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VOLUNTEERING WITH PTFF

Volunteer sign-up for the September Festival begins Aug 4

Films. Friends. Free Passes.

We'd like to invite you to be part of one of the coolest film festivals in the world - right here in Port Townsend!

Our volunteer community is ever-expanding, and each year we welcome hundreds of volunteers who help make PTFF possible. From projecting films and shuttling special guests to ushering audiences, there are a variety of ways to get involved, both “backstage” and in the spotlight.

The best part? Your volunteer hours count toward a pass to the Festival! Whether you're an independent film lover, looking to connect with your community, or simply curious about what goes on behind the scenes, we'd love to have you on our crew.

A woman with dark, curly hair and freckles smiling as she adjusts her camera on a tripod outdoors, with a blue pickup truck in the background.

Step 1: Create your
Volunteer Account

Go to Timecounts
Smiling man with white beard, glasses, and colorful short-sleeve shirt standing outdoors next to a yellow banner that reads 'POTTING TOGETHER WITH FES'. He is wearing a yellow hat with a logo and a lanyard with an ID badge around his neck.

Step 2: Browse our Volunteer Roles & Resource Library

Roles & Resources
Two women smiling, wearing bright yellow safety vests, sunglasses, and hats, standing outdoors in front of a brick building. One woman is waving.

Step 3: Sign-up for shifts!

Head back to Timecounts & visit the “Opportunities” page to secure your spot. The sign-up link for the September Festival will be available Aug 4.

FAQ’s about volunteering

  • Your volunteer hours accumulate towards a pass to the Festival, plus we’ve introduced more rewards, like every volunteer now getting free access to our Virtual Fest. Yep, that’s an entire week of films from the comfort of your couch.

    Pass types:

    • 0-7 hours: Virtual Pass

      • Receive a pass for our Virtual Fest

    • 8-17 hours: 6-Pass

      • Receive a pass for 6 in-person screenings or Forum offerings + access to our Virtual Fest

    • 18+ hours: Festival Pass

      • Receive a full Festival Pass with unlimited in-person screenings or Forum offerings + access to our Virtual Fest

    There’s more!

    As a volunteer, you'll enjoy a 15% discount on PTFF merchandise year-round, plus you’ll get an invite to our Appreciation Party in the fall. It's our way of saying thank you!

  • This is a Film Festival, so we understand your interest in viewing some films! Occasionally volunteers will have the opportunity to see part of a film while volunteering, but we request that a few guidelines be followed:

    A volunteer can watch a film if...

    • They’ve been designated to monitor the screening and PTFF staff does not need the volunteer’s help with other tasks

    • The venue lobby/entrance is being monitored by a PTFF staff member or another volunteer. Never leave venue entrances unattended

    • They’re prepared to communicate with PTFF staff if a problem arises during the screening

    • They sit near the exit

    If there is a film you really wish to see, do not expect to be able to watch it during a shift. Instead, try to design your volunteer schedule around the films you want to view.

  • Once you’ve logged into Timecounts, click on "Opportunities" to browse upcoming events and shifts. 

    To search by Event:

    1. Click on the event you'd like to volunteer for.

    2. On this next page, you’ll be able to start selecting your shifts. You can sort by roles and locations to narrow down the results.

    3. Once you find a shift you’d like to sign up for, click the “Select” button next to that shift, at which point the button will display a check mark.  You can select a single shift, or multiple shifts, at this time.

    4. Once you are ready to finalize your shifts, click on the button that says “Complete Signup”.

      You can view and manage your shifts by clicking on the “My Schedule” button on the Volunteer Hub homepage.

  • Volunteer sign-up for the 27th Annual Port Townsend Film Festival will be available in Timecounts on Aug 4.

  • Some volunteer roles require training, which will be offered in a hybrid format whenever possible. To see whether a role includes required training, visit our Volunteer Roles & Resource Library and select the role you're interested in.

  • Shifts must be cancelled at least 48 hours in advance. To cancel less than 48 hours before your shift, please contact Kino at (360) 209-3153 (text okay) or at kino@ptfilm.org.

    1. On the Timecounts-Volunteer Hub homepage, you can view all of your confirmed shifts by clicking the "My Schedule" button.

    2. Locate the shift you would like to cancel, which will have a “Confirmed” button next to it. Click the downward arrow on this button and select “Cancel”.

    3. You will be prompted to enter a '1' to confirm the cancellation.

    4. This will cancel your reservation and release the shift for others to claim.

    NOTE: By canceling a shift, you may lose pass privileges if the minimum hours required for earning that pass are no longer met.

  • If you're a Street Team volunteer or other type of non-shift volunteer, follow the steps below to log your hours. Film Reviewers: your hours are being tracked, so no need to log your hours.

    1. On the Timecounts-Volunteer Hub homepage, click on the "My Schedule" button.

    2. On the next page, click "Track Time" then "Log Time"

    3. From there, you'll be able to enter the activity & hours you volunteered for, as well as any other important details.

  • Passes are issued in late August and early September, depending on the type earned. Passes are issued based on the combined total of hours worked & confirmed from January 1, 2026 through the September Festival (Strike shifts included).

  • No, you do not need to be over the age of 18 to volunteer with PTFF, though your legal guardian must review the volunteer waiver that is included in the general volunteer form.

    1. On the PTFF Volunteer Hub homepage, click "Log In"

    2. Select "Forgot Password"

    3. Enter the email address associated with your account.

    4. A message will be sent to your email inbox with a link to reset your password.

  • Happy elderly couple smiling and reading a menu through a restaurant window at night

  • A woman taking a photo of an older woman sitting on a red chair outside a restaurant or cafe.

  • A woman with curly black hair wearing a green dress, holding a film festival badge, smiling, standing in front of a beige wooden wall.

  • Two women standing together at an art gallery, smiling, with paintings on the wall behind them.

  • Young woman with braided hair smiling and leaning out of a small window, wearing an orange hat and teal shirt, with a patterned beige wall behind her.

  • A woman wearing a beige hat and pink overalls leaning on a laptop at a table with microphones, looking at the screen in a room with white walls and a window.

  • An older man with glasses and white hair sitting on a sofa, resting his head on one hand, looking thoughtful. Behind him are posters for the Port Townsend Film Festival, one with a graphic design and the other with an illustration of people at a gathering.

  • An older woman with glasses and gray hair walking on a sidewalk, holding a stack of pamphlets or brochures, smiling, dressed in a black jacket, light blue jeans, and green shoes, with trees and cars in the background.

  • Three women sitting at a table, all wearing red caps with 'PTFF' lettering, at a book signing or event; one woman standing and smiling, wearing glasses and a blue denim shirt.

  • People smiling and looking out from behind a window, wearing yellow and blue hats with event logos, with shelves and a tree visible in the background.

We love our Volunteers!

Photos on this page by Ross Pruden, Viola Ware, Ava Fletcher, Deja View Photography, Elizabeth Becker, and Mark Saran