2023 FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
Thursday, May 4
OPENING NIGHT FILM—PICKFORD FILM CENTER
Thursday, May 4, 6:30 p.m. — OPENING NIGHT FILM, Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay St., Bellingham)
- 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
OPENING NIGHT RED CARPET AFTER PARTY
Thursday, May 4, 9 p.m.—OPENING NIGHT RED CARPET AFTER PARTY, Penny Farthing (1309 Cornwall St., Bellingham). Ticketed event.
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!
Friday, May 5
BARBARA KOPPLE RETROSPECTIVE FEATURE FILM
Friday, May 5, 12:30 p.m.—Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay St., Bellingham)
Introduction: Susan Lonac CASCADIA Advisory Board Member
- FILM: Harlan County, USA–Directed by Barbara Kopple / U.S.
Sponsored by Paul McMullen - Director Q&A. Facilitator: Susan Lonac, Film Professor, Whatcom Community College
SHORT FILM SHOWCASE I
Friday, May 5, 3 p.m.–Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay St., Bellingham)
- Nubecita–Directed by Katalin Egely / 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
Sponsored by Virginia Gilkey Money
SPECIAL EVENT: Honored Guest Barbara Kopple
Friday, May 5, 5 p.m.—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. Ticketed Event.
Welcome and Introduction—Audrey Sager, CASCADIA Board President
Friday, May 5, 7:30 p.m.—A Conversation with Barbara Kopple. Mount Baker Theatre’s Walton Theatre (104 N. Commercial St., Bellingham)
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
Special Screening: "Gumbo Coalition"
Sponsored by San Juan Broadband
Friday, May 5, 8 p.m.—SPECIAL SCREENING “GUMBO COALITION,” Mount Baker Theatre (104 N. Commercial St., Bellingham)
- FILM: Gumbo Coalition, Directed by Barbara Kopple / U.S.
Tickets available through Mount Baker Theatre box office.
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION
Friday, May 5, 10 p.m. , Admiralty Lounge (100 N Commercial St., Bellingham)
Continue the Conversation to exchange views about Barbara Kopple’s film, “Gumbo Coalition” over special cocktail concoctions and late-night nibbles at the Admiralty Lounge, next door to the Mount Baker Theatre. The lounge is open until midnight.
Saturday, May 6
PANEL DISCUSSION:
COLLABORATING FOR CHANGE: How women’s film organizations are reducing the marginalization of women in the film industry.
Saturday, May 6, 10 a.m. New Prospect Theatre (207 Prospect St., Bellingham)
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; 2023 Seattle Mayor’s Film Award Recipient for Outstanding Achievement in Film.
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.
PANEL DISCUSSION: Developing the Documentary
Saturday, May 6, 11 a.m.— New Prospect Theatre (207 Prospect St., Bellingham)
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”
Barbara Kopple, Director, “Harlan County USA,” “Gumbo Coalition”
Leslie Shampaine
Co-director, “Call Me Dancer”
Panels are free of charge and open to the public.
SHORT FILM SHOWCASE II
Saturday, May 6, 1 p.m.–Pickford Film Center, (1318 Bay St., Bellingham)
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
Sponsored by Karen Lerner and John Moffat. Director attending. - FILM: Uncharted Waters–Directed by Molly Dennis / Canada
Sponsored by Cindy and Jonathan Franklin. Director or Producer attending - Directors Q&A
Q&A Facilitator: Sheila Goodwin, CASCADIA Advisory Board Member
FEATURE FILM SHOWCASE II
Saturday, May 6, 3:30 p.m. — Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay St., Bellingham)
- FILM: “Call Me Dancer”– Directed by Pip Gilmore & Leslie Shampaine / United States Sponsored by Barbara vz Howard
- Introduction & Director Q&A: Pam Kuntz, Artistic Director, Kuntz and Company; Senior Dance Faculty Member, Western Washington University
FEATURE FILM PROGRAM II
Saturday, May 6, 6 p.m. — Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay St., Bellingham)
- 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.
- Sponsored by Women of Morey Avenue
DIRECTORS’ PARTY & LAURELS PRESENTATION
Saturday, May 6, 8:30-11 p.m.—The Granary (1211 Granary Ave., Bellingham). Ticketed Event.
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.
Sunday, May 7
SCRIPT STUDIO
Sunday, May 7, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. New Prospect Theatre (207 Commercial Ave., Bellingham—Use Champion Street Entrance). 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, Directors Guild of America; 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.
SHORT FILM SHOWCASE III
Sunday, May 7, 1:30 p.m.—SHORT FILM SHOWCASE III, Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay St., Bellingham)
- Introduction
- FILMS:
- “Jung and Restless”–Directed by Joanna Priestley / United States
Sponsored by Glenda Henifin - “A Ghost Story”– Directed by Melissa Ann Bruning / United States
Sponsored by Deborah Loober and Jane Burns - “Les Calins Cheaps (Cheap Hugs)”– Directed by Sarah Baskin / Canada
Sponsored by Northshore Veterinary Hospital - “La Nuit Des Chasseurs”–Directed by Pascale Arbillot France
Sponsored by Megan Taylor and Kent Stoddard - “Valkyrie”–Directed by Maeve E. Andrews / United States
Sponsored by American Association of University Women, Whatcom Branch - “Bride Stone”–Directed by Guzel Duishenkulova / Kyrgyzstan
Sponsored by Megan Taylor and Kent Stoddard - “Holding Moses”–Directed by Rivkah Beth Medow / United States
- “Jung and Restless”–Directed by Joanna Priestley / United States
- Directors Q&A
INDIGENOUS FEATURE FILM
Sunday, May 7, 3:45 p.m. — Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay St., Bellingham)
Introduction
“Bones of Crows”–Directed by Marie Clements / Canada
Sponsored by Western Washington University’s Longhouse Project
SHORT FILM SHOWCASE IV
Sunday, May 7, 6:15 p.m. — Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay St., Bellingham)
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
Sponsored by Mary and John O’Connell - “Hello to Me in 100 Years”–Directed by Wu-Ching-Chang / Taiwan
Sponsored by RL Widmann - “–تصال / The Call”—Directed by Shireen AyacheUnited Kingdom
Sponsored by Anne Hildebrand - “Love, Barbara”–Directed by Brydie O’Connor / United States
- Director Q&A
CLOSING NIGHT NO HOST NIGHTCAP RECAP
Sunday, MAY 7, 8:00 p.m. –Admiralty Lounge, 100 N Commercial St. Open To The Public Free of Charge
Close out the 2023 festival with the directors, CASCADIA board members, volunteers, and festival attendees for a No Host Nightcap Recap at the Admiralty Lounge, next door to the Mount Baker Theatre in downtown Bellingham. It’s an informal gathering where we all can let down, share a drink and bid 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
Monday, May 8
APRèS FESTIVAL BONUS FEATURE FILM
Co-Sponsored by Daniel & Pandora Larner
Monday, May 8, 5:30 p.m. Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay St., Bellingham)
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.
(We promise we won’t spam you!)