For the third year in a row, we presented CASCADIA’s Day of Doctober at Pickford Film Center. The day was filled with two exceptional films directed by women plus Q & A’s after each sold out screening and a follow up reception to keep the discussion rolling. The films were part of Pickford’s annual month-long documentary film festival that occurs throughout the month of October.
Two Remarkable Women, Two Incredible Stories, Two Exceptional Films
Big Sonia
Pickford brought back Leah Warshawski and Todd Soliday’s Big Sonia for an encore screening. It has been an audience favorite at festivals around the country, including CASCADIA’s festival last April.
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At less than five feet tall, Big Sonia–90-year-old Sonia Warshawski–earned her nickname by having style and personality that are larger than life. One of Kansas City’s last living Holocaust survivors, Sonia tells her incredible story as often and to as many people as possible. And when Big Sonia speaks, people listen.
The screening was followed by a Q & A with Holocaust survivor and educator Noemi Ban. She is a Golden Apple Award-winning lecturer, public speaker, and teacher residing in Whatcom County and we were so fortunate to have her.
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Big Sonia editor Doug Loviska (left) attended from the Seattle area, shown here with Board Members Sam Ho (center) and Sheila Goodwin (right).
She also signed copies of her book, Sharing is Healing: A Holocaust Survivor’s Story, after the screening. Thanks to Marla Bronstein for her support with Noemi’s attendance.
We were also joined by Director Sandra Alfers of the The Ray Wolpow Institute for the Study of the Holocaust, Genocide, and Crimes Against Humanity at Western Washington University.
This film was generously sponsored by Rachel’s heART. This Skagit County-based creative art therapy camp is named for CASCADIA Board Member Mel Damski’s mother Rachel, who immigrated to the U.S. to escape the Holocaust.
Letters from Baghdad
We were also honored to present Letters from Baghdad, directed by Zeva Oelbaum and Sabine Krayenbühl.
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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?
After the screening we Skyped with the directors from New York City. In late October, Executive Director Cheryl Crooks also met director Zeva Oelbaum in person during a trip to NYC.
This film was generously sponsored by CASCADIA Board Member Andrea Leebron-Clay. Andrea was recently honored with Sustainable Connections’ Lifetime Acheivement 2017 Sustainability Champion Award. We are so fortunate to have her continued support.
Keep the Discussion Rolling
After the Letters screening, we had pizza courtesy of CASCADIA in the mezzanine of Goat Mountain Pizza!
Thank you to everyone who attended the events and to our volunteers and Board Members who pitched in. For more photos from the event, check out our Facebook album and follow us on Instagram.
If you’d like to get involved, we have many ways to participate:
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CASCADIA Board Member Randi Axellson (left) and Board President Amy McIlvaine assisted with volunteer Elaine Small at the information table in the Pickford lobby.
- Become a festival or educational event sponsor
- Join the Board of Directors
- Volunteer
- Purchase an ad in our Festival Program
- Make a donation
- Submit your film
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