Review by Kyle Vanous
With walkable venues all over town and dozens of full narratives, documentaries, and short films to choose from, the 20th annual Port Townsend Film Festival had something for everyone.
It was my first time attending this festival held the 3rd weekend in September. I had anticipated some low budget Indy films however; this was not the case. The showings I attended were fantastic and truly fit for the big screen. Banana Split by director Benjamin Kasulke, is youthful and funny while Alice by director Josephine Mackerras, addresses some more serious matters.
The Taylor Street Outdoor Theatre presented some old favorites each night such as “Groundhog Day”, that also drew large crowds. According to frequent attendees, the festival has really gained in popularity over the last two decades, passes start at $40. This made it occasionally difficult to get a seat but, a well-planned itinerary of your favorite prospects would probably solve this issue. With some shows beginning at 9 a.m. and as late as 9:30 p.m., it would be impossible to see it all during this three-day event.
The Port Townsend locals graciously provided a genuinely friendly and welcoming atmosphere. Big thanks to the CoLab office space and meeting rooms for the VIP treatment of all film contributors and students, Homer Smith Insurance for providing lodging for the film students, and to everyone who volunteers each year to make this festival possible.
