The Port Townsend Film Festival (PTFF) is about creativity, originality and pushing the boundaries of film. And its 2017 special guest represents just that, says PTFF artistic director Janette Force.

That guest is Morgan Neville, the director of the Oscar-winning documentary “20 Feet from Stardom.”

“We are tremendously excited that Morgan is joining us this year,” said Force. “He’ll be a perfect fit, because he's very low key and passionate about connecting arts and audience, and that’s our mission.”

Neville, 49, has written, directed and produced more than 50 films. He won the 2013 Oscar for Best Documentary Film for “20 Feet from Stardom.” The film follows the journey of four women who worked as backup singers behind some of America’s biggest stars. Neville has followed that film with “The Music of Strangers,” a lively account of cellist Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble, which features top musicians from throughout the world performing on instruments rarely heard in Western music.

“[Neville’s] belief that documentaries can really illuminate an artist’s journey” – whether it be a musician or a painter – “is so important, especially at this point in our collective, international development,” said Force. “We need to remember the importance of the voices of our artists.”

Both films are to be screened at this year’s festival.

“The Music of Strangers” is shown in the 250-seat American Legion Hall, with Neville in attendance for a question-and-answer session after the film.

“20 Feet from Stardom” is screened Saturday, Sept. 16 as the evening outdoor movie on Taylor Street and is open to the public.

Neville is only the second director to be honored as a special guest during the festival’s 18-year history, said Force. John Sayles was the first director, appearing as PTFF’s special guest in 2014.

Neville represents the film festival’s evolution from bringing in guests who were winding up their film careers to featuring those who are active in the film industry.

“What we really want to do is be able to lift up the folks who are doing the hard work now,” said Force.

In keeping with that goal, this year’s festival has eight films that are candidates for the Jim Ewing Young Director Award, an annual award established in the name of the late film festival founder to support a young filmmaker.

This year’s Port Townsend Film Festival is to showcase the work of more than 100 independent filmmakers, Friday-Sunday, Sept. 15-17, with question-and-answer sessions with filmmakers following most screenings. Films are shown at eight theaters in downtown Port Townsend. For information, visit ptfilmfest.com.