Port Townsend Film Festival

Port Townsend Film Festival
LocationPort Townsend, Washington, U.S.
Founded1999
Founded byPeter Simpson, Linda Yakush, and others
AwardsBest Narrative, Best Documentary, Best Short
Festival dateAnnual, last full weekend in September
LanguageEnglish
Websitewww.ptff.org

The Port Townsend Film Festival (PTFF) is an annual independent film festival held in Port Townsend, Washington. The festival was founded in 1999 and is organized by a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, focused on independent narrative, documentary, and short films.[1] The event takes place over multiple days in late September within the city's downtown National Historic District on the Olympic Peninsula.[2]

History

The festival was conceived in 1999 by Rocky Friedman, Linda Yakush, Jim Ewing, and Jim Westall, and was modeled on the Telluride Film Festival.[1] The inaugural festival was held on September 22, 2000.[3]

Film historian Peter Simpson served as the festival's first executive director until 2009.[4] Historically, the organization's primary fundraiser was an annual gala held in late February or early March.[5][6]

Programming

The festival has a submission period from January to April, selecting approximately 70 films.[7] Submissions are evaluated by a rotating panel of approximately 34 reviewers.[8] The festival has several juried awards including Best Narrative Feature, Best Documentary Feature, and Best Short Film.[9]

Noteworthy guests

Notable past special guests have included: Elliott Gould, Tony Curtis, Dyan Cannon, Debra Winger, Karen Allen, and Bruce Dern.[1]

The following actors, directors, screenwriters, producers, critics and authors have made appearances at PTFF. This is by no means a complete listing:

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Our Story". Port Townsend Film Festival. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  2. ↑ Hidle, Erik (September 17, 2025). "Port Townsend Film Fest on track to exceed previous years' numbers". Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader.
  3. ↑ Hidle, Erik (April 19, 2009). "Organizers vow to keep Port Townsend Film Festival going after Simpson's death". Peninsula Daily News.
  4. ↑ Macdonald, Moira (April 27, 2009). "Longtime director of the Port Townsend Film Festival dies". The Seattle Times. Retrieved August 21, 2026.
  5. ↑ "26th Port Townsend Film Festival Set to Illuminate the Olympic Peninsula". The Jefferson County Beacon. September 16, 2025. Retrieved August 21, 2026.
  6. ↑ "PT Film Festival moves gala to September". Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader. August 24, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Port Townsend Film Festival - The Olympic Peninsula, WA". Olympic Peninsula. Retrieved August 21, 2026.
  8. ↑ "About Us". Port Townsend Film Festival. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  9. ↑ "2024 Awards". Port Townsend Film Festival. Retrieved March 4, 2026.

48°07′02″N 122°45′38″W / 48.11722°N 122.76056°W / 48.11722; -122.76056

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