PORT TOWNSEND — While there is no limit as to how many Port Townsend Film Festival passes can be sold, this weekend’s festival will be crowded enough that admission to any event cannot be assumed, the executive director warned.
“Last year, a lot of rush seats were available at the last minute,” said Janette Force, film festival executive director.
“This year, there might not be enough to accommodate everybody, so if you want to be sure to see certain films, you might want to buy a pass,” she said Tuesday
The three-day festival begins Friday with 70 films displayed at six venues, from the tiny Pope Marine Building to the festival’s largest, the Uptown Theatre, with two showing films for free — the Peter Simpson Free Cinema at Water and Monroe streets in the American Legion Hall, and the Taylor Street Outdoor Cinema.
“You can probably count on getting into the Uptown because it is rarely sold out,” aside from the special appearance by the festival’s special guest, writer and actor Buck Henry, at 6 p.m. Saturday, Force said.
Force said the film schedule is staggered to allow for sellouts, with the small venues beginning at the top of each hour, the medium venues at a quarter past and the largest at half past.
“This is so if you are sold out of one film you want to see, you have time to go see another,” Force said.
There are four levels of passes: a single movie for $35, four for $85, all movies for $185, all movies with guaranteed seating $650 and all that plus an artist reception for $1,250.
Those who want to take their chances can hope to snag a “rush” ticket, gaining entry to any movie that’s not sold out for $10.
Passes are available online at www.ptfilmfest.com/Festival/Passes.html or at the PTFF office at 211 Taylor St., Suite 32A, until 5 p.m. today.
Passes will be available at the hospitality center, 607 Water St., from noon to 6 p.m. Thursday, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
Force said the film offerings are diverse, with a special emphasis on documentary and comedy.
“If you are a film buff who isn’t a fan of blockbusters, this is paradise,” she said.
As of Tuesday, the festival print of the send-up of “The Maltese Falcon” was lost in transit.
“Something like this happens every year,” Force said of the mishap, adding they are usually resolved before showtime.
On the nonperforming side, The Writers’ Workshoppe, 234 Taylor St., is holding a series of screenwriting workshops for budding filmmakers.
Three instructors, Richard Beck Peacock, Adam Reid and Josie Foster, will present a staggered schedule of screenwriting instructions from Friday to Sunday.
The classes cost $20 or $40, and a detailed description of the courses is available at http://tinyurl.com/3nfe49n.
The festival is also hosting a gala at 9:30 p.m. Saturday at the Northwest Maritime Center, 431 Water St.
The event is open to all pass holders (the single-movie pass excluded) and will include the presentation of the second annual Spirit of Port Townsend Film Festival Award.
Henry, 80, will arrive in Port Townsend on Thursday and will help “cut the movie film” for the opening ceremonies at 3:45 p.m. Friday at the Haller Fountain.
This year’s special guest wrote such films as “The Graduate,” “Catch 22,” “The Owl and the Pussycat,” “What’s Up, Doc?” and “Heaven Can Wait”; was the co-writer with Mel Brooks of the 1960s series “Get Smart”; and co-hosted “NBC’s Saturday Night” — later renamed “Saturday Night Live” — 10 times in the 1970s with the original cast.
Over the past 30 years, he has played guest roles on a variety of television series, including “Falcon Crest,” “Murphy Brown,” “Will & Grace” and “30 Rock.”
His most recent guest role is as Betty White’s boyfriend on the new sitcom “Hot in Cleveland.”
________
Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
