Who is Peter Simpson and what is the Peter Simpson Free Cinema Fund?

Peter Simpson was a writer, poet, and passionate advocate for independent cinema. Peter was Port Townsend Film Festival's first executive director. Through Peter's leadership, PTFF embraced the idea that film should be both artistically ambitious and widely accessible.

In recognition of Peter's contributions and his belief in community-centered cinema, PTFF established the Peter Simpson Free Cinema Fund supporting PTFF's mission of Sparking Community Through Film. 

The Peter Simpson Free Cinema Fund allows students, seniors, working families, and individuals, facing economic hardship, to attend festival screenings and events that might otherwise be out of reach. This helps cultivate new audiences for independent film while reinforcing the Port Townsend Film Festival as a welcoming and uplifting event.

PTFF honors Peter Simpson’s enduring commitment to the idea that cinema is both entertainment and a public art form capable of building understanding and strengthening community connections.