CASCADIA is a multi-day annual film festival celebrating exceptional films directed by women from around the world. Now entering its seventh year, CASCADIA is one of only a handful of festivals in the U.S. currently dedicated to this purpose. Since its first festival in 2017, CASCADIA has presented the films of 185 women. The organization also works year-round to provide film production, exhibition, and distribution education.

The CASCADIA festival spans all film genres: narrative, live-action, animation, documentary, and experimental films of all lengths.

CASCADIA is based in Bellingham, WA., a city of 90,000 on the shores of Puget Sound. It lies about halfway between the film centers of Seattle, WA, and Vancouver, BC. The city enjoys strong local and regional support for the arts. It is also a destination for hikers, kayakers, climbers, sailors, and other outdoor enthusiasts. Increasingly, filmmakers are attracted to Bellingham for its proximity to urban and rural environments, as well as the ocean, lakes, rivers, and mountains. Bellingham is also home to Western Washington University, with 16,000 undergraduates and graduate enrollment, including the well-regarded College of Fine and Performing Arts. It also is home to one of the finest sculpture gardens in the country.

Schedule of Events

May 4, 2023

6:30 p.m. - Opening Night Film at Pickford Film Center

Welcome and Land Acknowledgement
Cheryl Crooks, Cascadia Executive Director
Blessing of the Festival: Lummi Tribal Council
Film: Cinema Sabaya — Directed by Orit Fouks Rotem / Israel
Co-sponsored by Robert and Sheila Goodwin and John and Renee Remeny

9 p.m. - Opening Night Red Carpet After Party at Penny Farthing

Co-Sponsored by Cascade Brain and Spine Center and Argyle Salon

At 9 p.m., immediately following the opening night film at the Pickford, zip over to the new hip Penny Farthing Restaurant and Bar to hob-nob with friends and film lovers, meet celebrities, share amazing food and drink, toast the festival–just party!

Everyone is invited to the festival's kick-off party!

May 5, 2023

12:30 p.m. - Barbara Kopple Retrospective Feature Film at Pickford Film Center

Introduction: Susan Lonac CASCADIA Advisory Board Member

Film: Harlan County, USA–Directed by Barbara Kopple / U.S.

Director Q&A. Facilitator: Susan Lonac, Film Professor, Whatcom Community College

3 p.m. - Short Film Showcase I at Pickford Film Center

Nubecita–Directed by Simone Ellul / Hungary
The Outing–Directed by Joanne Mitchell / United Kingdom
Sona–Directed by Zahra Torkamanlou / Iran
Mouton Noir–Directed by Déborah François / France
Živa (The Death of the Goddess Živa)–Directed by Natasa Prosenc Stearns / Slovenia
Pearl In the Window–Directed by Nil Unerdem / United States Sponsored by Herons Haven
Tapping Into Our Past, Tapping Into Our Future: Ayodele Casel–Directed by Jennifer Burton, Ursula Burton / United States

5 p.m. - Honored Guest Barbara Kopple at Reception for Barbara Kopple, Historic Hotel Leo (1224 Cornwall Ave., Bellingham) & Mount Baker Theatre (104 N. Commercial St. Bellingham).

Catering is provided by Hotel Leo. Sponsored by Patti and Frank Imhof.

Welcome and Introduction—Audrey Sager, CASCADIA Board President

7:30 p.m. - A Conversation with Barbara Kopple at Mount Baker Theatre's Walton Theatre

Sponsored by Audrey Sager and Steve Gellerman. Ticketed Event.

Introduction & Welcome—Cheryl Crooks, CASCADIA Executive Director

Interview by Claudia Puig, CASCADIA Program Director & Film Critic

8 p.m. - Special Screening: "Gumbo Coalition" at Mount Baker Theatre

Film: Gumbo Coalition, Directed by Barbara Kopple / U.S.

May 6, 2023

10 a.m. - Panel Discussion at New Prospect Theatre

Collaborating For Change: How women's film organizations are reducing the marginalization of women in the film industry.

In 1973, when the Women In Film organization was founded in Los Angeles, it was the only organization of its kind to advocate for women working in the screening industry. Today Women in Film has national affiliates in New York, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Seattle, and Portland–wherever there's an active filmmaking community.

Other organizations have since sprung up to collectively raise awareness and improve the status of women in the film industry. The powerful Directors Guild of America, once dominated by men now has a woman as its current president (only the second in its long history) and created a Women's Steering Committee to advance the professional interests of its women members through support, mentoring, and networking opportunities.

CASCADIA's panel will talk about the difference these organizations have made, how they are effective, what they can continue to do to more fully empower women as filmmakers, and how their collaboration with festivals like CASCADIA makes an impact.

Moderator—Claudia Puig, CASCADIA Program Director

Panelists:

Virginia Bogert
Director; Seattle Film Task Force, Women in Film Seattle President Emerita.

Maria Burton
Director; Past National Board Member, Directors' Guild of America; Co-Chair of the DGA's Women's Steering Committee; Past Co-Chair of Alliance of Women Directors; Member, Film Fatales.

Sylvia Gail Kinard
Writer; Executive Director, New York Production Alliance; Director of the Film and Television Department, Medgar Evers College; Member, Board of Directors of New York Women in Film and Television.

Panels are free of charge and open to the public.

11 a.m. - Panel Discussion: Developing the Documentary at New Prospect Theatre

The panel will discuss the process and challenges of documentary filmmaking to enlighten the public and anyone else about how these wonderful films come into being, how ideas are developed, subjects are convinced to cooperate (or not), the ‘hidden' costs and permissions, the research required, the time and expense involved and what happens when you run out of both.

Moderator - Claudia Puig, CASCADIA Program Director

Panelists
Jennifer Burton and Ursula Burton Co-directors, "Tapping into History, Tapping into Our Future: Ayodele Casel"

Leslie Shampaine
Co-director, "Call Me Dancer"

Panels are free of charge and open to the public.

1 p.m. - Short Film Showcase II at Pickford Film Center

Introduction: Sheila Goodwin, CASCADIA Advisory Board Member

Film: A Feminist Lens: The Art and Activism of Photographer Joan Roth—Directed by Pamela French / U.S. Sponsored by Carol Snowball
Film: Sugar People–Directed by Suzana Dinevski / Macedonia Sponsored by Greenwood Cider Company
Film: Mistik– Canada Directed by Jules Koostachin / Canada
Film: Uncharted Waters–Directed by Molly Dennis / Canada

3:30 p.m. - Feature Film Showcase II at Pickford Film Center

Film: "Call Me Dancer– Directed by Pip Gilmore & Leslie Shampaine / United States Sponsored by Barbara vz Howard
Director Q&A: Q&A Facilitator: Pam Kuntz, Artistic Director, Kuntz and Company; Senior Dance Faculty Member, Western Washington University

6 p.m. - Feature Film Program II at Pickford Film Center

Introduction

Film: "Tell It Like a Woman–Directed by: Silvia Carobbio, Catherine Hardwicke, Taraji P. Henson, Mipo Oh, Lucía Puenzo, Maria Sole Tognazzi, Leena Yadav / United States.

8:30-11 p.m.: Directors' Party & Laurels Presentation at The Granary

Join the party with CASCADIA directors, panelists, guest speakers, CASCADIA Board of Directors and Advisory Board for late nights bites from the charcuterie board, desserts, drinks, and fun. Music by DJ Aireekah of Glyter Lyfe. Laurel certificates will be presented.

May 7, 2023

10 a.m. – 1 p.m.: Script Studio at New Prospect Theatre

Co-Sponsored by Daniel & Pandora Larner

Welcome & Introduction: Dan Larner, CASCADIA Board Member

Writers and Scripts
Junk by Bridget Bell McMahon
She Hath Come by Cat Dale
Janine by Sylvia Gail Kinard
Bottlecap by Julie Sharbutt

Moderator: Josh Krenz, Bellingham Film Script Studio Coordinator

Panelists: Barbara Brown, Director, Past President, Women in Film Seattle; Shirley Jo Finney, Award-winning Director, and Actress; CASCADIA Advisory Board Member; Ann Smith, Actress, Editor.

Acting Ensemble Directors: Christina Gutierrez-Dennehy and Even Mueller, Faculty Members, Department of Theatre, College of Fine and Performing Arts, Western Washington University.

Free of charge and Open to the general public.

Breakfast breads and pastries, juice, and coffee donated for attendees by local bakeries.

1:15 p.m. - Short Film Showcase III at SHORT Film Showcase III at Pickford Film Center

Introduction
Films:
Jung and Restless–Directed by Joanna Priestley / United States
A Ghost Story– Directed by Melissa Ann Bruning / United States
Les Calins Cheaps (Cheap Hugs)– Directed by Sarah Baskin / Canada
La Nuit Des Chasseurs–Directed by Pascale Arbillot France
Valkyrie–Directed by Maeve E. Andrews / United States
Bride Stone–Directed by Guzel Duishenkulova / Kyrgyzstan
Holding Moses–Directed by Rivkah Beth Medow / United States

3:45 p.m. - Indigenous Feature Film at Pickford Film Center

Introduction

"Bones of Crows–Directed by Marie Clements / Canada

6:15 p.m. - Short Film Showcase IV at Pickford Film Center

Introduction

Films:
Bienvenidos a Los Ángeles–Directed by Lisa Cole / United States
Made of Flesh– Directed by Florence Rochat, Serena Robin / France
A Little Vacation–Directed by Eva Tavares / Canada
Hello to Me in 100 Years–Directed by Wu-Ching-Chang / Taiwan
–???? / The Call"—Directed by Shireen AyacheUnited Kingdom
Love, Barbara–Directed by Brydie O'Connor / United States

8:00 p.m. - Closing Night No Host Nightcap Recap at Aslan Depot

Close out the 2023 festival with the directors, CASCADIA board members, volunteers, and festival attendees for a No Host Nightcap Recap at Aslan Depot, in the historic Union Depot Building downtown Bellingham. It's an informal gathering where we all can let down, swig down artisan beer, cider and wine, and party down while bidding farewell to everyone who came to this year's festival! No reservations or tickets are needed. Just show up!

Free of charge and Open to the General Public

May 8, 2023

5;15 p.m. - APRèS Festival Bonus Feature Film at Pickford Film Center

Co-Sponsored by Daniel & Pandora Larner

Film: Woodstock: Now & Then—Directed by Barbara Kopple / U.S.

As a thank you to all our festival pass holders this year, CASCADIA is presenting a special ‘bonus' screening of 2023 Honored Guest Barbara Kopple's 2019 documentary, "Woodstock: Now & Then." Admission is free for all those who show their 2023 Festival Passport or All Films confirmation of purchase. Admission is $12 for all others through CASCADIA's website.

Date: May 4-8, 2023

Location: Various Venues in Bellingham, WA 98225.

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