Provincetown International Film Festival

The Provincetown International Film Festival (PIFF) is an annual film festival founded in 1999 and held on Cape Cod in Provincetown, Massachusetts. The festival presents American and international narrative features, documentaries and short films for five days in June of each year.^[1]

The festival is a program of the Provincetown Film Society, the non-profit parent organization which also operates the year-round Waters Edge Cinema (formerly known as Whaler's Wharf Cinema), a year-round Provincetown movie theater presenting what it considers the best in current independent and international cinema.^[2]

The festival hosts films and panel discussions^[3] and incorporates the cultural, historic, and artistic character of Provincetown:^[4] with its thriving art colony, its large gay and lesbian population,^[5] its original Native American and Portuguese heritage, and its congenial scenic setting. In keeping with its mission, the festival often presents films about countercultural figures, such as John Lennon, Allen Ginsberg,^[6] William S. Burroughs, BeBe Zahara Benet, and Andrea Dworkin.

In 2022, the Provincetown International Film Festival became an Academy Awards-qualifying festival. Short films that receive Best Narrative Short, Best Queer Short and Best Documentary Short awards are automatically eligible to enter the Short Films competition for the concurrent season of the Oscars.^[7]

History

Founded in 1999, the first opening night film was Run Lola Run.^[8]

Other notable premieres have included A Master Builder, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, American Splendor, Whale Rider, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Cameraperson, Howl, The Innocents, Brittany Runs a Marathon, Vita & Virginia, and Coffee & Cigarettes. Retrospective screenings have included Some Like It Hot, Grey Gardens, Clerks, Showgirls, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! and the 50th anniversary of Psycho.^[4]

Notable attendees include Lily Tomlin, Ted Kennedy, Victoria Reggie Kennedy, Jim Jarmusch, Kevin Smith, Tilda Swinton, D.A. Pennebaker, Chris Hegedus, Ira Kaplan, Al Maysles, Faith Hubley, Parker Posey, Mira Nair, Christine Vachon, Alan Cumming, Chloe Sevigny, Michael Musto, Patricia Clarkson, David Cronenberg, Todd Haynes, Sofia Coppola, Gus Van Sant, Jillian Bell,^[9] Tab Hunter,^[10] Ang Lee, Barney Frank and former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe.^[11][12][13]

Cult filmmaker John Waters hosts events or presents awards at PIFF every year.^[8]

Awards

In its ongoing mission to honor the work of both established and emerging directors, PIFF has established a number of awards.

Awarded Films

2010 Awards

The 2010 Awards were given to the following films:^[14][15]

• Undertow, directed by Javier Fuentes-León: HBO Audience Award Best Narrative Feature (tie)
• Mao's Last Dancer, directed by Bruce Beresford: HBO Audience Award Best Narrative Feature (tie)
• Waste Land, directed by Lucy Walker: HBO Audience Award Best Documentary Feature
• Come on Down, directed by Joseph Laraja, HBO Audience Award Best Short Film
• She's a Fox, directed by Cameron Sawyer, Student Film Grand Jury Prize

2012 Awards

The 2012 Awards were given to the following films:^[16]

• Any Day Now, directed by Travis Fine: HBO Audience Award Best Narrative Feature
• The Invisible War, directed by Kirby Dick: HBO Audience Award Best Documentary Feature
• Dik, directed by Christopher Stollery: HBO Audience Award Best Short Film
• How to Survive a Plague, directed by David France: The John Schlesinger Award (given to a first time documentary or narrative feature filmmaker)
• Shoot the Moon, directed by Alexander Gaeta: Jury Award / Student Short Film
• Who Lasts Longer, directed by Gregorio Muro: Jury Award / Animated Short Film
• Tsuyako, directed by Mitsuyo Miyazaki: Jury Award / Live Action Short Film

2022 Awards

The 2022 awards were given to the following films:^[17]

• Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, directed by Sophie Hyde: Warner Bros. Discovery Audience Award Best Narrative Feature
• Esther Newton Made Me Gay, directed by Jean Carlomusto: Warner Bros. Discovery Audience Award Best Documentary Feature
• A Love Song, directed by Max Walker-Silverman: John Schlesinger Award Best Narrative Feature
• The Territory, directed by Alex Pritz: John Schlesinger Award Best Documentary Feature
• Fanmi, directed by Sandrine Brodeur-Desrosiers and Carmine Pierre-Dufour: Jury Award / Narrative Short Film
• Monsieur le Butch, directed by Jude Dry: Jury Award / New England Short Film
• Holding Moses, directed by Rivkah Beth Medow: Jury Award / Documentary Short Film
• Pottero, directed by Lindsey Martin: Jury Award / Animated Short Film
• Too Rough, directed by Sean Lìonadh: Jury Award / Queer Short Film
• Cans Can't Stand, directed by Matt Nadel and Megan Plotka: Jury Award / Special Jury Prize

In addition to the usual "best film" types of awards, each year PIFF presents three unique and prestigious awards:

Filmmaker on the Edge Award,^[18] presented to a film artist whose outstanding achievement, innovation, and vision continue to push the boundaries of film.

Excellence in Acting Award,^[19] presented to a film artist whose admirable body of work pushes the boundaries of the medium, demonstrating originality and innovation.

Next Wave Award,^[20] presented to a film artist who has an exciting and distinctive voice, takes artistic risks, and has a passionate commitment to independent film.

Filmmaker on the Edge Award 1999: John Waters 2000: Christine Vachon 2001: Ted Hope & James Schamus 2002: Gus Van Sant 2003: Todd Haynes 2004: Jim Jarmusch 2005: Mary Harron 2006: Gregg Araki 2007: Todd Solondz 2008: Quentin Tarantino 2009: Guy Maddin 2010: Kevin Smith 2011: Darren Aronofsky 2012: Roger Corman 2013: Harmony Korine 2014: David Cronenberg 2015: Bobcat Goldthwait 2016: Ang Lee 2017: Sofia Coppola 2018: Sean Baker 2019: John Cameron Mitchell 2021: Richard Linklater^[21] 2022: Luca Guadagnino

Excellence in Acting Award 2002: Marcia Gay Harden 2006: Lili Taylor 2007: Alan Cumming 2008: Gael García Bernal 2009: Alessandro Nivola 2010: Tilda Swinton 2011: Vera Farmiga 2012: Parker Posey 2013: Matt Dillon 2014: Patricia Clarkson 2016: Cynthia Nixon 2017: Chloe Sevigny 2018: Molly Shannon^[22] 2019: Judith Light 2021: Riz Ahmed^[23] 2022: Dale Dickey

Next Wave Award

• 2017: Aubrey Plaza
• 2018: Chloe Grace Moretz
• 2019: Jillian Bell^[24]
• 2020: Mya Taylor
• 2021: Natalie Morales
• 2022: Jenny Slate & Bowen Yang

Career Achievement

• 2007: Kathleen Turner
• 2008: Michael Childers
• 2009: Strand Releasing
• 2011: Albert Maysles

Faith Hubley Memorial Award

• 2003: Mira Nair
• 2008: Jane Lynch
• 2010: Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman
• 2012: Kirby Dick
• 2013: Edward Lachman
• 2014: Debra Winger^[25]
• 2015: Jennifer Coolidge

References

1. Cox, Gordon (27 April 2010). "Provincetown fetes A-listers". Variety. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
2. "PROVINCETOWN FILM SOCIETY'S MISSION". Provincetown Film Society. Retrieved 2020-12-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
3. Marion (13 June 2011). "13th Annual Provincetown International Film Festival Opening Night Party". provincetownlive.net. from the original on 10 Aug 2011. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
4. "Oscar Winners Kudos at P-Town Film Fest". Outtake. 14 June 2010. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
5. "Ptown Film Fest Honors Gay Filmmakers". The Advocate. 27 April 2010. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
6. Keough, Peter (16 June 2010). "Cinema paradisos". The Boston Phoenix. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
7. Sippell, Margeaux (2022-06-20). "Provincetown International Film Festival Announces 2022 Award Winners". MovieMaker Magazine. Retrieved 2022-08-05.
8. McKee, Natalie (12 June 2016). "Connie White to step down as fest's artistic director". Cape Cod Times. Retrieved 2020-12-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
9. McGreevy, Nora (18 June 2019). "Comic actress Jillian Bell gets serious for a change - The Boston Globe". Boston Globe. Retrieved 2020-12-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
10. Robinson, Charlotte (2016-06-02). "Actor Tab Hunter Talks Provincetown Film Fest Launch Weekend and More (AUDIO)". HuffPost. Retrieved 2020-12-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
11. Thompson, Anne (2018-06-14). "Provincetown Festival Indie Icons by Photographer Henny Garfunkel". IndieWire. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
12. Robinson, Charlotte (2017-06-23). "Celebrities, Filmmakers & Activists Talk Movies, Resistance & More (AUDIO)". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2020-12-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
13. "Provincetown Film Festival Announces Lineup: John Cameron Mitchell named "Filmmaker On The Edge," Jillian Bell to Receive "Next Wave Award"". Provincetown Film Festival. 2019-05-01. Retrieved 2020-12-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
14. Miller, Tim (21 June 2010). "Festival winners". Cape Cod Times. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
15. Karren, Howard (23 June 2010). "Winners aplenty at Provincetown International Film Festival". Wicked Local. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
16. Brooks, Brian (18 June 2012). "Invisible War, Any Day Now Win at Provincetown Film Festival". Movieline. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
17. Rooney, David (19 June 2022). "'Good Luck to You, Leo Grande', 'A Love Song' Among Provincetown Film Festival Award Winners". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
18. Provincetown International Film Festival. "PIFF Archives – Provincetown Film". Retrieved 2022-08-05.
19. Provincetown International Film Festival. "PIFF Archives – Provincetown Film". Retrieved 2022-08-05.
20. Provincetown International Film Festival. "PIFF Archives – Provincetown Film". Retrieved 2022-08-05.
21. "Richard Linklater". Provincetown Film Festival. 2021-05-12. Retrieved 2021-05-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
22. Rooney, David (17 June 2018). "Sean Baker and Molly Shannon Honored at Provincetown Film Festival". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
23. "RIZ AHMED TO RECEIVE 2021 EXCELLENCE IN ACTING AWARD". Provincetown Film Festival. 2021-05-14. Retrieved 2021-05-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
24. "John Cameron Mitchell Receives Provincetown's Filmmaker on the Edge Award". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2020-04-13.
25. Kleinman, Rebecca (25 June 2014). "John Waters Hosts 16th Annual Provincetown International Film Festival | Hollywood Reporter". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2020-12-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

External links

• Provincetown Film Society
• Provincetown Film Festival
• Waters Edge Cinema