee performance or, if you like to stay up late, join us for the 10pm show and enjoy one of the PTFI signature cocktails from AREA 51, our little lounge at the film festival. Thanks to Bainbridge Organic Distillers, we will be serving our fantastic organic cocktails before the show. You can win a cool T-shirt from Paramount pictures, stuffed animals from some of Paramount's hit films OR an $85 Pass to the 2012 Festival for Best John Travolta and Best Olivia Newton John look-a-like! JUST A REMINDER, DID YOU REMEMBER THAT YEAR END CHECK TO PTFI? We are so grateful to our supporters for everything we all do together to promote film & community. Looking forward to the New Year!
Janette Force, Executive Director for PTFI
December 7, 2011
In this Issue:
First time in PT- Banff Film Festival, Saturday, Dec. 10th, 7:30pm @ The Uptown Theatre PTFI Film Tech Forum- Thursday, Dec. 15th, 7pm @ The Undertown GREASE! Sing-a-long Saturday, January 14 th @ The Rose Theater 2 Shows, Costume contests and a Great Gift Idea for YOU! Buy a 2012 Pass and get a FREE PTFF Mug
Celebrating the Outdoors as only film can do! This is not a PTFI event, but we could not resist sending out info on this unique film opportunity. Hosted at The Uptown Theatre, Banff Mountain Film Festival celebrates exotic landscapes and remote cultures, bringing audiences up-close and personal with adrenaline- packed action sports. They plan to screen between 5 – 9 short films for an exhilarating and provocative exploration of the mountain world. $15 tickets are available at Brown Paper Ticket. The Uptown Theatre, 1120 Lawrence Street, Port Townsend, WA - (360) 385-3883 PTFI Film Technicians Thursday, Dec 15th, 7pm @ Undertown Coffee & Wine 211 Taylor Street, Port Townsend Our first round table for filmmakers yielded a spirited conversation about film editing platforms- which way to go, and how to share expertise. We had a great discussion about generating a list of local film tech resources available. Want to join the conversation? There is room at the table! GREASE! Sing-a-long Saturday, January 14th, 2 Shows!! $15/ $7 for age 12 & under @ The Rose Theatre 235 Taylor Stree,t Port Townsend Get out your black leather jacket, your spandex dance tights and OOOh OOOh OOOh! Prizes for Best Costumes! The first screening is at 12:30pm and then a late night show at 10pm. Both shows will have costume contests with prizes from Paramount Pictures. Thanks to our loyal sponsor, Bainbridge Organic Distillers, the evening performance will have our legendary signature cocktails from AREA 51, 2011 PTFF. Tuck some tickets in a Christmas stocking, honor one night of Hanukkah or celebrate Winter Solstice by supporting PTFI! Buy a 2012 Pass and get a FREE!! PTFF Mug Awesome, right? While the supply lasts, you can buy your pass for 2012 PT Film Festival September 21-22-23 2012 at the 2011 prices AND get a free coffee mug. Go ahead, show your support, invest in your entertainment future and have a cup tea! Call for details 360-379-1333. Looking forward to the New Year!
Janette Force, Executive Director for PTFI
November 30, 2011
In this Issue:
First Tuesday Salon on Dec 6th, "THE WAY", 7pm @ The Rose Theatre PTFI Film Tech Forum- Thurs Dec 15th, 7pm @ Undertown
First Tuesday Salon: 7pm @ The Rose Theatre welcomes December with… "THE WAY " with guest panelists who have followed the same path.
From Toronto.com: "The road in The Way is a real one, El Camino de Santiago, a route that Christian pilgrims have travelled on foot for more than 1,000 years, winding its way for hundreds of kilometers from southern France through the Pyrenees Mountains in northern Spain. It's a road that grieving father Tom Avery, played by Martin Sheen, embarks upon — despite a busy optometry practice back home in California — after coming to France to retrieve the body of his son, Daniel, who has died in a flash flood one day into the journey. Along the way, he hooks up with three other pilgrims and finds a way past his own grief and resentment at his son and onto the path toward enlightenment. In a 21st century world, where traditional religions and the New Age quest for enlightenment too often seem like two sides of the same tarnished coin, The Way could easily have turned into a cloying, plodding mess. It's not, due in large part due to an intelligent script, written by Emilio Estevez, Sheen's son — who also appears in brief moments as the ghostly presence of the late son — his instinct as director to opt for understatement over heavenly choral moments and a quartet of finely wrought and satisfying performances." Our guests for the salon conversation following the screening will include Cathy Formusa and Art Carpenter, with more pilgrims offering their voices to the conversation each day. We look forward to personal tales of the experience, questions from the audience and reflections on this ancient journey. PTFI members receive $1 off their admission and 50 cents off their popcorn. First Tuesday Salon screenings frequently sell out so early arrival is advised.
PTFI Film Technicians- Thursday, Dec 15th, 7pm @ Undertown Coffee & Wine
Our first round table for filmmakers yielded a spirited conversation about film editing platforms- which way to go, and how to share expertise. We had a great discussion about generating a list of local film tech resources available. Want to join the conversation? There is room at the table! See you at the movies,
Janette Force, Executive Director for PTFI
October 26, 2011
In this Issue: GLOBAL LENS Continues Saturday, Nov. 5th @ 10am "The White Meadows First Tuesday Salon on Nov 1st at the Rosebud Cinema " Higher Ground" 7:20pm PTFI Film Geeks Forum- Got ideas? Weds. Nov 16th 7pm Undertown Coffee
Global Lens Highlight! Nov. 5th, 10am @ The Rosebud Cinema The White Meadows Directed by Mohammad Rasoulof Iran/2009/92 min. This is truly a remarkable film. "The White Meadows" was selected for screening at the 2011 Port Townsend Film Festival because of the spectacular use of cinematography and mythology- or is it? The salt islands of Iran's Lake Urmia provides a surreal setting for Mohammad Rasoulof's mesmerizing fable, written in the tradition of Swift or Kafka, of a world woven with both dream and nightmare. "I've come to listen to people's heartaches and take away tears," says an old boatman. As they whisper their sorrows, he collects each person's tears in vials. Cinematographer Ebrahim Ghafouri brings the fantastic script to life in an astonishing and painterly way, creating a world seemingly drained of color. There are some who believe this to be a portrait of the tyranny that artists in Iran are facing daily, presented in a manner that may reach beyond the tight control of political commentary. One is left to marvel at the intricacy of this work, regardless of how we might interpret. Admission is $5 Free with student ID. This is the 8th film in the series of nine internationally acclaimed film collection that opens at MOMA in New York and then becomes available to PTFI, thanks to Global Film Initiative. First Tuesday Salon, Nov 1st "Higher Ground" Rosebud Cinema 7:20pm
Writes Peter Travers in The Rolling Stone, "High praise for Vera Farmiga, a stunner of an actress, who makes her directing debut with the same bold instincts for sharp humor and harsh truths that mark her performances. Higher Ground is based on a memoir by Carolyn S. Briggs about her life in an evangelical Christian community. Farmiga's Corinne Walker played at a younger age by the director's look-alike sister, Taissa Farmiga, finds God when she and her rocker husband rejoice after their baby daughter escapes death. Corinne is eager to believe. She is also naturally curious about everything, including sex, which quickly puts her at odds with the church, if not her rebel BFF, Annika (the wonderful Dagmara Dominczyk). Without buying into blind faith, or condescending to it, either, Farmiga crafts an honest portrait of spirituality in flux that most filmmakers shy away from. Farmiga expertly guides a large and gifted ensemble cast and proves as fearless a director as she is an actress. She lights up Higher Ground and makes it funny, touching and vital." Following the film, let's have a conversation about the move from actor to director (this is Farmiga's directorial debut, remember?)- can a director direct themselves? How does that work, exactly? Of course, in life, we are directing ourselves…right? Maybe this movie is about that question, the question of who or what is Directing? Films about faith are tricky business, this one leaves the question wide open for our conversation. PTFI Film Geeks Forum- Got ideas? Weds. Nov 16th 7pm Undertown Coffee and Wine at the corner of Water and Taylor St. Folks often stop by our offices and want to share their enthusiasm for filmmaking, ask questions about equipt and wonder where they can hook up with like-minded artists and technicians who might have similar interests. So, how about an evening each month where you have an opportunity to share a cup or tea or a glass of wine and trade script ideas or the latest camera breakthrough? No agenda, no host- we will have some writers, a cinematographer or two and a place to gather and chat about a structure to serve our growing film community. Hope you can join us! See you at the movies,
Janette Force, Executive Director for PTFI
September 30, 2011
In this Issue:
AUDIENCE CHOICE PTFF 2011 Winners! Spirit of the Port Townsend Film Festival Award goes to Cynthia Sears GLOBAL LENS Continues Saturday, Oct. 1, @ 10:00 a.m. First Tuesday Salon on Oct. 4th at the Rose Theatre will be "Senna"
We shook the straw out of our shoes, took naps and began the tabulations. Thanks to our devoted venue managers, most of the counting had already begun. 6,200 ballots later, here are the AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARDS: BEST FEATURE NARRATIVE: "Inuk", directed by Mike Magidson BEST FEATURE DOCUMENTARY: "Troubadours", directed by Morgan Neville BEST SHORT NARRATIVE- it's a Tie! "Bring Me Sunshine", directed by Rachael Hastings and "Bathing and the Single Girl", directed by Christine Elise McCarthy BEST SHORT DOC: "The Swiss Machine", directed by Peter Mortimer and Nick Rosen Thanks to our dedicated photographers and the web geek of our dreams, you can now see fantastic photos from the weekend of film magic, with more added each day. Films from the festival are being catalogued and processed for placement in our library. Watch for the announcement in this newsletter when the 2011 festival content is available for borrowing. Please keep in mind:
not all films will be available for viewing library content is for home use only, not public events NEVER copy a film- it is violates copyright and compromises our relationship with our filmmakers Respect our policy of 4 day return, there are lots of folks waiting for the film you just did not quite have time to watch
The Spirit of the Port Townsend Film Festival Presented to Cynthia Sears
On Saturday evening at The Awards Gala, our second Galatea was presented to Cynthia Sears. This was made possible through the incredible generosity of Lateral Line Foundry and Sara Mall Johani, with a new pedestal design by Helga Winter. Cynthia sat on our original Board of Directors and has, for the past twelve years, tirelessly promoted and supported the mission of PTFI- educating, inspiring and celebrating with film and filmmakers. Her work in the arts has enhanced and brightened the reputation of our region as a haven for creativity and cultural awareness. And as you can see from this photo, she was pleased as well. Thanks for all that you do, Cynthia we will continue to make you proud!
Global Lens continues Oct. 1st THE INVISIBLE EYE, 10am @ The Rosebud Cinema
Set against the backdrop of Argentina's military regime of the 1980s, Diego Lerman's engrossing and beautifully acted exploration of the totalitarian urge opens with a portrait of María Teresa, a lonely and deeply repressed assistant teacher at an elite Buenos Aires private school. Obedient and willing, she accepts unquestioningly the school's rigid code of conduct and proud identification with the nation state. But her head professor's words about the "cancer of subversion" and need for total surveillance soon feed an unhealthy obsession with one of her students, leading to an ensuing spiral of degradation and breakdown in discipline that parallels a popular rebellion beyond the school's ivy-covered walls. Admission is $5 Free with student ID. This is the 6th film in the series of nine internationally acclaimed film collection that opens at MOMA in New York and then becomes available to PTFI, thanks to The Global Film Initiative.
First Tuesday Salon, Oct. 4th "Senna" Rose Theatre Evening Screening
Writes Steve Rose from the UK Guardian, "You don't need to know, or care, about motor racing to enjoy "Senna". In sports- cinema terms, it's closer to something like Douglas Gordon and Philippe Parreno's Zidane than recent releases like TT3D or From the Ashes: an inventively crafted portrait of an exceptional individual. Yes, we're taken chronologically through the Brazilian driver's stellar track career, with teammate Alain Prost as his Dick Dastardly-like arch-rival. But beneath the helmet, Ayrton Senna was a fascinating, contradictory mix of religious faith, boyish innocence, global celebrity and reckless determination; you couldn't have made a film like this about Nigel Mansell. The film's masterstroke is its exclusive use of archive footage, with no visible talking heads or modern-day interruptions. With so much recorded footage of Formula One available, it has been possible to fashion Senna's story as a live action drama rather than a posthumous documentary; we're not so much hearing what happened in the past as seeing it happen before our eyes. The immediacy of the approach is exhilarating and, as we approach the inevitably tragic ending, undeniably emotional." Join Rocky Friedman and Janette Force for a conversation following the film; it will be just like the festival! See you at the movies,
Janette Force, Executive Director for PTFI
September 19, 2011 In this Issue:
12th Annual Port Townsend Film Festival is ON the AIR! Main Street Windows for Film Celebration Festival Updates -Its new every minute! CHARLOTTE Cinematographer for PTFF First Tuesday Salon Oct 4th SENNA at the Rose Theatre
Thanks to our partners at KPTZ- 'eclectic, authentic radio'- film directors and actors from five films about to screen at the festival will be introduced to the radio audience. Check their website for the latest schedule, to hear John Considine- Buck Henry appears here in Port Townsend thanks to their longtime friendship- directors from Better This World, Becoming Eduardo, A Perfect Soldier, Patriot Guard Riders, Vamperifica, Journey on the Wild Coast and more! Click here. What a wonder this new resource is for our community! Thanks to Sheila Kahlov for her efforts on this project and to John Clise, DD Wigley and Marshall New for interviewing.
Main Street Windows Filled with Film Spirit
A Matter of Taste, Summer Snapshot, Charlotte, My Big Red Purse, Bunky Echo- Hawk, Troubadours- these and more films are being displayed in windows all over downtown Port Townsend. Check out the creative talents of shop owners and film lovers. The best display will be awarded two Four-Up passes to PTFF 12, which begins on Friday! Thanks to Mari Mullen and the Main Street Association, for promoting our arts community in so many colorful ways!
Just Like the Tide, Things Change During a Festival
We publish a newsletter all during the Film Festival, first issue comes out on Friday, September 23rd at 4pm, then Saturday morning at 10am and Sunday at 10am. Read in depth articles about guests, unexpected pleasures and schedule changes. Here are a few:
West Coast Live will not be broadcasting this year. Their schedules were just not able to include a trip up here, but stay tuned for 2012! Sedge and his crew send their greetings to all. This just in! We will be hosting Marc Buriot, from INUK, as he is flying in from Paris to introduce our audiences to this wonderful film. There will not be a Blue Star in the program that indicates a guest, but you are in the know because you get the PTFI newsletters. Gorgeous festival shirts with the poster from 2011 will be on sale in Hospitality for only $22. All proceeds support our year round PTFI education programs.
CHARLOTTE Returns Port Townsend Film Institute is proud to be collaborating with The Wooden Boat Foundation and the NW Maritime Center for the next screenings of this lovely documentary, which played to a sell out crowd at the Wooden Boat Festival. On September 24th, 9pm in the Peter Simpson Free Cinema and again on Sunday at noon in The Rosebud Cinema CHARLOTTE returns to the screen here in Port Townsend for the Film Festival. This beautifully filmed journey to a small boat yard on Martha's Vineyard captures the creation of a traditional gaff rig schooner embracing the wooden boat tradition. Welcome, cinematographer Brian Dowley!
12th Annual Port Townsend Film Festival is about to unfold
Our program is here and in Hospitality, located at The Cotton Building, 607 Water Street. Stop by for updates, pass sales, great festival merchandise and concessions!
AREA 51 COCKTAIL LOUNGE
Thanks to our loyal sponsor, Bainbridge Organic Distillers, we have another opportunity for socializing your film experience at Area 51 Cocktail Lounge! Remember Roswell, N.M.? In keeping with our out-of-this-world, back-to-the-future theme, Area 51 gives you a cozy space to sip our signature cocktails while you take a break and study your program. Non-alcoholic refreshments are also available. All proceeds support our festival mission: Inform and inspire with film! A toast to this and all of our loyal sponsors!
First Tuesday Salon, Oct 4th SENNA Rose Theatre Evening Screening
Writes Steve Rose from the UK Guardian, "You don't need to know, or care, about motor racing to enjoy Senna. In sports- cinema terms, it's closer to something like Douglas Gordon and Philippe Parreno's Zidane than recent releases like TT3D or From the Ashes: an inventively crafted portrait of an exceptional individual. Yes, we're taken chronologically through the Brazilian driver's stellar track career, with team-mate Alain Prost as his Dick Dastardly-like arch-rival. But beneath the helmet, Ayrton Senna was a fascinating, contradictory mix of religious faith, boyish innocence, global celebrity and reckless determination; you couldn't have made a film like this about Nigel Mansell. The film's masterstroke is its exclusive use of archive footage, with no visible talking heads or modern-day interruptions. With so much recorded footage of Formula One available, it has been possible to fashion Senna's story as a live action drama rather than a posthumous documentary; we're not so much hearing what happened in the past as seeing it happen before our eyes. The immediacy of the approach is exhilarating and, as we approach the inevitably tragic ending, undeniably emotional." Join us for a conversation following the film, it will be just like the festival! See you at the movies,
Janette Force, Executive Director for PTFI
August 31, 2011
In this Issue:
THE DEBT- First Tuesday Salon, September 6th @7 p.m. CHARLOTTE with documentary filmmaker Jeffrey Kusama-Hinte Opening Night treasures for our 12th Annual Port Townsend Film Festival September 23rd
First Tuesday Salon: Join us for THE DEBT @ The Rose Theatre, September 6th @ 7 p.m.
Writes Marshall Fine, "Based on an Israeli film of the same name, The Debt begins in the late 1990s, with the unexpected reunion of three aging, former Mossad officers. Rachel Singer (Helen Mirren) is being honored, along with ex-husband Stephen Gold (Tom Wilkinson), after the publication of her book, about their takedown of a Nazi war criminal, Dieter Vogel (Jesper Christensen), a doctor known as the Surgeon of Birkenau. But their world is shaken at the arrival of David Peretz (Ciaran Hinds), the third member of their team in the capture and death of Vogel. He arrives bearing a news clipping from a small newspaper in the Ukraine, an article claiming to be an interview with Vogel, who is alive and well and telling his own version of Singer's book. What to do? The Debt also investigates the moral complexities of the situation: a group of agents charged with returning an enemy to justice – someone who would kill them without hesitation but who they are instructed not to kill. The immediate, visceral justice of executing this monster – to, in essence, put themselves on his level – is hard to resist and fraught with disaster. The Debt is what you want from an action thriller: a film that appeals to the adrenal gland without bypassing the brain. It's white-knuckle excitement that forces you to think about it afterward." Which is why this is such a great choice for First Tuesday Salon! Join us following the film, as we discuss the moral dilemma that we have just witnessed.
Charlotte
Port Townsend Film Institute is proud to be collaborating with The Wooden Boat Foundation and the NW Maritime Center in this educational wonder on Thursday evening @ 7pm. Tickets are $ 10.00. Meet filmmaker Jeffrey Kusama-Hinte, producer of many films, including The Kids Are Alright. This beautifully filmed journey to a small boat yard on Martha's Vineyard captures the creation of a traditional gaff rig schooner embracing the wooden boat tradition like we have in Port Townsend. The following morning he will be a guest lecturer at the Jefferson Community School, describing his career as a film producer as well as a documentary maker. Kusama-Hinte will also be presenting at The Wooden Boat Festival on Friday September 9th at 3:30pm. For ticket purchases and other details click here.
OPENING NIGHT of our legendary Film Festival, September 23rd, 24th and 25th, 2011
The stars will come out and stay out on Friday evening as we celebrate Opening Night of our 12th annual film festival. Special Events:
6:15 p.m.- The Rose Theatre hosts Seattle Times Film Critic and her favorite film, The Thin Man. Screening in 35mm, thanks to Warner Bros. Pictures and Rocky Friedman. 6:00 p.m.- Pope Marine Park Theatre. Hello Lonsome will screen with writer/director Adam Reid in attendance. This prize-winning comedy shines a warm light on the dark side of loneliness. 6:30 p.m.- Uptown Theatre. PTFF welcomes Koran By Heart, an amazing window into families around the world who are helping their children memorize the Koran as part of their spiritual growth. Follow three young scholars to Cairo, Egypt as they compete in a language they do not speak. Following the film, a conversation with Mohammad Fani, from The Interfaith Program at One World 2011. 6:00 p.m.- Peter Simpson Free Cinema. Patriot Guard Riders with filmmaker Ellen Frick and members from the Patriot Guard Riders, introduce us to their mission of helping the grieving families of fallen soldiers. 7:30 p.m.- Taylor Street Outdoor Cinema. Bring Me Sunshine, a musical tribute to honor the passing of our dear friend, Joel Levy, followed by National Velvet, a tribute to the remarkable career of the late Elizabeth Taylor. And that is just one slice of one night!
Its not too late to buy your passes, call your friends and invite them for the weekend AND have a party!!
AREA 51 COCKTAIL LOUNGE Thanks to our loyal sponsor, Bainbridge Organic Distillers, we have another opportunity for socializing your film experience at Area 51 Cocktail Lounge! Remember Roswell, N.M.? In keeping with our out-of-this-world, back-to-the-future theme, Area 51 gives you a cozy space to sip our signature cocktails while you take a break and study your program. Non- alcoholic refreshments are also available. All proceeds support our festival mission: Inform and inspire with film! A toast to this and all of our loyal sponsors!
Imagine Breaking Tradition
August 17, 2011
In this Issue:
2011 Programming REVEALED SMALL BEAUTIFULLY MOVING PARTS feature interview with Bill Mann Flicks at the Fort August 19th Fort Worden First Tuesday Salon September 6th "TBA" Some random numbers from 2010 PTFF for your amusement
FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE ARE OPENING THE PROGRAM TO OUR AUDIENCES EARLY
Port Townsend Film Festival, September 23rd, 24th, 25th 2011
In every organization there is 'institutional memory' that describes the history of how things operate. Traditionally our programming is kept under wraps until 2 weeks prior to the festival. For many years our patrons have begged for more information earlier, so they can marvel at the film feast about to unfold, invite their friends from far corners of the world and fill our hotels and B & B's with cinephiles. Well, we heard you, so today you will find a complete listing of all the films we will be screening, along with news clips, links to their websites and more. This is not our print program - that is still under wraps until it arrives in your September 14 issue of The Leader, our faithful sponsors since 2000. That program is the true key to the festival, but we just want to whet your appetite for what is in store. So, thanks to Ann Welch, our web master and click here!
SMALL BEAUTIFULLY MOVING PARTS
Interview with co-directors Annie Howell & Lisa Robinson By Bill Mann "Small, Beautifully Moving Parts" is "an indie road film," say its directors, about a tech-obsessed -- and quite pregnant -- young woman who hits the road alone in a rental car. It's a low-budget film that doesn't look like one. And it heralds Anna Margaret Hollyman as a rising star. The charming production has been little seen by the filmgoing public, but will be screening at the Port Townsend Film Festival Sept. 23-25. Sarah Sparks (the youthful, fresh-faced blonde Hollyman) is a freelance technologist who loves to pop open the back of Macs and play with the components. When she learns she's pregnant and has a sonogram, the young techno- geek is obsessed with the technology of the machine, and barely notices pictures of her fetus. Her boyfriend is thrilled by her pregnancy; but Sarah is somewhat ambivalent, and flies off from New York City to the west to learn about parenthood from her family. She's first lured to a baby shower at her sister's in LA, which terrorizes her. Sarah, cell phone and laptop close at hand, quickly hits the road in a rental car to see both her divorced parents and tell them her baby news. That's really where the road trip begins. At one point, the expectant young mother, alone, drives to the Grand Canyon, which she visited as a girl. "Low-budget was the goal," says Annie Howell, who co-directed the film with Lisa Robinson. Both make their feature-film directorial debuts here. "We weren't all about distribution. We wanted to make something we liked," says Howell. The filmmakers are still looking for a distributor. A good part of the film is close-ups of Hollyman, reacting to her surroundings. "Her close-ups are so emotive," says Howell, "so subtle in a wonderful way. We wanted people to feel close to her." It works, and those aren't expensive to film, either. The filmmakers went about keeping their budget low in other clever ways: Sarah visits her now-single father in Santa Barbara -- using the actual home co-director Robinson's real-life dad lives in. "Plus, the house in L.A. where the baby shower takes place is my brother's house," Robinson says. And when Sarah finally tracks down her Mom, who's living off the grid in the Arizona desert north of Scottsdale, she finds her living in a meditation cult based in a geodesic dome. "I grew up next to that dome," says Arizona native Howell. She's shown this upbeat film only once before -- this spring at a film festival in Texas. Howell says, "We're heartbroken we can't come to Port Townsend." And Howell knows Washington state well: She's an alumna of Whitman College in Walla Walla, and worked at Seattle Rep after college. "I've been to P.T." she says, "and I worked for awhile on Orcas Island." "Small, Beautifully Moving Parts" is sure to captivate younger film fans at PTFF, but its appeal is decidedly trans-generational. And after seeing it, all viewers will be able to say they caught the feature-film debut of a future star, Hollyman. It's your chance to get in on the ground floor of a film career that seems destined for big things -- Bill Mann
First Tuesday Salon: The Rose Theatre, September 6th, "TBA"
Once again we sold out for First Tuesday Salon in August. We are standing by, waiting to hear from Rocky what he will have in store for us in September. Seems like a good idea to check our website often!
FORT WORDEN STATE PARK – Friday Night Flicks at the Fort
Everyone is invited to attend the third and final Friday Night Flicks at The Fort featuring the movie, RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, August 19th on Littlefield Green at the McCurdy Pavilion. Bring your lawn chairs, blankets, and picnic baskets and enjoy this family favorite while you sit under the stars. There is a suggested donation of $5 to help support the movies. The gates open at 8:30 pm and the movie begins around 9:15pm. This event is exempt from the Discover Pass access fee. We thank our sponsors for their support of the Friday Night Flicks series. These outdoor films are supported by Vintage Hardware, Port Townsend Paper Mill, Friends of Fort Worden, Port Townsend Hospitality, Frederickson Electric and of course, the Port Townsend Film Festival.
Volunteers slots are filling fast!
Happy to say, shifts to work during the festival are in high demand. If you signed up on line, that does not guarantee you have a slot. You will actually need to be "shifted". We have hosted two sessions for shifting with over 150 folks in attendance. It is officially "last call!" Click here.
Weird Statistics from 2010
How many days to set up festival 5 days before opening the first tent is delivered How many Venues? 6 theatres How many films screened 26 features/57 shorts How many years 11 yrs of festivals How many filmmakers 88 industry guests How many straw bales 180 How many butts in seats 6,000+ How many stars One big one and thousands of little ones like YOU! How many volunteers 256 Longest film 203 minutes Shortest film 3 minutes Youngest filmmaker 14 yr old Ben Kadie Oldest filmmaker 70+ yrs old Bob Rosen Number of Awards Best Narrative Feature Best Documentary Feature Best Short Narrative Best Short Documentary Audience Favorite Feature Narrative Audience Fav Feature Doc Audience Fav Animation Audience Fav Short Doc Audience Fav Short Narrative Galatea Spirit of PTFF And, HEY!! You can follow us on Twitter @ptfilmfest, and on Facebook (Port Townsend Film Festival) See you at the movies,
Janette Force, Executive Director for PTFI
GUESS THE GUEST!
July 20,2011
In this Issue:
Our Guest is Revealed Artist Print of 2011 Poster Got Air Miles? First Tuesday Salon August 2nd FRONT PAGE: Inside the New York Times with Special Guest, John Brewer formerly of NYT, editor of Peninsula Daily News Flicks at the Fort July 22nd
GUESS THE GUEST… REVEALED! IT'S BUCK HENRY!
Port Townsend Film Festival, September 23rd, 24th, 25th 2011 At last, The Big Secret can be revealed! After many, many guesses, most of them incorrect, we are delighted to inform Nick Krehnke that he'll be having a photo op with our Special Guest…film and TV luminary Buck Henry. Buck is well known to many as a regular host of NBC's "Saturday Night Live," appearing in the classic "Samurai Delicatessen" sketch with John Belushi. But film buffs know him better as the guy who wrote "The Graduate" (he got an Oscar nomination for that memorable script) and the screen adaptation of Joseph Heller's "Catch-22." Henry has appeared in more than 40 films, including "Catch-22," "Defending Your Life," "The Man Who Fell to Earth," "Eating Raoul," "The Player" and co- directed "Heaven Can Wait" with Warren Beatty. Co-creator (along with Mel Brooks) of beloved sitcom "Get Smart" (remember Clue No. 2, "clothing for spies"?), his humor was the inspiration for dozen of series including "That Was the Week That Was." "I'm bringing one of my favorite films to the Festival, 'Taking Off,' which was a huge hit in Europe but hasn't been seen much in North America," says Henry, who stars in the 1971 film, directed by Milos Forman. On Saturday evening September 24th at the Uptown Theatre, following the screening of the film, Buck will be interviewed by his old film-industry friend John Considine about the film and their Hollywood adventures. In addition to his well known work on "The Graduate" & "Catch 22", Buck wrote the screenplays for the films "The Owl and the Pussycat", "What's Up, Doc?", "The Day of the Dolphin", "Protocol" and "To Die For" among others. On Sunday, Sept. 25th at 3 p.m., the colorful and ever-quotable Henry will discuss his career as a screenwriter for Festival attendees. Location to be announced. Our first correct guess from Nick Krehnke earns two Four-Up Passes and a photo- op with Buck Henry. Our second winner, selected from the 76 correct answers is Debbie Greenspane who wins one Four-Up Pass, valued at $85. First Tuesday Salon:
Join us for PAGE ONE: Inside the New York Times @ The Rose Theatre, August 2, Evening Show with Special Guest John Brewer, a former reporter for The New York Times. A gripping new film documents a tumultuous year inside The New York Times as layoffs, bankruptcies, and new media decimated America's newspapers—and features a feisty David Carr. Following the film, please join us for a conversation with John Brewer, editor of the Peninsula Daily News and former reporter for The New York Times. Watch the trailer here. POSTER ART 2011 Archival Print, Signed by the Artist, Martha Worthley Thanks to David Conklin, we are able to offer this wonderful print from the 2011 PT Film Festival Poster, in response to many, many requests. We will only be printing 50, so you might want to order early. Price will be $40. Details and order information at [email protected]. Shipping and handling charges not included.
GOT AIRLINE MILES? Many folks are not aware that the vast majority of filmmakers who attend this festival, do so at their own expense. We are able to provide lodging (thanks to all of you who open their homes) and parties (again, thanks to our sponsors and donors) but we want to do more. Some patrons have inquired about donation of air miles. We would be thrilled to use yours. This can involve some effort on the part of the individual who is donating because some airlines require them to personally make the reservation, but HEY! Why waste your miles when you could bring someone to Port Townsend to join us in this film feast? Please call Cherel Lopez at our office 360-379-1333. Seems like it takes a village to do practically anything. We are so proud to be in this one! FORT WORDEN STATE PARK – Friday Night Flicks at the Fort - THE GOONIES! Everyone is invited to attend the second Friday Night Flicks at the Fort featuring the movie, THE GOONIES on July 22nd on Littlefield Green at the McCurdy Pavilion. Bring your lawn chairs, blankets and picnic baskets while you sit under the stars and enjoy this family favorite. There is a suggested donation of $5 to help support the movies. The gates open at 8:30 pm and the movie begins around 9:15 pm. Volunteers Can Sign-up Online!! At last, our volunteer application is online and ready to use. Just fill out the details and hit the button (click here). Very 21st century, eh?
See you at the movies,
Janette Force, Executive Director for PTFI
July 13, 2011
We're down to the last week – and the last clue as to the identity of our Special Guest this year. The Special Guest will be in attendance during the 12th Annual Port Townsend Film Festival. There will only be three clues released. The announcement -- and the winner -- will be revealed July 20. The winner will have their very own "photo op" with our Special Guest! Drum roll, please…here's… Clue #3 Wrote with a wit that we know is grand About a young Mr. Braddock To whom Anne really did talk 'bout her daughter's impending gold band. We want your very best guess! "We've had over 100 entries," says Festival director Jeanette Force. "We suspect a leak…the unseen hand of Julian Assange of Wikileaks, perhaps? " She also says the first entry was received at 8:15 a.m. the first day the clue was released, "so it's probably a newspaper reader." But it doesn't matter if you're the first to guess right, she explains: All the non- winning entries will go into a hat, and the name drawn at random will receive an $85 Festival Pass. Send your entry: By email: ([email protected], include "Contest" in the subject line), By hand-delivery (Port Townsend Film Festival office, Mount Baker Block, 211 Taylor St., Suite 32-A, second floor, at the corner of Water and Taylor Streets).
Please include your Guest Guess, mailing address, daytime phone & email address. The winner will be the first correct answer received in our office, by email or by hand. Force adds, "We expect even bigger crowds here this year because of the new two-ferry situation." Speaking of the new-boat situation, Force tells riders of the new Salish to check out an onboard mural of Port Townsend events created by PT marketing director Christina Pivarnik. "One panel includes the PTFF's outdoor screening." Because of the new boat, Force says it's a good idea to buy Festival passes now, either online here by calling/visiting our offices 360-379-1333. "There are no advance tickets. There will only be one line, and you'll be in it." "Every pass holder," she adds, "Is a member of the Port Townsend Film Institute, and every member is a pass holder." And, Force says, "We still have great opportunities for volunteers to help run the festival, transport filmmakers or assist with our legendary parties. Want details or a volunteer application? Just call us! 360-379-1333."
June 29, 2011
In this Issue:
Guess the Guest Begins BEGINNERS - First Tuesday Salon, JULY 6th @ 7:20pm Best photo of 2010 Festival Uptown Dental's New Community Support Initiative Time to join the ranks of the 2011 PTFF Volunteers
Let the Wild Guessing Rumpus Begin!!
No, it is not Tony Curtis, Julie Andrews or Morgan Spurlock! However, the stars are coming out, and it is time to begin your quest for the identity of the Special Guest for the 12th Annual Port Townsend Film Festival. There will only be 3 clues released, one each Wednesday on June 29th, July 6th and July 13th. The announcement and the winner will be revealed on July 20th 2011. The winner will have their very own "photo op" with our Special Guest! In years gone by, the object of our guessing has been Tony Curtis, Cloris Leachman, Dyan Canon and Peter Fonda, to name just a few. Okay, ready? Clue #1 Born to a silent star, Heaven's delinquent Brought fame to a motor car And Oscar's propinquity. So, how to enter this contest? By email to [email protected], please include "Contest" in the subject line. By hand-delivery to Port Townsend Film Festival office, Mount Baker Block, 211 Taylor St., Suite 32-A, second floor, at the corner of Water and Taylor Streets. Please include your Guest Guess, mailing address, daytime phone & email address. The winner will be the first correct answer received in our office, by email or by hand. Remember, the winner will not be announced until July 20th.
First Tuesday Salon: The Rose Theatre, July 6th, 7:20pm
Beginners imaginatively explores the hilarity, confusion, and surprises of love through the evolving consciousness of Oliver (Ewan McGregor). Oliver meets the irreverent and unpredictable Anna (Mélanie Laurent) only months after his father Hal (Christopher Plummer) has passed away. This new love floods Oliver with memories of his father who - following 44 years of marriage - came out of the closet at age 75 to live a full, energized, and wonderfully tumultuous gay life. The upheavals of Hal's new honesty is funny and moving, bringing father and son closer than they'd ever been able to be. Now Oliver endeavors to love Anna with all the bravery, humor, and hope that his father taught him. Watch the trailer: here. Conversation following the film will be moderated and include those who have loved, those who might want to try and those who have given it serious thought. That would be the WHOLE audience, right?
Look at this elegant photo from 2010!
This image captures so many elements of what makes our film celebration in September so unique! This is a photo from Saturday, September 25th, 2010 of Dyan Canon as she knelt down to embrace Fumiko Hayashida, our nearly 100 yr old survivor of the internment camps, who was the subject of a short documentary about her experience there, as a young mother. To me, this embrace of two icons, the contrast of their hair and obscured faces, tells the remarkable tale of film- bringing generations of understanding together in a glimpse of a moment. We are currently assembling our photo archives from the previous 11 years of great moments just like this one. If you are interested in volunteering to help with this project, follow this link to sign up for our new On Line Volunteer Application.
Uptown Dental Community Support Initiative
One our great sponsors, Uptown Dental Clinic at 642 Harrison Street, has come up with an inventive new way for YOU to be a supporter, too. Each time one of their patients visit the clinic, they have a menu of non-profits that Uptown Dental will contribute to. They asked their patrons to choose the most important local groups that make our community the marvel of care and culture that it is. Port Townsend Film Institute is proud to be on that list. So, next time you visit Dr. Scharf or any of his talented dental hygienists, make sure you choose a group to make your contribution. We hope it will be PTFI! And watch for Uptown Dental on Friday evening of the film festival- they are the smiling faces serving beverages at dinner and the outdoor movie. Thanks Steve and Rhonda!! Stay tuned for the next exciting episode in the ongoing adventures of THE PORT TOWNSEND FILM INSTITUTE.
Volunteers Can Sign-up Online!!
At last, our volunteer application is online and ready to use. Just fill out the details and hit the button. Very 21st century, eh? And, HEY!! "Follow us on Twitter here, and on Facebook here. See you at the movies,
Janette Force, Executive Director for PTFI
June 2, 2011
In this Issue:
MEEK'S CUTOFF is First Tuesday Salon JUNE 7th 7:20pm JUST LIKE US Gets Theatrical Release Match Challenge Success
First Tuesday Salon: MEEK'S CUTOFF The Rose Theatre, June 7th, 7:20pm with Special Guest Gordon Grant, Historian
"If you allow its windswept silences to work on you, Meek's Cutoff gathers its own snakelike sense of momentum, as the people on screen make their way across the high plain desert en route to the Cascade Mountains (they hope) and the West Coast. The film observes characters under duress. It doesn't bother explaining them much. Nor does it concern itself with the usual boilerplate exposition about where they're coming from and what dreams they have for the future.!" Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune Following the film, PTFI is delighted to host a conversation with Gordon Grant. Audiences may remember Grant's presentation at the Jefferson County Historical Museum with the Smithsonian Exhibit, "Journey Stories," last September. He is a writer & historian, with a wealth of knowledge about America's western expansion.
Congrats to Ahmed Ahmed, PTFF Alum from 2010 Festival
One of the favorites from our festival last year JUST LIKE US, a documentary that follows the first comedy tour of the Middle East, has accomplished that miracle all filmmakers dream about- theatrical release! Follow their progress on their website: http://justlikeusthemovie.com/ and encourage your friends to seek out this hilarious and inspiring look at how much we are the same- laughter bridges all cultural and economic barriers. Of course, you can always check it out from our library, too!
PTFI Match Challenge a success!
There has never been more enthusiasm for the future of independent film in our community. Thanks to our patrons, nearly $15,000 was contributed to our Match Challenge. And to honor that demonstration of support, our anonymous donor contributed the full $20,000 toward a future of film education, outreach and celebration. Those of you who participated in this campaign have received invitations to a Special Screening of POM WONDERFUL: THE GREATEST MOVIE EVER SOLD on May 29th at NOON. We are tremendously grateful to all concerned. Stay tuned for the next exciting episode in the ongoing adventures of THE PORT TOWNSEND FILM INSTITUTE. See you at the movies,
Janette Force, Executive Director for PTFI
April 25, 2011
In this Issue:
WIN WIN is First Tuesday Salon May 3rd 7:20pm Global Lens Continues April 30th Saturday 10am with BELEVEDERE Challenge Match Leaps Toward the Finish with BAIT! Festival Advertising at its Best
First Tuesday Salon: WIN WIN The Rose Theatre, May 3, 7:20pm
See what guest reviewer Bill Mann has to say: "Who better to play a down-on-his- luck New Jersey prep wrestling coach than the always-world-weary Paul Giammati? He does just that in Tom McCarthy's funny, acclaimed new film "Win Win." New York Times' estimable reviewer A.O. Scott calls the first-rate character actor specializing in playing second-rate characters "a virtuoso of exasperation, a maestro of disappointment, an intrepid navigator through squalls of frustration and failure. Add talents like Jeffrey "Hey Now" Tambor and Bobby Cannavale (Cannavale co- starred in McCarthy's quirky "The Station Agent") to the mix for comedy, and it's hard to resist this new film. Your best chance to see this offbeat offering without a long drive and ferry ride? The First Tuesday Salon of the Port Townsend Film Festival. "Win Win" will air at 7:30 p.m. May 3 at the never-shrinking Rose. Giammati plays a down-on-his-luck lawyer and part-time wrestling coach whose client list is drying up. He puts one client (played by the always-strong Burt Young) in a care facility. But who shows up but Young's rebellious grandson, played by film newcomer Alex Shaffer. Turns out the kid brings something else besides an array of hair-care products: He's a former champion wrestler. Does this mean Mike's (Giamatti's) luck is about to change? That would happen in most other films, but not in Giamatti's. Mike means well, and life is complicated, and McCarthy can -- and does -- spin these into filmic gold. By wrestling successfully with cliches, "Win Win" is just that, for filmgoers and critics alike." --BILL MANN Stick around following this screening for a conversation about family- both family of birth and family by circumstance, with local treasure and therapist- Judith Alexander, Janette, Rocky and YOU!
Global Lens: BELVEDERE Saturday April 30th 10am, The Rosebud Cinema
Director Ahmed Imamovic was born in Sarajevo in 1970. He presents a rich portrait of life in a refugee camp with the film BELVEDERE. While there has been tremendous suffering and loss in this region of Eastern Europe, this film reminds us that there is also patience, faith, love and above all, forgiveness.
PTFI Match Challenge with BAIT!!
Until April 30th, you can contribute to PTFI and have your donation matched by our generous patron- we are over half way to $20,000 and now the opportunity is sweeter still. So, what is the bait, you ask? If you contribute before May 1st, you will be invited to a private screening at The Rose Theatre as an exclusive opportunity for you to meet your fellow film believers. There has never been more enthusiasm for the future of independent film in our community. If you have ever considered making your love for film more tangible, NOW is the time. Just push this button:
PTFF Best Advertising Campaign Ever
There are dozens of opportunities to spend money advertising our festival. We have wonderful sponsors that help us do that. However, the very best advertising that happens for our festival comes from YOU, our patrons and guests. Anyone who has attended our festival can see the fundamental, unique aspect of our approach to celebrating independent film. Many cities in the world host a "film festival." What happens each September in Port Townsend is a community celebration of filmmakers and cinema. That aspect of shared experience on Taylor S.t in the outdoor theatre (thanks, Kitsap Bank!), the Peter Simpson Free Cinema in the American Legion Hall (thanks, PT Arts Commission!), the presentation of all the filmmakers in a grand string of classic cars down Washington St (thanks, PT Rakers!), dinner with 500+ friends (thanks, Silverwater Café!) all make our three day festival something that draws filmmakers right into our village from around the world. Now is the time for you to start with your friends, relatives, far flung fans – telling your favorite Port Townsend Film Festival tales and fill your guest rooms with new audience members. That's right, folks, it all comes down to you. We could not possibly buy ads like the ones you create. Your stories told to your friends are what really inspire people to say, "Hey, lets get passes this year and spend the whole weekend in Port Townsend immersed in movies!" Every time you tell your neighbor what a great time you had volunteering at the Awards Gala as a Penguin, serving wine in an evening gown, our reputation grows. That is how our organization will remain healthy and relevant. Post your memories on facebook, send links to our website, brag about having lunch with Dyan Canon or driving Elliot Gould to the airport. And, of course, BUY YOUR PASS!! Stay tuned for the next exciting episode in the ongoing adventures of THE PORT TOWNSEND FILM INSTITUTE. See you at the movies,
Janette Force, Executive Director for PTFI
April 1, 2011
April 1, 2011 In this Issue:
"The Adjustment Bureau" is First Tuesday Salon EDEN is finally in our library, NTSC format April 30th Challenge Match is heating up! Global Lens opens April 16th with A USEFUL LIFE, 10am @ The Rosebud Cinema WANTED: Old pickup truck for a movie appearance PTFF in the Rhody Parade?
First Tuesday Salon: THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU
The Rose, April 5 @ 7:30pm Says Peter Hodges; "Don't let anyone fool you into thinking that The Adjustment Bureau is a science fiction film. It's not. Despite what reviewers say, there is only the thinnest tie to science fiction. What the film is–a well-acted love story that asks some interesting existential questions about free will, love, determinism, and the nature of humanity." Stick around following this screening and let's talk about the mystery of fate or….
EDEN: at last available in our film library for DVD Directed by Michael Hofmann "What a wonderful and warm movie! Understated, passionate, and disarmingly humourous. The use of "food" as the backdrop and catalyst for character and plot changes was brilliant. Indeed, no character is left untouched and unchanged by the remarkable cuisine of our protagonist (not even the dog). " Audience Favorite in 2007, this film reappears in our library thanks to Chris Martin.
PTFI Match Challenge is Heating Up!!
Thanks to 37 donors so far in this challenge, we have captured $8,600 toward our goal of $20,000 with 30 days to go. Spread the word to your film buddies- this is the time to commit to cinema education and year round programming for the whole community.
Global Lens opens the 2011 Series on April 16 @10 AM, Rosebud Cinema
Selections from Globe Film Initiative will be presented in a variety of community settings thru out the year, thanks to PTFI's new partnership. However, our traditional Saturday morning screenings each spring and fall have returned, due to popular demand. First offering is: A Useful Life (La Vida Útil) Directed by Federico Veiroj Spanish, with subtitles in English Uruguay, 2010, 63 minutes After twenty-five years, Cinemateca Uruguaya's most devoted employee, Jorge (real-life Uruguayan critic Jorge Jellinek), still finds his inspiration in caring for the films and audiences that grace the seats and screen of his beloved arthouse cinema. But when dwindling attendance and diminishing support force the theater to close its doors, Jorge is sent into a world he knows only through the lens of art—and suddenly forced to discover a new passion that transcends his once-celluloid reality. Stylishly framed in black-and-white with brilliantly understated performances, Federico Veiroj's sly and loving homage to the soul of cinema is a universally appealing gem and knowing charmer about life after the movies. Global Lens Season: A Useful Life April 16, 2011 Belvedere April 30, 2011 Dooman River May 14, 2011 Soul of Sand September 10, 2011 Street Days September 17, 2011 The Invisible Eye October 1, 2011 The Tenants October 15, 2011 The White Meadows November 5, 2011 The Light Thief November 19, 2011 These screenings will be at 10am in the Rosebud Cinema, thanks to Rocky Friedman, generous sponsor, PTFI board Vice President and just a nice guy. may be dreaming of your truck:
PTFF 2010 Alumni filmmaker, Cameron Sawyer (SHE'S A FOX, 2010) is working on a new project. Scheduled to shoot in Forks this month, he sent this inquiry: "Ideally we're looking for a truck in the '76-'86 range. We have a strong preference for baby-blue, we're not married but we're hot n heavy :) Other suitable colors: worn white is the strongest second, then sea foamy green, then gray, possibly a tan/brown combo. Out are reds, black, dark green, dark or royal blues, orange, yellow. Thanks again for your help! Contact: Cameron Sawyer, Producer, SHELDON REMAINS @ (310) 895-1201.
Rhody Parade: Lights, Camera, Action PFTI??
Like our signature film festival in September, the Rhodendron Festival in May is 100% community spirit. This year's theme is "Lights, Camera, Action!" and seems like a great time for The Film Institute to step into the frame. The parade, May 21, 2011 is a warm hearted spectacle- the perfect place to remind folks about film and our festival. Want to dress up? March? Make a float? Call the office 360-379- 1333 or email here to make the parade even more local than ever before! You can earn volunteer hours AND entertain 10,000 happy parade watchers. What's not to like?
The last piece of good news? Pass prices for 2011 will NOT be increasing this year. Watch the mail!!
Janette Force, Executive Director for PTFI
March 8, 2011
In this Issue:
I AM opens at the Rose Friday, March 11th! Good News, Good News and Good News Good News again
Oscar Celebration a Marvelous Success
One hundred glamorous guests arrived on the red carpet, sipped wine and collected treasures from our auction. Thanks to our generous Board of Directors and many local merchants, we raised almost $5,000 for our PTFI mission. But that was not all! Oscar night was the perfect place to announce another wonderful piece of news: The $20,000 Challenge Match for Film Lovers and Film Creators That night we raised $4,850 toward the $ 20,000 challenge! PTFI has until April 30th to meet that challenge. A devoted film patron supports our mission and wants us to continue our programming year round. Every dollar you contribute will be matched- your donation will double! Wow, that is 100% return on your investment! This challenge match will:
Bring more film artists, cinematographers and writers to our schools Facilitate opening an editing and educational suite for students and private citizens to create film independently Create more cinematic experiences for the community Secure financial stability for our annual film festival Put more cameras in the hands of our audiences
At PTFI we want to tend the most valuable resource we have- the fertile ground of imagination right here in Jefferson County. With 8 weeks remaining, call the PTFI office at 360-379-133 for details about this marvelous chance to build our cinematic legacy.
First Tuesday Salon Guest plays The Intiman Theatre in Seattle Joey Pipia, who shared his insight on the life of an illusionist at our First Tuesday Salon screening of The Illusionist, will be head to the bright lights and big city in April. Says Pipia, "The Magic Chamber: 30 Seats, 60 Minutes, One outrageous event", will be at Intiman Theatre's Studio in Seattle on April 2nd, 9th, and 16th at 8 pm. The Magic Chamber was selected as the first show to be performed at The Studio. Congrats, Joey! Check out his website for details: Click
I AM Returns to Port Townsend March 11, 2011 At Last!!
After previewing his film at our festival last September, Tom Shadyac and his crew returned to the editing room one more time. If you saw the film before, you will appreciate what festival screenings can do for a film in progress. The music is different, the end sequence has improved, interviews are clearer and it is a stronger film. Just like Rocky promised in his interview last fall with Tom Shadyac, he brought the film back for more of us to enjoy. If you go to the I AM facebook page here, you will see photos from his visit here and at Chimacum School.
Global Lens Invites PTFI to become Global Partners
PTFI has been working with the Global Film Initiative for 5 years, screening world-class international cinema on Saturday mornings at the Rosebud during the winter and spring, and picking up again in the fall. The season is 9 films. This year we have been invited to be partners in the program, presenting to other community and school groups. Global Lens 2011 premiered at the Museum of Modern Art in January and then presented in over twenty-five cities across the United States and Canada throughout the year. The series includes nine award-winning narrative feature films from Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brazil, China, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, India, Iran and Uruguay. There are study materials available for most films. Here is a link to the 2011 roster. Watch for dates in The Leader or on The Rose Theatre website.
One More Request:
We need a new computer! We are gearing up with more volunteers, more outreach and new programs. Can you help out with technology? Here is the wish list:
Mac computer with a "Core 2" Intel processor or newer (Core 2 Duo, i3, i5, or i7 are all fine) OS 10.6 Snow Leopard preferred (donor or festival may upgrade) 1 GB of memory (2-4 GB preferred, donor or festival may upgrade) 80 GB Hard Drive or greater DVD drive
Dream Machine, Minimum Specs:
iMac or Mac Pro with Intel i3, i5, or i7 processor 21" or larger monitor OS 10.6 Snow Leopard 4GB memory 500GB Hard drive or larger DVD-RW drive There you have it. What a wonderful way to welcome the spring. Thanks to our dozens of Oscar volunteers, the devoted Board of Directors and most of all- thanks to all of you, who believe that film really does change our lives.
Janette Force, Executive Director for PTFI
February 18, 2011
In this Issue:
Oscar Celebration Dinner & Auction Sunday, February 27th "The Illusionist" is our First Tuesday Salon Selection @ the Rose Theatre "Pirate for the Sea" makes HISTORY!
BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW!!!
"The Envelope, Please…." Celebrate film and philanthropy, toast your favorite stars and wear that dress that makes you feel like a legend. For the past five years, the Port Townsend Film Festival has hosted a party to watch the broadcast of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awards for excellence. This year we will be gathering at The American Legion Hall on Sunday, February 27th @ 3:30 pm for PTFI's annual celebration. Thanks to Candace Hulbert's Uptown Custom Catering, Pane d'Amore and many other local sponsors. Prizes will be awarded for best star look alike. Last year Audrey Hepburn and Jackie Chan walked away with those treasures. Mae West was not pleased. Come to enjoy the pre Oscar, red carpet events on the BIG Screen, marvel at our Silent Auction treasures, nibble on hors d'oeuvres and drink your favorite beverage from our no-host bar. This year's auction items include a seafood feast for 10 overlooking Port Townsend Bay, an evening of poetry and Irish whiskey tasting with legendary poet and naturalist, Tim McNulty and you can even bid on weekly home deliveries of The Rose Theatre Popcorn! All proceeds support our year round educational programs, bringing filmmakers to classrooms and community centers thru out the year.
Follow this link for a complete Auction Catalog: (Open PDF) Dinner will be served at 4:45pm because everyone will want to be in their seats in time for the opening monologues from this year's Oscar hosts, James Franco and Anne Hathaway. Dessert will be served during the broadcast and commercial breaks will be used for auction updates and news of PTFI. Tickets are $40 and available at PT Food Coop, Quimper Sound and at the PTFI offices, 211 Taylor St. For details, call 360-379-1333. Here's a complete list of all the nominees - click. "The Illusionist", First Tuesday Salon, March 1st, 7pm at The Rose Theatre
"Monsieur Hulot and Jacques Tati meet The Triplets of Belleville? Sounds too good to be true, n'est-ce pas? .Plus, "The Illusionist" is a partly hand-drawn, richly detailed, and achingly personal animated film NOT extruded from the Disney or Pixar assembly lines, so there's no facile dialogue or superficial characters. The lovingly rendered film is the featured attraction of the PTFF's First Salon at The Rose on March 1st. It's adapted from a sketch of a script late director Tati left behind, and is directed by "Triplets'" director Sylvain Chomet. It's the story of a French magician in the 1950s, set in a lost world of dusty shabby Scottish dance halls and shabbier performers. "The Illusionist" relies on sparse dialogue and poignant, richly drawn detail to animate this tale of a French magician and his Scottish gamine adopted friend. Richly textured, 'The Illusionist' is escapist entertainment in the best sense." -Bill Mann
A news update on a popular film from our 2009 Film Festival "Pirate for the Sea"
The Japanese announced that they are halting their whaling practices, as a result of Sea Shepherd's work - link. In 2009, our guest filmmaker, Ron Colby brought "Pirate for the Sea" a biographical film of Captain Paul Watson, the youngest founding member of Greenpeace Canada. He organized early campaigns protesting the killing of seals, whales, and dolphins. Greenpeace ejected him for being too much of an activist. Starting his own organization, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, he went on to sink illegal whaling ships, stopped Canadian seal hunts for ten years, permanently halted sealing in British Isles, killing of dolphins on Iki Island, Japan, etc. This documentary witnessed his latest campaigns and explores the personal and environmental history of this controversial marine conservationist. PTFI tips our hat to Ron Colby who saw a story and brought it to the rest of us! If you are receiving this newsletter and wish that it would stop showing up in your mailbox, no worries! Just send us a note titled, No thanks, and we will take your name off of our list.
Janette Force, Executive Director for PTFI
January 28, 2011
In this Issue:
127 Hours is our First Tuesday Salon Selection @ the Rose Oscar Celebration Dinner & Auction February 27th The Red Machine Returns with Alec, Steph & Gandhi "The Magic of Cinema" continues at Peninsula College in PA
127 Hours: Tuesday Evening, February 1st in the Rosebud Cinema, join us for a harrowing tale of where our sense of adventure and instinct collide. Writes Ryan Flemming, "Ok, the scene in 127 Hours where Ralston (played by James Franco) frees himself is disturbing. If you are hoping it won't be, then this is not the movie for you. But Danny Boyle does something that is simply remarkable with 127 Hours: He makes you understand the emotions leading up to it, and despite the horror of the situation, 127 Hours becomes a film about unbelievable triumph." Here is a link to the astonishing trailer. In the spirit of First Tuesday Salon, we are currently hunting for adventure sports maniacs to join us for a conversation following the film. If you or your pals fall into this category, call the PTFI office 360-379-1333. There could be a free ticket to the film in your future… Remember, you save $1 on the evening screening of the First Tuesday Salon choice, only. So do not badger the folks in the box office for your discount on the matinee, it makes them feel silly. PTFI is so grateful to Rocky Friedman for this generous support, we do not want to push our luck, or yours either. "The Envelope Please…." We will be gathering at The American Legion Hall on Sunday, February 27th @ 3:30 pm for PTFI's annual celebration of film and philanthropy. Thanks to Candace Hulbert's Uptown Custom Catering, Pane d'Amore and many other local sponsors. Here you will be invited to enjoy the pre Oscar, red carpet events on the BIG Screen, marvel at our Silent Auction treasures, nibble on hors d'oeuvres and drink your favorite beverage from our no-host bar. All proceeds support our year round educational programs. Dinner will be served at 4:45pm because everyone will want to be in their seats in time for the opening monologues from this year's Oscar hosts, James Franco and Anne Hathaway. Dessert will be served during the broadcast and commercial breaks will be used for live auction items and news of PTFI. Your $40 ticket includes admission, hors d'oeuvres, dinner, dessert, coffee and tea, your official Oscar© ballot and our endless gratitude. Tickets go on sale February 1st at Quimper Sound, 230 Taylor St, The Food Co-op, in our offices on the 3rd floor of Mt Baker Block or by phone @ 360-379-1333. Only 125 are tickets available and we sold out last year, so do not wait until Saturday afternoon to decide you might want to see Hallie Steinfeld win the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in True Grit, with all of your friends cheering right along with you. Don't say we didn't warn you! Here's a complete list of all the nominees - link. Red Machine Returns to The Rosebud Cinema, Saturday, Feb12th @10am A couple of our favorite filmmakers for PTFF, Steph Argy and Alec Boehm will host a special Saturday Matinee of 2010 festival hits, including "Gandhi at the Bat." Following the films, stay and chat about their remarkable production accomplishments, proving that tiny budgets can also translate into authentic greatness. Says Wired Magazine: "Though the film has plenty to keep casual moviegoers entertained, the big draw for puzzle aficionados will certainly be the cryptography aspect. The movie contains hidden nuggets for wordplay enthusiasts, which Argy calls "cryptographic sleeper cells, waiting to be activated when we need them." We are delighted to be sharing these filmmakers thanks to the generous support of Peninsula College and their program, "The Magic of Cinema." For more of our co-sponsored film events, check out this link:
Janette Force, Executive Director for PTFI
January 11, 2011 (1/11/11)
In this Issue:
PTF What? Sound of Music January 16th 11AM Rose Theatre - Tickets selling fast! Patricia van Ryker with Twenty Five Hundred and One Academy of Motion Picture Arts Grant to PTFI The Envelope Please… Academy Awards & Auction February 27th Yes, we are the Port Townsend Film Institute: We bring educational and community film opportunities all year round. And, we produce a film festival. Each of these activities support the growth of the others- the festival brings filmmakers to the region, who would like to return for a deeper conversation. Students are inspired by the visits of these artists, learn more about film as a tool and consider picking up a camera, or a pen or a needle and thread. Community members have a conversation about problems that are being addressed half way around the world and begin to consider a new approach to our own challenges. Families experience the pure joy of shared laughter or song with their neighbors. Like a film reel, it goes around and around and around. YOU are the Port Townsend Film Institute. And together we create all kinds of things. Keep reading.
"The hills are alive…!" Sunday morning, January 16th 11am grab your lederhosen and come celebrate The Sound of Music, 45th anniversary restored Technicolor version thanks to Criterion Pictures. Costumes! Use your imagination! Dress your family in the curtains from your den, become a yodeling goat or a needle pulling thread and win a gift certificate from The Rose Theatre, bread from Pane d'Amore or a pass for the 2011 film festival. Many of us never heard Julie Andrews live, in concert or in the theatre. We have enjoyed her astounding voice through our television sets in "Mary Poppins", "Victor/Victoria" or animation favorites like "Shrek." Now you can join your neighbors for of the film that made her a super star, "The Sound of Music." Her four octave voice and marvelous energy on stage will brighten your Sunday and support our educational programs. Tickets $15 while they last, available from the Rose Theater PTFI brings documentary filmmaker: The week of January 24th, look for Ms. van Ryker in a classroom or public event close to you. Appearing with her moving documentary film, Twenty Five Hundred and One, she tells the story of one remarkable sculptor. Says Patricia, "Teococuilco, birthplace of Oaxacan artist Alejandro Santiago, is a pueblo of grandparents & children. Like countless villages across the globe, working age men and women have been forced to leave in search of jobs. Twenty Five Hundred & One, chronicles Alejandro's passion to create a legacy for those who are gone. For 6 years, he sculpted his life-size ceramic Migrantes. The entire "family" of 2,501, was revealed at the International Cultural Forum in Monterrey, Mexico. These "lost souls" speak to issues we must confront." Port Townsend Film Institute's StoryMakers will be hosting this film in classrooms in Port Townsend, Chimacum and Quilcene. Public screenings will be offered at the Quilcene Community Center on Tuesday, January 25th 7pm Wednesday, January 26th at The Boiler Room 7pm on Water St and Thursday, January 27th 7pm at the Port Townsend Public Library. Ms. Van Ryker will also appear in Port Angeles at Peninsula College on Friday, January 28th at 7pm. Port Townsend Film Institute Receives Grant from Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Port Townsend Film Festival is proud to announce our recognition from The Academy with a grant of $5,000. This grant will allow us to continue our community involvement strategy during the annual festival hosted each September. PTFF joins the ranks of very prestigious festivals in Chicago, New Orleans, Nashville and Santa Barbara, recognized by The Academy as important venues for film and media awareness. The Spirit of Port Townsend Film Festival Award, which went to Linda Yakush in 2010, could stand side by side with the statuette of Oscar©, each representing a significant honor in the field of film. 2011 will mark twelve years of serving the region with world-class cinema education for PTFI. The Academy was especially intrigued by our free outdoor movie events, promoting family friendly classic films and The Peter Simpson Free Cinema- another opportunity for community members to sample our feast of independent film. Look for The Academy logo on materials throughout the coming year, honoring their support of our mission- bringing independent film and filmmakers to our region. Thanks, Oscar©! The Envelope, Please... Academy Awards Celebration February 27th 3:30pm at the American Legion Hall, PTFI will host an elegant evening of film and philanthropy. Just $40 for an evening of appetizers, dinner, silent and live auction, all with the centerpiece of the 83rd annual Academy Awards. Mark your calendar and stay tuned for details. 2011 is taking off with many new film opportunities. If you receiving this newsletter and wish that it would stop showing up in your mailbox, no worries! Just send us a note titled, No thanks, and we will take your name off of our list. And, it there is someone you think might enjoy it, have them go to our website and sign up, or stop by the office at 211 Taylor St, 3rd floor of the historic Mt Baker Block building in beautiful (if somewhat chilly) downtown Port Townsend.
Janette Force, Executive Director for PTFI
The 18th Annual Film Festival -September 15, 16 and 17, 2017 211 Taylor Street, Suite 401A • PORT TOWNSEND, WA 98368 • 360-379-1333 • 360-379-O198 (fax) Email Us © 2015 PTFF