For five blissful days a year, Provincetown transforms itself into a cinephile’s paradise. From June 17th to June 21st, the Provincetown Film Society will present more than 87 feature-length and short films from American and International independent filmmakers. There are also loads of fantastic parties, an abundance of opportunities to meet and talk with renowned filmmakers at Q&As after screenings, and riveting panel discussions. “The independent filmmaking community continues to produce remarkably high quality work, here and abroad, and our feature lineup is a testament to that!” said Connie White, Artistic Director of PIFF. “We are thrilled to welcome these new films and filmmakers to Provincetown in June, and we know that filmgoers will be engaged and entertained by these adventurous, thought-provoking and accomplished films.”

The 17th Annual Provincetown Film Festival

Though the Provincetown International Film Festival feels wonderfully intimate, tickets to certain screenings can sell out quickly. It is highly recommended that Festival attendees purchase tickets online from the Festival’s easy-to-navigate website as soon as possible. Movie tickets are $15, panel discussions are $25, and parties range from $25 for the Opening Night Party to $250 for the Evan Lawson Filmmaker’s Brunch Fundraiser.

Or if you know you want to feast on as many films as possible, buy a pass to the festival. Passes go from $1250 for the Executive Producer Pass to $100 for the Party Pass. $500 you get 20 tickets for festival screening, Priority/Rush line seating, tickets to both the opening and closing night parties, access to the Beachside Bash at the Harbor Hotel, and more.

Festival Highlights

The Opening Night film will be Leslye Headland’s “Sleeping With Other People,” a romantic comedy starring Jason Sudeikis and Alison Brie as New Yorkers wrestling with the divide between friendship and romance. Variety calls it, “Essentially an updated ‘When Harry Met Sally’ with texting.”

The festival will close with “I Am Michael,” directed by Justin Kelly and starring James Franco. Variety writes, “An unusually nuanced James Franco carries this complex portrait of a man who came out and fought to encourage other LGBT youth before converting to conservative Christianity.”

The Festival’s Spotlight Films are James Ponsoldt’s “The End of the Tour” starring Jason Segal as David Foster Wallace and Jesse Eisenberg as the Rolling Stone journalist who visits the author’s home after his national tour promoting his masterpiece Infinite Jest. Another Spotlight Film is Paul Weitz’s “Grandma” starring Lily Tomlin as a woman whose granddaughter unexpectedly shows up needing $600 before sundown to deal with an unwanted pregnancy. The third Spotlight Film is Jeffrey Schwartz’s documentary “Tab Hunter Confidential,” about the former 50s matinee heartthrob being a closeted actor in Hollywood.

The Provincetown Film Festival Breakfast Panels

The Breakfast Panels are one of PIFF’s most beloved events. The Festival matches filmmakers and esteemed guests with a moderator to foster a lively and provocative conversation about a variety of films and topics. The panels will take place Thursday, June 18 through Sunday, June 21 at 9:30am. Can’t attend? The podcasts of the panel discussions will be on the WOMR website. Tickets to the Breakfast Panel come with a breakfast selection from PIFF restaurant sponsors: Tin Pan Alley, Waydowntown, and The Canteen.

Festival Honorees

This year the Festival honors comedian Bobcat Goldthwait, who is at FIFF with his new documentary “Call Me Lucky” about the compelling and controversial comedian and political satirist Barry Crimmins. Goldthwait will receive the festival’s filmmaker on the edge award and take part in a conversation with resident artist John Waters on June 20. On the same night, actress Jennifer Coolidge will be honored with the Faith Hubley career achievement award and will take part in a conversation with film critic B. Ruby Rich.

For more information on the Festival, visit their website.

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