We are officially in our busiest time of the year when it comes to festival planning. Although April is still more than two full weeks away, it will be here in a blink. We’re already in throes of identifying sponsors, working on our festival program, finalizing our Official Selection, and coordinating with directors who will attend the festival. There is still room to become a festival or film sponsor and we are also still looking for a few businesses that want to reach our audience with a program ad.

We also have some exciting Q & A’s and panels planned for the festival.  CASCADIA is currently seeking short film scripts through February 28, 2018 for its Sunday Script Studio on April 15. Be sure to check back often so you’ll stay in the know.

Below are the some of the details about our CASCADIA LIVE Script Studio in April, our appearance at the Art House Convergence and Film Festival Conference in January, CASCADIA at January’s March on Bellingham, an upcoming presentation at Bellingham Downtown Partnership’s Morning Jam, and our International Day of  the Woman celebration on March 8!

CASCADIA LIVE Script Studio Seeking Scripts by Feb. 28

ATTENTION WRITERS! CASCADIA is seeking short film SCRIPTS for our LIVE Script Studio Session on Sunday, April 15 as a part of our CASCADIA International Women’s Film Festival, April 12 – 15. Scripts must be electronically submitted by Feb. 28 to be considered. Submit through our website or email to info@cascadiafilmfest.org. You can read more about last year’s event on our blogto get an idea of where we’re headed.

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CASCADIA film festival international women's

Producer/Writer/Director/Actor Michael Pavone gives feedback to writer Sandy Wolfe on her developing script, “Benjamin Bunny,” at the LIVE Script Studio event during our April 2017 festival.

Film Festival Alliance’s Art House Convergence

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Cheryl with Shan Jabara, Director of Acquisitions & Community Engagement at Tallgrass Film Association.

Executive Director Cheryl Crooks and our Board President Amy McIlvaine attended the Film Festival Alliance’s Art House Convergence conference in Midway, Utah in January. This was our second time there and the programs and networking not only helped expand awareness of our festival, but also taught us important elements that will help our festival continue to get better and better.

Cheryl sat in on development (fundraising) discussions and Amy focused on learning more about distribution. Amy also attended a panel about engaging younger and more diverse audiences. With each new contact, the potential opportunities to share our films and our vision of supporting women directors will continue to grow.

By sharing our festival program, our format, and our vision at conferences like this we help create a stronger film community and a voice for women in film.

 

CASCADIA at Downtown Bellingham’s Morning Jam

 

Come hear our story at the local business community Downtown Bellingham Partnership‘s February Morning Jam on 7:30 AM, Wednesday, February 21 at the Pickford Film Center. The group meets monthly over continental breakfast to network and share all of the great things happening in our community. Cheryl will share details of the festival, the board, and why a women’s film festival is important for our community. Please join us. The event is free and open to the public.

March on Bellingham

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Cheryl womaned our booth along with CASCADIA Board member Sheila Goodwin and Advisory Board Member Megan Taylor despite the chill!

As a part of our community outreach we were so happy to participate in this years Womxn’s March on Bellingham. Lots of community members stopped by our table and picked up last year’s film program and signed up for our email and volunteer list.

We are so excited to see level of unity in our community. We want to support all voices for women-identified filmmakers. You can check out our album of photos on Facebook. Welcome to those who just recently joined our mailing list.

 

International Day of the Woman – Thursday, March, 8, 2018

We wouldn’t miss celebrating one of the most important days of the year! We are excited to be presenting an encore presentation of Letters from Baghdad at the Pickford Film Center. We’re still planning the details of the event so check our Facebook page or website for updates.

Voiced and executive produced by Academy award winning actor Tilda Swinton, Letters from Baghdad tells the extraordinary and dramatic story of Gertrude Bell, the most powerful woman in the British Empire in her day. Bell shaped the destiny of Iraq after World War I in ways that still reverberate today.

More influential than her friend and colleague T.E.Lawrence (a.k.a. Lawrence of Arabia), why has she been written out of the history?

If you missed our sold out showing of this film at Pickford’s Doctober, here’s your chance to see it!

SAVE THE DATE and plan to buy your tickets early. We’ll be in the lobby before the screening and are currently arranging a discussion after the film!

 

Official Selection to be Revealed Friday, February 16

We are working hard to finalize our Official Selection which will be announced on Friday, February 16! We cannot wait to share with you our selection of exceptional films for 2018. If your business would like to support the festival and sponsor a film, get in touch to discuss which film is the right fit. Our e-mail list will be among the first to know about our films. If you’d like us to add you to it, just say so by contacting us at: info@cascadiafilmfest.org!

You’ll be able to view trailers, read film summaries, and check out film websites from here so check back on February 16th![/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]