PORT TOWNSEND – The audience choice winners at last month’s Port Townsend Film Festival — which hosted more than 6,900 at the indoor and outdoor venues — have been announced.
Festival staff tallied more than 5,000 votes to name the audience’s favorites of the 94 films shown during the three-day festival Sept. 24-26.
“Most Dangerous Man in America: Dan Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers” — directed by Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith, who are both based in the San Francisco area — was voted the best documentary feature, the festival announced this week.
The festival’s other most significant award, best narrative feature, was awarded to “Welcome,” by French director Philippe Lioret.
“This is real artistic democracy in action,” said Janette Force, the film festival’s executive director.
“These are the movies that resonated the most to our audience.”
By the end of the festival, 5,436 watched films in five indoor venues, while at least 1,500 attended free movies outdoors, Force said.
The Peter Simpson Free Cinema, which seats 75, ran well over 100 percent capacity at nearly every screening, Force said.
The vote for best short narrative ended in a tie between “Butterfly Circus” directed by Joshua Weigel of Encino, Calif., and “Kavi” directed by Gregg Helvel of Southern California.
Audience choice for best short documentary was “Wings of Silver: The Vi Cowden Story” directed by Mark Bonn of Los Angeles.
The audience’s choice for best short animation film was to “The Mouse That Soared” directed by Kyle Bell, of Portland, Ore.
Force said that 196 volunteers worked during the festival, with many more helping both before and after the festival.
Force said she hopes to have all the films shown at this year’s festival available in the library before Nov. 1.
“We have new library software currently being installed that will make tracking our unique materials more effective,” she said, adding that winter office and library hours would be announced soon.
Next year’s film festival will be Sept. 23-25.
For more information, phone 360-379-1333 or go to www.ptfilmfest.com.
________
Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
