PORT TOWNSEND — While attendance figures are never available for the Port Townsend Film Festival until after the event ends, the 14th annual gathering seems more crowded and kinetic than in the past, according to the staff.
“There are a lot more people than in past years,” said Terry Tennesen, who’s worked on 12 of the festivals.
“We had screenings sell out at 9 a.m. and noon on Friday, which has never happened.”
Final day
Today is the final day of the three-day festival — which features 93 films and more than 40 directors, cinematographers and actors.
Screenings at six venues will start at 9 a.m. today.
A filmmaker panel is planned at 10 a.m. at the Pope Marine Park Building, 607 Water St.
Karen Allen, the event’s special guest — an actress and fiber artist — will appear at a fiber arts demonstration at 2 p.m. at Bazaar Girls, 126 Quincy St.
At 6:30 p.m., awards will be announced at the Rose Theatre, 235 Taylor St.
They include jury awards, audience favorites, The Big Cheese Award from Mt. Townsend Creamery and The Spirit of the Port Townsend Film Festival Bronze Galatea.
Free movie goes inside
Because of expected windy weather, a free showing of “Step Into Liquid,” an aquatic film descended from the surf classic “Endless Summer,” will move from Taylor Street to The Uptown Theatre, 1120 Lawrence St.
The time changes, too — 9 p.m. instead of 7:30 p.m.
At 9 p.m. there will be screenings of the jury award for best narrative feature at the Rose and best documentary feature at the Broughton Theatre, 419 Washington St.
The festival opened at 4 p.m. Friday with a performance by the Lawn Chair Rhythm Planet Drill Team, a group of women dressed in Marilyn Monroe wigs and birthmarks doing a synchronized routine that was a takeoff on one of the Port Townsend Rhody Parade’s biggest events in May.
The film festival and its opening ceremony reflected the character of the town, festival Executive Director Janette Force said at the ceremony: Both are eclectic and unpredictable.
Several hundred people filled the plaza around the Haller Fountain, also known as Galatea, at Washington and Taylor streets as filmmakers arrived in antique cars in true premiere fashion.
Opening ribbon
Allen cut the opening ribbon along with mountaineer Lou Whittaker, whose film “A Life in the Mountains” is featured during the festival.
Dinner was served to guests on Taylor Street, which was closed off to accommodate a showing of “Starman,” one of Allen’s best-known roles, on a large inflatable screen.
During dinner, the rain began but tapered off and ended by the time “Starman” began.
During the movie, Taylor Street was jammed with people who were watching the movie that featured Jeff Bridges as an alien and Allen as a lonely earthling.
On Saturday evening, Allen was present for a screening of “The Glass Menagerie” at the Uptown Theatre.
This year’s festival includes two new venues: the Silverwater Theatre and the Broughton Theater.
The venues are:
■ The Rose Theatre, 235 Taylor St.
■ The Uptown Theatre, 1120 Lawrence St.
■ The Peter Simpson Free Cinema, aka the American Legion, 209 Monroe St.
■ The Outdoor Cinema, Taylor Street at Washington Street.
■ The Silverwater Theatre, upstairs at 237 Taylor St.
■ The Broughton Theater, aka the Key City Playhouse, 419 Washington St.
A free shuttle provides transportation among all of the Port Townsend Film Festival venues, leaving frequently from the Jefferson Transit park-and-ride lot off Sims Way near Safeway.
Programs are available at the hospitality center in the Cotton Building, 607 Water St., and at all of the festival venues.
Passes range from $35 to $1,250 at the hospitality center. “Rush” tickets are $10.
To “rush,” join the line outside the venue showing the film of your choice. If seats are still available 15 minutes before show time, they will be sold.
For more information on venues and tickets, phone 360-379-1333 or visit www.ptfilmfest.com.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
