FILM POP-UP EVENT @ FINNRIVER

Saturday, Feb 1, 6:00 PM
Finnriver Farm & Cidery (124 Center Road, Chimacum, WA) 
Cost: Free (food & beverages available for purchase)
Doors open: 5:30 PM

Announcing a free, fun evening of film, food, cider and community brought to you by Port Townsend Film Festival and Finnriver Farm & Cidery. Come see a hand-picked assortment of six short indie films from PTFF’s archive. Get a sneak preview of 2025 film events, and learn about ways to get involved with PTFF and the local film scene. 
 

Among the selected films are three notable local films:

Call of the Orcas
Director: Jessica Plumb
Director of Photography: Gabe Van Lelyveld
Exploring the effort to recover endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales of the PNW, researcher Ken Balcomb's work over 50 years helped people see the Orcas as individuals, in family groups, and led to a subspecies listing under the US Endangered Species Act.
 

Clean Bill of Health 
Director: Leila Ebrahimzadeh Block
Starring: Tomoki Sage
A young man goes to see the doctor for the first time in many years and may not be back anytime soon after his visit.
 

The Path
Director: Michelle Hagewood
The journey of a mysterious pod drifting through tree vignettes in various states of relationship while reflecting on love and memory in a landscape interwoven with humanity.
 

The usual (awesome) food, cider and more will be available for purchase from The Finnriver Kitchen, Dented Buoy Wood Fired Pizza, and Friendly Nettle. 

The other films to be shown are: Dancing Warrior, Climate Diaries; Heather's Story, and Love Photosynthesis.

You have a few days left to submit your screenplay to PTFF’s Island & Peninsula Short Screenplay Competition. We are currently accepting submissions from writers in this region. 

In 2024 we launched this short screenplay competition to highlight our commitment to making the Port Townsend region a place where filmmakers are nurtured, thrive, and grow.

The winning script will receive:

• Full production by a team of experienced filmmakers in 2026

• Inclusion in the 2026 Port Townsend Film Festival line-up

Final deadline for submission: January 26, 2025 

Greetings, All!

Even in this quiet season of winter, the memories of fall’s festivities and the energy of our volunteers are never far from my mind.

This year, we’ve implemented some exciting changes to make your volunteer experience even better. The volunteer pages on our website have been refreshed, and we’ve introduced a new system called Timecounts, which we’re affectionately calling our Volunteer Hub. It’s a one-stop shop where you can sign up for opportunities, manage your volunteer schedule, and stay connected with the PTFF community.

We’re also thrilled to announce that we’re increasing volunteer benefits in 2025! All volunteers will now receive unlimited access to virtual screenings the week after the September Festival. This benefit was previously available to volunteers who contributed 18+ hours, but we’re now extending it to anyone who completes a volunteer shift in 2025. On top of that, volunteers will enjoy a 15% discount on PTFF merchandise year-round—a small way to say thank you for all you do.

As we look forward to the year ahead, I want to share a couple of ways you can jump in right now. On January 30th we’re hosting a screening of the Connectivity Project, and we’re looking for a Popcorn Attendant and Door Monitor to help out that evening. We’re also starting to recruit for the 2025 Street Team, so if you love sharing your enthusiasm for the Festival with others, we’d love to have you join us!

Thank you for being part of this incredible community. If you’re curious about what’s next, check out the updated resources on our website and explore our new Timecounts-Volunteer Hub.

Hope to see you soon!

Leah Manley
Community Relations Manager
Port Townsend Film Festival

When: Thursday, January 30th, 6:00 PM
Location: PTFF Balcony Theatre
(211 Taylor Street, Suite 401A, Port Townsend)
Cost: Pay What You Will

Join us in the PTFF Balcony Theatre for a fundraiser for the Connectivity Project, a trilogy series of short films, produced and directed by local filmmaker Rose Madrone.

The series has been accepted for public television programming and Rose is raising funds for the final finishing touches to ready this for public broadcasting. The films examine how each of our actions make a difference in the world, by showing that there are ripple effects to our actions, and that we live in an interconnected world, and as such, it is undeniable that our choices have an immeasurable impact.

Some of you may have seen a portion of this trilogy at the Connectivity Fair over the past 2 years. In fact, it was actually the film that sparked the idea of the Connectivity Fair. This beautiful compilation of interviews, stories and images has been used in schools across the country and in many presentations over the past number of years.

It is a particular honor that public television now wants to carry this work, to reach a wider audience and to inspire their viewers. As such, there are finishing edits and a variety of protocols and fees that need to be met to bring this project up to broadcast standards. With your help in contributing to this fundraising we can make this happen. Come join us for this special evening where we will screen the full 45-minute film and you can learn more about this project, and the difference that you make in the world.

If you can’t make it please feel free to
contribute to this fundraising effort!

You can reach Rose Madrone at:
rose@connectivityproject.com
 

“This may well be one of the most important projects on earth at this time.” 
—Jean Houston, PhD, renowned thought leader and principal founder of the Human Potential Movement

“The Connectivity Project—whether shown individually or as a complete set—ought to be viewed by every single person around the globe. The content of the Connectivity Project can and should play a role in macro and micro level discussions regarding the creation of a better tomorrow.”
—Corey Thompson, Associate Professor of Teacher Education
 

About: Connectivity Project Film
How many times have you wondered, “Does what I do make a difference in the world?” Connectivity Project explores this ever-present question, in a visually stunning series of 15 minute films. Featuring interviews with tribal elders, noted scientists and naturalists, and environmental activists, the series weaves connections between science, culture and spirituality. We unpack the butterfly effect metaphor, developing the awareness that what we each do makes a difference.

Together, we discover that small actions can indeed have large impacts. With inspirational true stories about the ripple effects of individuals, Connectivity Project evokes a sense of belonging to something much greater than ourselves, and thus our own responsibility. Whether by the choices we make, how we spend our money, what we vote for, or how we treat each other, would we act differently if we saw the world differently?

Filmmakers Erika Hamilton and Christian Loubek (Belief) @ PTFF 2024 | Photo by Elizabeth Becker 
 

PTFF is now accepting films for possible inclusion at PTFF 2025 (September 18-21). 

In keeping with the organization’s commitment to inclusivity and representation, in 2025 PTFF offers discount codes to:

• Directors identifying as People of the Global Majority  

• Directors identifying as LGBTQ+ 

• Directors currently registered as a student studying film  

• Directors residing in the local region (Olympic/Kitsap Peninsulas and Puget Sound Islands)

PTFF also extends special invitations to women filmmakers and short films produced on the Olympic/Kitsap Peninsulas and/or Puget Sound Islands.

Are you a PTFF Alum? Remember, you can get a waiver code for the submission fee.  

Next deadline for submission: Feb 4, 2025
Final deadline for submission: April 15, 2025

Photo by Giorgio Trovato
 

CONGRATS TO RECENT PTFF FILMMAKERS!

PTFF is proud to announce that three of the films we presented at the 2024 Festival have been shortlisted for Oscar awards. 

A huge round of applause for…

• Porcelain War (category of Documentary Feature Film); directed by Brendan Bellomo and Slava Leontyev.

• Planetwalker (category of Documentary Short Film); directed by Dominic Gill and Nadia Gill.

• Seat 31: Zooey Zephyr (category of Documentary Short Film); directed by Kimberly Reed.

Please join us in rooting for these films to become official nominees!