PTFF News
Newsletter Archives
December 16, 2008
Contents
- Centrum & PTFF create film series, like WOW!
- Annual fund drive report-to-date, stay tuned.
- Pre-festival volunteer needed, absolutely.
Centrum and Port Townsend Film Festival Partner To Create Winter Film Series
A partnership to create both film presentations and film education projects in 2009 has been announced by the Port Townsend Film Festival and Centrum as they prepare for new year activity.
The first collaboration begins Tuesday, January 6, with the launch of the Fort Worden Winter Film Series that features weekly presentations of an eclectic mix of classic and cult films selected, introduced, and discussed by three curators over nine consecutive weeks.
The second venture will provide a creative residency for three Port Townsend Film Festival “first feature” filmmakers immediately prior to the 10th annual festival, scheduled for Sept. 24-27. 2009.
“Building from these two beginnings, we look forward to an enhanced and enriching collaboration as both Centrum and the Port Townsend Film Festival move into new phases of growth and development in the next decade,” Peter Simpson, artistic director for the Festival, and Kisha Palmer, managing director of Centrum, said in a joint statement.
Acknowledging the challenges of the current world-wide economic downtown, they noted: ”If each of us does what we do best, and we do it together, we can create exciting new programming and engaging educational opportunities even in the leanest of times.”
Curators of the Fort Worden Winter Film Series include:
The leadership staff at Reel Grrls, a unique Seattle after-school media & technology training program that empowers girls to critique media images and to gain media technology skills in a safe, open environment, mentored by a network of multi-cultural women media professionals;
Actor Tom Skerritt, an Emmy Award-winning American actor who has appeared in more than forty feature films and two hundred television episodes, including M*A*S*H, Alien, Top Gun, Steel Magnolias, A River Runs Through It, and Smoke Signals. His television series include “Gunsmoke,” “Picket Fences,” and “Cheers.”
Film educator Kathleen Murphy, serving on the faculties of the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Washington, has founded a Cinema Studies program and headed the UW Arts and Humanities Department in Continuing Education. She has served on the selection committees of the Seattle International Film Festival and the New York Film Festival.
Entitled, “3 by 3: The Fort Worden Winter Film Series,” the Centrum/PTFF collaboration will screen nine films, one every Tuesday evening from January 6 to March 3. Each film will be introduced by one of the guest curators, and a question-and-answer period with the guest curator will follow each film. Films will be shown in the historic Joseph F. Wheeler Theater, built in the 1940's to serve as the Fort Worden’s original movie house. Tickets are $12; $8 with current student ID, and are available by calling Centrum at 360-385.3102, x117 and online at www.fortwordenwinterfilms.com. Series passes are $95. Tickets are also available at the Wheeler Theater box office one hour before the film begins.
The schedule is as follows:
REEL GRRLS, curators
January 6 – CLÉO DE 5 A 7 (directed by Agnes Varda, 1962)
Screening with: Dedicated to My Family (Reel Grrls, 2003)
Presented by: Maile Martinez, Program Manager
January 13 – WHALE RIDER (directed by Niki Caro, 2002)
Screening with: Definition (Reel Grrls, 2008)
Presented by: Malory Graham, Executive Director & Founder
January 20 – BUT I'M A CHEERLEADER (directed by Jamie Babbit, 1999)
Screening with: Coming Out... (Reel Grrls, 2004)
Presented by: Lane Stroud, Project Director and Lila Kitaeff, Technical Director
Tom Skerritt, curator
January 27 - THE TURNING POINT (directed by Herbert Ross, 1977)
February 3 – CONTACT (directed by Robert Zemeckis, 1997)
February 10 - A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT (directed by Robert Redford, 1992)
Kathleen Murphy, curator
February 17 - JULES AND JIM (directed by Francois Truffaut, 1962)
February 24 - THE HOURS (directed by Stephan Daldry, 2002)
March 3 - LAST TANGO IN PARIS (directed by Bernardo Bertolucci, 1972)
Detailed descriptions of each film can be obtained at www.fortwordenwinterfilms.com. Information about the creative residencies will be available after the first of the year.
MONEY MAKES THE WORLD GO AROUND - YEAR-END FUND DRIVE REPORT
HEADS OR TAILS, COIN OR CURRENCY, IT ALL ADDS UP
December 2008 was probably not the best time to launch a $15,000 annual fund campaign, even with a dollar-for-dollar match to jump-start it. Nevertheless, tread we did, and march on we must.
As of 13 December, we had reached $1,845 toward our goal. That’s a little better than 12 percent, which is, frankly, not bad when one considers the state of the economy, the mismanagement of government resources, and the increasing frequency of crooks in our midst. After all, Bernard Madoff also came up with 12 percent returns, but we still have the money you all so generously gave us—he doesn’t.
The month is only half-over, and I remain hopeful that more festival friends and supporters will be able to offer additional assistance for 2008 at whatever level is comfortable for them. At the present rate of contribution, all 2008 bills should be paid by December 31; only our line of credit will have an outstanding balance.
If you are in a position to make a contribution, please send it to PTFF, P.O. Box 594, Port Townsend, WA 93868, or call me at 360/379-1333 and we can do it over the phone.
Thank you again for your contributions this year and in years past. You have made these nine memorable years. Now, just wait for the 10th!
Peter Simpson, Artistic Director
If you’re looking for some semi-glamorous things to do on these cold winter mornings, we have just the job for you! Terry Tennesen, operations director, and Peter Simpson, artistic director, are looking for an office assistant to guide one another through the details of the forthcoming 10th annual Port Townsend Film Festival, scheduled for September 24-27, 2009.
Tasks will include the usual office stuff, helping with sponsorships, memberships, pass and ticket sales, tracking submitted films for consideration, and assisting in the logistics of program development.
Amount of time required: not more than three half-days a week. If the load becomes greater, we’ll find a second person to assist.
The perfect volunteer will be eager and interested, computer savvy, capable of challenging authority, and be something of a power house.
What you get out of it: no duties whatsoever during the festival weekend. You get to watch movies, and you’ll have a “producer” level pass which means you’ll have guaranteed seating (so long as you arrive at the theatre on time). You’ll even get to a party or two.
Now, how’s that for a deal? Lots of work, sure, but lots of fun. And the camaraderie is great.
So, if you’re interested, call either Terry or Peter at 360/379-1333. All current and previous PTFF volunteers are encouraged to apply.