PORT TOWNSEND — A variety of offbeat and nonfiction films are on their way during the coming week, courtesy of the Port Townsend Film Institute.
■ First up is “Girl Rising,” a view of nine girls from nine nations. Their life stories will light the screen at the Rose Theatre, 235 Taylor St., at 11 a.m. Saturday.
Tickets are $10 at the Rose box office or at www.RoseTheatre.com.
After the movie, Janette Force of the Port Townsend Film Institute will moderate a discussion with educators and activists, including Yvonne Pepin-Wakefield, Chris Jones-Crubaugh, Martha Trolin, Mark Saran and Abby Jorgenson, on the effect of the American educational model in other countries.
■ To mark Earth Day on Monday, a free screening of “Bidder 70,” the story of Tim DeChristopher’s bidding against industry giants for Utah wildlands, is set for 11 a.m. at the Rose Theatre.
Admission is first-come, first-seated until the movie house is full.
“Bidder 70” recounts the highly unusual outcome of a December 2008 auctioning of lands slated for oil and gas leasing.
DeChristopher, not content to protest outside, signed up as Bidder 70. He proceeded to bid for and win 22,000 acres worth $1.7 million.
Halted auction
The auction was halted, and then-U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar invalidated it. When DeChristopher was indicted on two federal felonies, Patrick Shea, a former Bureau of Land Management director under President Bill Clinton, stepped forward to represent him pro bono.
DeChristopher, who went to federal prison, is scheduled for release this month.
■ Next week, the Port Townsend Film Institute will start this season’s Global Lens film series at a new location: the schoolhouse at Fort Worden State Park, 200 Battery Way.
Beginning Thursday, the institute and partner Goddard College will present the series of foreign films for no admission charge and invite viewers to stay for discussions afterward.
Spring’s first Global Lens series movie is “The Fantastic World of Juan Oral” from Mexico at 7 p.m. Thursday.
To find out more about these screenings and other film institute activities, visit www.PTFilmFest.com or phone 360-379-1333.
