2026 Festival SCHEDULE

Dakota Art Gallery
(1322 Cornwall Ave., Bellingham)

DIRECTOR: Basia Myszynski

Feature screening @ 5 p.m. (TBC) 

• Western Washington University Campus (location to be announced)
• Pre-festival special Earth Week screening in collaboration with WWU’s Departments of Environmental Sciences and Urban Planning (Underwritten by WWU Sustainability Grant)
• Zoom Q&A with film subjects facilitated by Muymuy Gregorio–CASCADIA intern/coordinator
• Free and open to the public

• Directed by Annapurna Sriram
• 8:15 p.m. Pickford Film Center Bay Theatre (1318 Bay St., Bellingham)
• Co-presented with Pickford Film Center
• Q&A with director
• Tickets on sale through Pickford Film website

PRESENTED BY: IMCO Construction 

MEDIA SPONSOR: Pacific Northwest Media Group

• Welcome & Land Acknowledgement: Cheryl Crooks, CASCADIA Executive Director
• Opening Night Film: “TENOR: My Name Is Pati” / DIRECTOR: Rebecca Tansley (New Zealand) 6 PM @ Pickford Film Center Bay Theatre (1318 Bay St., Bellingham)
• Sponsor: Megan Taylor and Kent Stoddard
• Community Partner: Bellingham Festival of Music
• Director Q&A moderated by Claudia Puig, CASCADIA Program Director

Penny Farthing Restaurant and Bar at Chuckanut Bay Distillery (1309 Cornwall St., Bellingham)

• Ticketed Event through CASCADIA
• CASCADIA Directors, Panelists, CASCADIA Board and Audience Members celebrate and kick-off the festival at this ticketed event to continue conversation with Director Rebecca Tansley

• Sponsored by Whatcom County
• CASCADIA hosts a private location scouting tour for CASCADIA’s visiting directors,  scriptwriters and their production team guests for an opportunity to connect, get to know one another, and network,all while seeing what Whatcom County has to offer in locations.

LOCATION: Pickford Film Center Bay Theatre (1318 Bay St., Bellingham) 

SHORT FILM PROGRAM

• Introduction by Sofia Felino, Programmer, CASCADIA Program Selection Committee
• “Perpetual Care” directed by Alex Royer
  Sponsored by Martin Caputi
• “The Tide Inside” directed by Lorena Villanueva
  Sponsored by Debby and Barry Meyers
• “Óménàlà” directed by Stephanie Byron-Ene
  Sponsored by Barbara vz Howard
•  “35 Days” directed by Heidi Kumao
  Sponsored by Jan and Lindsey Vereen
  
• “Balance” directed by Luiza Corora
  Sponsored by Sheila and Robert Goodwin
• “Ball Lightning” directed by Catriona Trina Baker
  Sponsored by Carol Abraham Snowball
• “Shared Waters, Shared Crisis” directed by Jessica Plumb
  Sponsored by Cindy and Jonathan Franklin
• Directors Q&A moderated by Sofia Felino, Programmer, Program Selection Committee

FILM: “LAST FLIGHT HOME”
DIRECTOR: Ondi Timoner (U.S.)
LOCATION: Pickford Film Center Bay Theatre (1318 Bay St., Bellingham)  directed by Ondi Timoner

• Sponsored by Marci Hanson Haskell
• Community Partner: Palliative Care Institute, Western Washington University
• Director Q&A moderated by Claudia Puig, CASCADIA Program Director

Presented by Cascadia Daily News

AN EVENING WITH DIRECTOR ONDI TIMONER

Join us for an evening with documentary filmmaker Ondi Timoner as she shares her creative process with her program, “How to Make a Great Documentary” sponsored by Leebron Clay Foundation.

The event includes a screening of Timoner’s documentary “All The Walls Came Down” about the devastating wildfires in Southern California, and a Q&A with audience members moderated by Claudia Puig, CASCADIA Program Director on the Mount Baker Theatre Mainstage.

Then, at 9 PM, continue the conversation with Timoner in person during a meet and greet dessert reception at Mount Baker Theatre’s Walton Theatre next door. The event features artisan desserts by Nancy Urrego and is sponsored by Diane Norman. 

9 p.m. –  Meet and  Greet Reception for Ondi Timoner @ Mount Baker Theatre’s Walton Theatre

• Sponsored by Diane Norman
• Tickets available through Mount Baker Theatre box office
• Welcome and Introduction: Audrey Sager CASCADIA Board President
• Artisan Desserts by Nancy Urrego

The Challenges of Sound Design in Cinema

LOCATION: New Prospect Theatre (207 Prospect St., Bellingham)
MODERATOR: Claudia Puig, CASCADIA Program Director.

PANELISTS: Terri Murphy, Co-Executive Producer, HBO’s “The Pitt;” Rebecca Tansley, Director, “TENOR–My Name is Pati;” Lorena Villanueva, Director, “The Tide Inside.”

Learn how experts illustrate and elevate storytelling with sound. We will discuss the power of sound, and how sound can advance the story as much as visuals in cinematic storytelling.

LOCATION: New Prospect Theatre (207 Prospect St., Bellingham)
MODERATOR: Claudia Puig, CASCADIA Program Director.
PANELISTS: Chelsea Matter, Producer, The Second Life of Freddie Nole Alex Royer, Director, Perpetual Care.

The changing world of distribution for independent filmmakers. We talk to contemporary independent filmmakers about distribution opportunities and obstacles they must face in today’s cinematic landscape.

Panels are free of charge and open to the public.

SHORT FILM PROGRAM:

• “Brewer” Sponsored by Boundary Bay Brewery
• “Dérive” / Lianne Sonia Walden
  Sponsored by Sheila and Robert Goodwin
• “L’océan Dans le Cœur” / Margaux Isaia
  Sponsored by Barbara vz Howard
• “More Than Dust” / Julia Weisberg Cortes
  Sponsored by Kenneth Fulton
• “The Second Life of Freddie Nole” / Dana Nachman
  Sponsored by Mary and John O’Connell
• “Subtract Nine Sundays” / Julya Jara
  Sponsored by Jan and Lindsey Vereen
• “Un Bagage en Trop” / Myriam Garcia Marienstras

Q&A with director moderated by Sofia Felino, CASCADIA Program Selection Committee

LOCATION: Pickford Film Center’s Grand Theatre (105 Grand Ave., Bellingham)
LANGUAGE: English
DIRECTOR: Rebecca Tansley (New Zealand)
RUNTIME: 1h 43m

 Introduction by Terri Murphy, CASCADIA Final Selection Committee Member

FEATURE FILM: “HIJRA” 
DIRECTOR: Shahad Ameen (Saudi Arabia)
LANGUAGE: Arabic w/ English subtitles
LOCATION: Pickford Film Center’s Bay Theatre (1318 Bay St., Bellingham)

Sponsored by Women of Morey Avenue

FILM: “A Life Illuminated”
DIRECTOR: Tasha Van Zandt (U.S.)
LOCATION: Pickford Film Center’s Bay Theatre (1318 Bay St., Bellingham)

• Sponsored by Cascade Brain and Spine Center
• Community Parther: Bellingham SeaFeast
• Director Q&A following film moderated by Claudia Puig, CASCADIA Program Director

Join CASCADIA’s directors, filmmakers, panelists, and special guests for an unforgettable evening at the Whatcom Museum’s stunning Lightcatcher Building — where two galleries of art set the scene for a night that’s equal parts celebration and spectacle.

LOCATION: Whatcom Museum Lightcatcher (250 Flora St., Bellingham)

• Ticketed Event through CASCADIA
• Join CASCADIA directors, panelists and guest speakers for late night bites, desserts, drinks and fun. DJ music.. Laurel certificates will be presented.

Sponsored by Audrey Sager and Steve Gellerman

LOCATION: New Prospect Theatre (207 Prospect St., Bellingham)

WELCOME & INTRODUCTION: Dan Larner, CASCADIA Board Member

WRITERS & SCRIPTS:

• “Humdrum” / Daniela Di Salvo
• “The Red Line” / Tess Godhardt
• “New Address” / Melissa Puente
• “Room 407” / Laura M. Kemp

MODERATOR:

• Felicia Cosey-Professor of Film Studies, Western Washington University

PANELISTS:

• Virginia Bogert, Award-winning Producer/Director/Writer
• Sadie Stratton, Award-winning Actress
• Ann Smith,  Editor, Script reader/analyst for the Eugene O’Neill Theater Playwrights Conference

ACTING ENSEMBLE DIRECTORS: 

• Rich Brown and Christina Gutierrez-Dennehy, Faculty Members, Department of Theatre, College of Fine and Performing Arts, Western Washington University.

Script Studio is free of charge and open to the general public. Breakfast breads and pastries by local bakeries, juice and coffee for attendees

Sponsored by Daniel & Pandora Larner

LOCATION: Pickford Film Center’s Bay Theatre (1318 Bay St., Bellingham)

DIRECTOR: Lara St. John (U.S.)

Director Q&A moderated by Claudia Puig, CASCADIA Program Director

LOCATION: Pickford Film Center’s Grand Theatre (105 Grand Ave., Bellingham)

DIRECTOR: Pauline Loquès (France)

Sponsored by Una Yang and David Wu

LOCATION: Pickford Film Center’s Bay Theatre (1318 Bay St., Bellingham).

SHORT FILM PROGRAM: 

• “BARLEBAS” / Malu Janssen
  Sponsored by Heidi Persson
• “BEYOND BABY BLUES” / Ashley Toh Shiqi
  Sponsored by Barbara vz Howard
• “CHICKEN SALAD” / CK Thornton
  Sponsored by Debby Loober and Jane Burns
• “HEADBANG” / Anna Khaja
  Sponsored by American Association of University Women–Whatcom
• “MOTHER v. MARICOPA COUNTY” / Kristin Atwell
  Sponsored by Jane Talbot
• “MONSTER SLAYER” / Catie Skipp
  Sponsored by Northshore Veterinary Hospital
• “RAG DOLLS” / Amy Adler
  Sponsored by Robert Self

Director Q&A following film screenings moderated by Sofia Felino, CASCADIA Program Selection Committee. 

Sponsored by Jane Talbot

Introduction by Cheryl Crooks, Executive Director

LOCATION: Pickford Film Center’s Bay Theatre (1318 Bay St., Bellingham) DIRECTOR: Stacey Tenenbaum (Canada)

• Director Q&A with Rae Lynn Schwartz-DuPre, Chair, Department of Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies, Western Washington University
• Moderated by Claudia Puig, CASCADIA Program Director
  

Sponsored by Anonymous in Honor of the 50th Anniversary of Western Washington University’s Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies Department

LOCATION: Aslan Depot (1322 N State St., Bellingham)

Close out the 2026 festival after the Sunday night film program with the directors, CASCADIA board members, volunteers, and festival attendees for a No Host Wrap Dinner and Drinks while bidding farewell to everyone who came to this year’s festival! No reservations or tickets needed. Just show up and join the closing celebration!

Free of charge and open to the general public.