SUBMIT YOUR FILM
Rahad Coulter-Stevenson & Shaz Bennett. Photo by Elizabeth Becker
Film Submissions Open
Port Townsend Film Festival has been called “Sundance by the Sea,” known for its legendary hospitality and strong filmmaker support. We invite all filmmakers to submit their films for inclusion in our September film festival.
In addition to bringing amazing films to our seaside village, filmmaker participation in PTFF is designed to provide a village of community and connection that can enhance our “alumni filmmakers’” development and career.
The filmmakers selected for screening at PTFF receive substantial benefits:
Eligibility for cash prizes, jury, and audience favorite awards
Life-long fee waiver for future submissions
Ongoing newsletters regarding projects by other PTFF alumni
Invitation to return to future festivals as instructors at Filmmaker Forums for further networking and education opportunities
Eligibility for Filmmaker Residencies in Port Townsend
Eligibility for PTFF Producing Grants of up to $100,000 for new film projects
Morgan Neville, by Deja View Photography
Past PTFF Filmmakers & Guests
"If you had told me that there was a movie-crazy town on the tip of the Olympic Peninsula, I wouldn’t have believed you. But somehow Port Townsend is a real movie mecca. As a filmmaker, I can’t think of a place more energized around the idea of film. PTFF is the driving engine of a community of people who love movies. What the Festival has created is a treasure, to be re-discovered every year.”
—Morgan Neville, Academy Award-winning director and Special Guest 2017 PTFF
“Port Townsend Film Festival is in a league of its own. The programmers wrap filmmakers in the exquisite charms of this seaside town, from classic car escorts, drinks, and dinners on the pier, to panels with lively discussions on why we make films. It's an enchanting experience being there.”
—Jan Haaken, Director Our Bodies, Our Doctors
“We call PTFF ‘Xanadu!” Would return in a heartbeat!”
—Chris Cooper & Marianne Leone Cooper
2025 Submission deadlines
IMPORTANT DATES
Submissions Open: December 15, 2025
Final Deadline: April 15, 2025
Festival date: September 18-21, 2025
Fees depend on your submission date
Go to FilmFreeway for more info and to apply.
Check out PTFF’s Short Screenplay Contest!
DISCOUNT CODES
In 2025, PTFF offers discount codes to:
Directors identifying as LGBTQ+
Directors identifying as People of the Global Majority
Directors currently registered as a student studying film
Directors residing in the local region — Olympic/Kitsap Peninsulas and Puget Sound Islands
More info on our FilmFreeway page.
SPECIAL INVITATIONS
Calling Women Filmmakers
PTFF specifically invites women filmmakers to submit their films. The 2025 festival includes a Women & Film track, involving networking events, reception, panel discussion, and highlighted marketing featuring the wide variety of women-made films in our line-up.
Island & Peninsula Produced Short Films
We encourage short film submissions from Olympic and Kitsap Peninsula/San Juan Islands-based filmmakers. While PTFF presents films from around the globe, we also have the goal of supporting local filmmakers. Selected films will be featured in a Local Shorts block in the 2025 festival lineup.
PTFF filmmaker alums pay no fee at all EVER — email christy@ptfilm.org with your name, the year you screened at PTFF, and your film title to receive a single-use waiver code.
Want to know more about our programming practices? Go here.
Please direct any other questions to Program Manager, Christy Spencer, christy@ptfilm.org
We look forward to seeing your work!
Danielle McClelland, Executive Director
Jane Julian, Programmer
Christy Spencer, Program Manager
PTFF Short Screenplay Contest
Did you know? In 2024, we launched our Short Screenplay Contest. The writers of the winning script (Jordan Lucas and Winda Benedetti) were awarded a fully produced short film. Glampire debuted at the 2024 Port Townsend Film Festival.