What a difference a year makes! We are happy to say that 2023 brought film back to the forefront in Provincetown.
In June, the Provincetown International Film Festival (PIFF), a signature program of the Provincetown Film Society (PFS), exuberantly celebrated 25 years honoring and showcasing independent filmmakers on the edge. Film lovers and creators came together to experience the joy of watching shorts, documentaries, and narrative features. With record ticket sales, over a hundred visiting filmmakers and more local work than ever before, PIFF succeeded in bringing the world to Provincetown and bringing Provincetown to the world.
This year, PFS also formed the Outer Cape Filmmaker’s Group, a monthly meeting of local filmmakers that started with a handful of artists and has continued to grow into an important part of the Provincetown community. Local filmmakers are utilizing resources provided at the meetings and establishing meaningful connections and collaborations. As part of PIFF, PFS presented “Provincetown Stories”, three short films, each directed by a member of the Outer Cape Filmmakers Group, about artists and advocates who we lost in 2022, but whose legacies will live on through their strong connections to the Provincetown community.
The film celebration continued through the summer at PFS’s Waters Edge Cinema with “BARBENHEIMER” playing for weeks to sold out audiences. PFS owns and operates the only dedicated cinema in Provincetown and is committed to bringing diverse stories and communal fun to the heart of Commercial Street.
Waters Edge Cinema is our local movie house, community gathering space, and one of only a handful of non-profit organizations that presents year-round cultural offerings to the public. It is community participation that keeps us going and energizes our contribution to the artistic fabric of Provincetown. Given the changing dynamics of the film industry and the fact that independent cinemas cannot survive on sales alone, it is critical to have ongoing financial backing from the community.
Whether you come to watch a first-run movie, attend the Film Art Series, Planet Ptown, Two Queens & A Movie, the Provincetown International Film Festival, rent the cinema for a private event, join us for our robust Women’s Week series or participate in the Outer Cape Filmmakers Group, Waters Edge Cinema is here for you year-round as a vital part of the Provincetown Arts Community.
We ask you to consider making a year-end, tax-deductible donation to keep our cinema and organization going strong. Please help us support filmmakers, diverse stories, innovative programming and continue Creating Community Through Film. Thank you for your consideration and support.
I look forward to seeing you at the movies!
Anne Hubbell
Executive Director
Provincetown Film Society