PORT TOWNSEND — On the night of this year’s Oscars, the Port Townsend Film Institute received a considerable boost from an anonymous donor who pledged $20,000 as a challenge grant for the support of the institute’s educational programs.

The institute is the parent company of the annual Port Townsend Film Festival — which this year will be Sept. 23-25 — and is dedicated to the sponsorship of film programs outside of the festival itself.

In order to receive the full challenge grant, the institute must raise a match of $20,000 by April 30, according to the terms of the donation pledged Feb. 27.

With $4,850 already pledged, that leaves $15,150 to go, said Executive Director Janette Force.

The $40,000 raised by the challenge grant will allow the establishment of a line of credit that will allow the organization to bring both movies and movie makers to town, Force said.

“When we have this money in the bank, we will be able to act quickly and take advantage of opportunities as they become available,” she said.

Much of the effort will benefit local schools by bringing in filmmakers to interact with students and purchasing a variety of movies that will be donated to school libraries and made available to students on a permanent basis.

Students also will learn how to make their own films, which increases their ability to analyze and communicate, Force said.

“Filmmaking has been democratized,” she said.

“With new technology, more people can make their own movies and express their ideas, and it gives them a way to understand what they are seeing.”

Force predicts that the establishment of year-round film programs will draw talent to the area that will benefit local culture.

“World-class filmmakers are attracted to this area due to the clean air and the great views,” she said.

“This will turn Port Townsend into a nice little film community in the next few years.”

The institute’s next event will be Thursday, when the poster for this year’s film festival will be unveiled.

The poster, designed by Port Townsend artist Martha Worthley, will be shown at 5 p.m. at the film institute’s offices, 211 Taylor St.

The poster will be distributed throughout the Pacific Northwest to promote the 12th annual festival.

The identity of the festival’s featured guest will be announced in August and will be preceded by a series of clues, with the first person to solve the puzzle getting a picture of themselves with the guest.

The 2010 guest was Dyan Cannon. Other actors who have appeared at the festivals included Cloris Leachman, Peter Fonda and Debra Winger.

For more information or to contribute to the challenge grant match, phone 360-379-1333 or visit www.ptfilmfest.com.

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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.