Washington welcomes its first film festival Friday night at Arts of the Pamlico’s Turnage Theatre.

The festival launches with a reception at 6:30 p.m., followed by remarks by Mayor Mac Hodges then the screening of the inaugural Glass Tulip Film Festival’s best overall film winner.

“We’re getting so excited. We’re getting so many calls about the film festival,” said AOP Executive Director Debra Torrence.

Fourteen films were submitted in six categories: Short Films, Horror, Documentary, Historic, Nature and Student Films. Winners of each category get an award, designed by film festival coordinator Crystal Holman; Best Overall, documentary and students film winners will receive an additional $50 cash prize.

Torrence said AOP staff is keeping mum on winners.

“They’re some good ones. One of the horror ones, it kept me up all night. I’m not kidding,” Torrence laughed.

“The best horror film is something else,” Holman agreed.

“The winner, though, is just amazing,” Torrence said.

Torrence said she’s hoping people will bring family and friends out to support Washington’s first film festival — at $5 for admission to both Friday’s and Saturday’s events, it’s a good deal, she said. AOP also gave away 30 free tickets for use by Washington High School students to encourage attendance.

While Friday’s reception will feature appetizers, along with jazz and blues music, followed by the single best overall film showing, Saturday’s schedule holds music in the gallery all day, film screenings from 2-6 p.m., a supper break, short films from 7-8 p.m., and the awards presentation.

Torrence said since most of the submissions came from people who don’t live in Beaufort County, she believes the festival could have a larger impact.

“All of these directors are from other towns, so we’re hoping we’re going to produce tourism dollars from this,” Torrence said, adding that it could translate to money spent for lodging, dining and shopping around town.

While Glass Tulip may be Washington’s first film festival, it’s second is directly on the first’s heels: Marquee on Main will be held in the fall. Where Glass Tulip submissions were limited to amateur films submitted by North Carolina residents, Marquee on Main is open to all student filmmakers and independent producers.

“For the fall one, we’ve got over 300 films that are entered. I’m not joking — from all over the world,” Torrence said.

For more information about the Glass Tulip Film Festival, visit www.artsofthepamlico.org or call 252-946-2504.