WELCOME

Message from our Director

Growing up, I don’t remember watching a single film directed by
a woman. The first woman-directed film I likely saw was Elaine
May’s “A New Leaf.” Women had been directing since the
1920s, but their movies didn’t play in my little hometown theatre.

Later I saw others, such as Joan Micklin Silver’s “Hester Street”

and Lina Wertmuller’s “Seven Beauties” and I discovered Agnes
Varda. When Martha Coolidge’s “Valley Girl” hit in 1983, it
became vividly apparent that there was a great shortage of
women directors in Hollywood.

The need is still there. In 2023, women accounted for only 16%
of directors working on the top 250 films and only 14% on the
top 100 films. According to San Diego State University’s Center
for Women in Film and Television, “While Greta Gerwig’s 'Barbie'
reigned supreme as the number one box office film,women re-
mained dramatically underrepresented as directors.”

As CASCADIA’s Executive Director, it’s my honor to present films

directed by women. With this eighth season, CASCADIA has
showcased the work of 250 women directors. The trailblazing
filmmaker and outspoken champion of women in the film industry,
director Catherine Hardwicke, is appropriately Honored Guest this
year as her film,“Twilight” shattered box office records for wom-
en-directed films when it opened, a record that Gerwig now holds.

The festival also expanded to celebrate Pacific Northwest

women visual artists in a stunning exhibition. Thirty five works
in the “Women Rising” exhibit will be on display through May
at Bellingham’s Dakota Art Gallery.

With your support, CASCADIA will continue to showcase

the stories women tell. Enjoy the festival!!
2
Cheryl Crooks
 WELCOME

Welcome from our President

As CASCADIA presents its 8th annual film festival I
am delighted to share the news that we have grown
stronger in both our Bellingham ties, and in our
commitment to provide diverse women filmmakers
with a platform to tell their stories and have their
voices heard.

During this year we joined WWU in presenting

‘Love Letters’, a film directed by Greta Schiller
celebrating the love, courage and spirit of Catharine
Stimpson and Liz Wood. We had a marvelous
turnout and positive feedback from all who
attended.

At this year's festival we honor the legacy of Shirley

Jo Finney, a distinguished director who celebrated
great playwrights of color, and who was a vital part
of CASCADIA‘s Advisory Board. This year's ‘Shirley
Jo Finney Featured Filmmaker’designee is Jules
Koostachin, who brings us a film which tells a hard
truth about the generational damage to indigenous
Canadian families as a result of the forced
relocation of their children, but a film nevertheless
filled with hope and forgiveness. Her unique voice,
her important story and the celebration of her
growth as a filmmaker is why CASCADIA and our
festival is essential.

Welcome to the CASCADIA community- be moved, be

engaged and be inspired. And please be sure to come to
our parties- we are a lot of fun too.
Audrey Sager 3
 WELCOME

Message from our Mayor

Kim Lund

As the Mayor of Bellingham, it gives me great pleasure to extend a warm welcome to all attendees
of the CASCADIA International Women's Film Festival. This vibrant celebration of women filmmakers
enriches our city’s cultural tapestry and underscores the invaluable contributions of women in the
world of film.

The festival serves as a shining example of our collective commitment to fostering inclusivity in the
arts and empowering voices that have historically been marginalized. By showcasing the works
of talented women filmmakers from around the globe,
we not only celebrate their artistic achievements but also
challenge stereotypes and promote gender equality in the
film industry.

Through thought-provoking films and engaging

discussions, we have the opportunity to explore pressing
social issues, amplify underrepresented perspectives,
and inspire women leaders to pursue their passions.
Bellingham is proud to host the CASCADIA International
Women's Film Festival and provide a home for the
meaningful dialogues and connections it ignites.

As you engage with the powerful stories being shared

and celebrate the remarkable achievements on display, I
hope you sense the spirit of welcome from the Bellingham
community. And to all the powerful women storytellers and
artists – thank you for your extraordinary contributions to
our community and the world of cinema.

Kim Lund
Mayor, City of Bellingham
4
 WELCOME

Message from our

County Executive
Satpal Singh Sidhu

I am pleased to welcome you to the 2024 Cascadia

International Women’s Film Festival! With every passing year
this event is growing in size and scope, earning a fantastic
reputation not only in our corner of the world but also across an
extensive community of independent filmmakers!

Film is such a rich artistic medium. It takes us to places we have

never been and allows us to experience new things beyond
our wildest imaginations. Perhaps most importantly, it opens
windows into the experiences of people who may not be quite
like us. At its best, cinema builds understanding and empathy
for our fellow human beings.

The fact that this festival is specifically dedicated to the

works for women filmmakers makes it even more unique and
treasured. This year’s program is one of the most diverse and ambitious yet, providing an opportunity
immerse ourselves in more than three dozen films across all genres – narrative, live action, animation,
documentary, and experimental.

Whether you’re a film enthusiast or an aspiring filmmaker, I hope you will find time not only to watch a
number of films but also to attend the social events and gatherings that are part of the festival program.
We have so much in common but also so much to learn from each other!

Enjoy the show!

Satpal Singh Sidhu

Whatcom County Executive
. 5
 DOWNTOWN BELLINGHAM MAP

Pickford Film Center: (1318 Bay Street) Films

Mount Baker Theatre: (106 N. Commercial Street) An Evening with Catherine Hardwicke
New Prospect Theatre: (207 Prospect Street) Panel Discussions and Script Studio
PONDEROSA BEER & BOOKS: (1225 Roeder Avenue) Directors' Party
PENNY FARTHING: (1309 Cornwall Avenue) Opening Night After Party
Dakota GALLERY: (1322 Cornwall Avenue) Women Rising Art Exhibit
JUXT Taphouse: (119 W. Holly Street) Closing Night No Host Wrap Dinner

6
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

2 WELCOMES
6 MAP OF DOWNTOWN B'HAM
8 GEO-BLOCKING
9 PASSES & TICKET PRICES
10 WOMEN RISING ART EXHIBIT
12 COVER ARTWORK ARTIST
13 ART EXHIBIT CURATOR
14 FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
18 FEATURED FILMMAKER
Inside

19 OPENING NIGHT FILM & PARTY

20 HONORED GUEST EVENT
22 DIRECTOR'S PARTY
24 SCRIPT STUDIO
26 PANEL DISCUSSIONS
What’s

28 HOME HOST PROGRAM

30 BOARDS AND STAFF
31 DONORS & SPONSORS
34 SELECTION COMMITTEE
38 FEATURED FILMS
40 SHORT FILMS
46 DIRECTOR BIOS
56 VIRTUAL TOURS OF B'HAM

7
 GEO-BLOCKING & CODE OF CONDUCT

Geo-Blocking
Geo-blocking restricts access to films to
certain geographic locations. These re-
strictions are put in place by request of
filmmakers or distributors that may have
an obligation to premiering their film
in certain locations before others. For
online festival goers, depending on the
location you are watching from, you
may not be able to view all of the films
in the festival. We can't make exemp-
tions or discount passes to accommo-
date for the inability to see certain films
due to geographic restrictions.

CASCADIA is committed to offering

a positive experience for online festi-
val-goers. The films in the online festival
are geo-blocked to the USA and British
Columbia unless otherwise noted.

CASCADIA CODE OF CONDUCT

CASCADIA International Women’s Film festival To that end, CASCADIA reserves the right to
celebrates films directed by women, the range revoke admission privileges to any patrons who
of stories that can be shared through film, and exhibit behavior that is disruptive to the operation
the diversity of audience members and creators of the festival or that infringes on the ability of
who love films. As a film festival, we strive to other patrons to enjoy the festival.
provide a safe and harassment-free experience for
EVERYONE, in which participants can experience If you have any concerns, please know that
a variety of films and events that inspire, engage, CASCADIA staff are happy to assist you in
and promote constructive dialogue. anyway. You can always reach us at anytime
at [email protected].
8
 FESTIVAL TICKETS

Passes &
HONORED GUEST EVENT
Ticket Prices ALL ACCESS FESTIVAL PASS DEAL
10 film programs @ $15 = $150
Directors Party @ $ 35
An Evening with Catherine Hardwicke Opening Night Party: $35
Opening Night @ $ 35
Kick-off the festival at this party to
continue conversation with Director Jules Online Ticket $ 60
Program and Reception - $40 Honored Guest Evening $40
Koostachin. Meet CASCADIA’s directors
Includes Catherine Hardwicke’s 7 with late night bites and a glass of TOTAL COST: $250
p.m. presentation in the Mount Baker bubbly at the Penny Farthing Restaurant
Theatre’s Walton Theatre and the meet Real Value: $320
in the Chuckanut Distillery in Bellingham.
and greet dessert reception with coffee
and tea afterwards in the Mount Baker All Access Festival Pass:
Directors’ Party: $35
Theatre’s Encore Room. (Cash bar.)
Join CASCADIA directors, panelists and
$250 (if purchased separately–$320)
Availability limited to 60 and going
Program only: $20 guest speakers for hearty late night bites,
fast! Includes general admission
Includes general admission seating to desserts, drinks and fun. Music by DJ
with priority seating to all in-person
the 90-minute presentation by Director Aireekah of Glyter Lyfe. Be on hand for
festival film screenings at the Pickford
Catherine Hardwicke who will explain the presentation of CASCADIA’s laurels.
Film Center; general admission to
how she prepares for her films. Her
the Honored Guest presentation and
presentation will include clips from her Individual In-Person Film reception at the Mount Baker Theatre;
films to illustrate her filmmaking process.
Tickets: $15 the Opening Night Party at Penny
Only want to see a few of the films? Farthing Restaurant; the Directors’
Event included in All Access Pass.
Purchase an individual ticket for general Party at the Ponderosa Beer and Book
Individual tickets can be bought through
admission to the screening of your and access to all online films.
the Mount Baker Theatre box office.
choice.

CATCH UP ON WHAT YOU MISSED ONLINE– MAY 2-12

Online Film Festival: $60 Individual Online Film
Access the festival’s online films to Tickets: $10
watch anytime between May 2-12 with CASCADIA’s online festival is May
48 hours to complete your film after 2-12. You have 48 hours to complete
you’ve started to view. See films you your film once you’ve started it. Please
missed during the in-person festival or note that not all films from the in
watch your favorites again. not all person festival are available in virtual
films from the in person festival are version. Films also may be geo-blocked
available in ONLINE version. Some films to certain geographical area.
may be geo-blocked to certain areas.

9
 SAMPLING of WORK
Placeholder textfrom
"WOMEN RISING" ART EXHIBIT

"Women Rising:
Expanding Visions and
Diverse Perspectives"
is the first art exhibition
organized in conjunction with
CASCADIA International
Women’s Film Festival. This
show expands the festival’s
vision by highlighting women’s
contributions to the visual arts in
the Pacific Northwest. "Netherland #2g/cp" by Susan Bennerstrom
"At Dusk" by Amy Armitage
Almost 100 women respond-
ed to an open call welcoming a broad range of subjects, issues, and
ideas. Works by the 35 selected artists are not only diverse in theme,
but also present wide-ranging styles and approaches to media.

Women Rising reflects the

contrasts that define our time:
the majesty of nature, climate
change and extinction; portraits
of inner strength and trauma;
abstractions that capture life’s
energy and the unfolding of
time; sculptures that incorporate
recycled and natural materials.
Together this talented group of
artists will enliven the beautiful
space of the Dakota Art gallery.

Barbara Matilsky
"Fractured Reflections" by Mira Kamada
10 Curator / Art Historian "Regen 1.0.2" by Colleen Hoffenbacker
10
 CASCADIA'S First Annual Art Exhibit

Women Rising
Expanding Visions/Diverse Perspectives

Thirty-five Pacific
Northwest women
artists will be
exhibiting their work.

OPENING EVENT
April 5th 6-8:30pm
"Network" by Ella Johnson

April 5–May 25
Dakota Gallery
1322 Cornwall Ave. Bellingham
11
11
Monday-Saturday 10am - 5pm
 2024 Poster/Cover Artist

Our 2024 Poster/COVER Artist

Jane Evershed
Jane Evershed is an artist and a visionary for an optimistic future. She
is also a researcher sharing and speaking the the real truth of our his-
tory, including our galactic history. Her specialty is uncovering the big
picture to reveal the end game behind hidden agendas that are hostile
and invasive to Angelic Humans and our conscious evolution as a sov-
ereign species.

Evershed is an art historian the head researcher for the Lazarus Initia-
tive and appears as a regular guest with Sacha Stone of New Earth
Horizon. She is the Artistic
Director and workshop con-
tributor at New Earth Univer-
sity for the Living Arts.

Jane Evershed is also a

writer and speaker current-
ly working on educating in
the area of their Creative
Currency, the most valuable
Website: janeevershedart.com asset on Earth. She also
speaks about the impor-
You Tube channel: tance of the rebirthing of the
“disappeared” Nurturing
https://www.youtube.com/@
Mother Archetype as part of
splatjaneevershedarttea- the healing process toward
chi4939/videos reaching the New Earth par-
adigm.
1212
Gathering in the Garden of Global
Consequence
 2024 Art exhIbit curator

Our 2024 ART EXHIBIT CURATOR

Barbara Matilsky
Curator/art historian Barbara Matilsky selected
artworks for the “Women Rising” exhibition.
Barbara was curator at the Whatcom Museum for
nearly ten years and organized the international
traveling exhibition, "Vanishing Ice: Alpine and Polar
Landscapes in Art 1775-2012" and "Endangered
Species: Artists on the Front Line of Biodiversity."

Barbara began her curatorial career at the Queens

Museum of Art in New York City, where she
organized “Fragile Ecologies: Contemporary Artists’
Interpretations and Solutions” that toured the US
with the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition
Service. She was later appointed Curator of
Exhibitions at the Ackland Art Museum, University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she organized
more than twenty exhibitions. Most recently, Barbara
curated the exhibition, "Jyoti Duwadi, Himalaya to
Cascadia: Transcending Boundaries" for Western
Washington University's Western Gallery.

“Why is it that all of Gaia dances in harmony

while we humans are out of step?”
13
—Rachel Rosenthal (1926-2015), performance artist 13
 Placeholder text
FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

THURSDAY, APRIL 25 Blood Like Water–(Palestine)

Directed by Dima Hamdan*
Sponsored by Greenwood Cider
6:30 p.m. OPENING NIGHT FILM
PICKFORD FILM CENTER Choices–(United States)
Welcome and Land Acknowledgement: Directed by Kameishia D Wooten
Cheryl Crooks, CASCADIA Executive Director Sponsored by American Association of
Blessing of the Festival: Lummi Tribal Council (TBC) University Women Whatcom

Bodily Renaissance–(United Kingdom)

WaaPaKe (U.S. Premiere)
Directed by Claudia Lee
Directed by Dr. Jules Arita Koostachin: The 2024 Shirley Jo
Finney Featured Filmmaker Sponsored Pandora Larner

Hamster–(Iran)
discussion with Director: Moderated by Claudia Puig, Directed by Fatima Nofely
CASCADIA Program Director and Film Critic.
Sponsored by True North Legal Services
Sponsored by IMCO Construction
Spit It Out–(United States)
9 p.m. OPENING NIGHT RED CARPET AFTER PARTY Directed by Melina Kiyomi Coumas
Penny Farthing (1309 Cornwall St.) Sponsored by Women of Morey Avenue
Reception for Featured Filmmaker Jules Arita Koostachin
A SHATTERING–(United States)
CASCADIA Directors, Panelists, Board and Audience
Directed by Jan Jalenak
Members celebrate and kick-off the festival at this ticketed
event to continue conversation with Director Jules Koostachin Sponsored by Deborah Loober and Jane Burnes
with fabulous late-night bites and a glass of bubbly.
Directors Q&A FOLLOWING FILMS
Sponsored by San Juan Broadband & Cascade Brain
and Spine Center
3:30 p.m. FEATURE FILM
INCLUDEd IN ALL ACCESS PASS - Individual tickets PICKFORD FILM CENTER
available through CASCADIA. POWER ALLEY–(Brazil) - Washington State Premiere
Directed by Lillah Halla
Sponsored by Wendy Bohike and Brian Hansen
FRIday, APRIL 26 7 p.m. Special Honored Guest EVENT
1 p.m. Short Film SHOWCASE – Body and Soul An Evening with Director Catherine Hardwicke
PICKFORD FILM CENTER Mount Baker Theatre's Walton Theatre
Vida–(United States) introduction & Welcome: Cheryl Crooks, CASCADIA
Directed by Maria Valdez Executive Director - Sponsored by Patti and Frank Imhof
Sponsored by Julie Fleetwood and John Binns INCLUDEd IN ALL ACCESS PASS - Individual tickets
Hemorrhage–(United States) available through Mount Baker Theatre box office
Directed by Ruth Hayes
14
 FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

8:30 p.m. Meet & Greet reception for 2:40 p.m. SHORT FILM SHOWCASE–Hopes & Dreams
Catherine Hardwicke (2024 Honored Guest) PICKFORD FILM CENTER
Mount Baker Theatre’s Encore room Sampo–(Iran)
Welcome and Introduction: Audrey Sager, CASCADIA Directed by Marziyeh Riahi*
Board President - Sponsored by Diane Norman Sponsored by Carol Snowball
INCLUDEd IN ALL ACCESS PASS - Individual tickets avail-
Stitched–(United States)
able through Mount Baker Theatre box office.
Directed by Lorena Lourenco
Artisian Desserts by Nancy Babick
Sponsored by Women of Morey Avenue

SATURday, APRIL 27 For Roy–(Canada)

Directed by Vivian Cheung
Sponsored by Ken Sager, Austin Burke, Miami
10 a.m. PANEL DISCUSSION
New Prospect Theatre – 207 Prospect St. Call of the Orcas–(United States)
THE KEY ROLE OF MUSIC AND SOUND IN FILM Directed by Jessica Plumb*
Moderator: Claudia Puig, CASCADIA Program Director Sponsored by Mary and John O'Connell
Panelists: Mangata–(Germany)
Catherine Hardwicke, Director Directed by Maja Costa
Justin Melland, Award winning TV composer
Sponsored by Chrysalis Inn and Spa
and multi-instrumentalist
Sol SuperNova–(United States)
11 a.m. PANEL DISCUSSION Directed by Kimberly Mendiola, Alyssa Rodriguez
New Prospect Theatre – 207 Prospect St. Sponsored by The Women of Morey Avenue
Telling the underrepresented stories
Moderator: Claudia Puig, CASCADIA Program Director Director Q&A
Panelists: 4:50 p.m. FEATURE FILM
Vivian Cheung, CASCADIA Director, "For Roy" PICKFORD FILM CENTER
Lorena Lourenco, CASCADIA Director, "Stitched" Last dance–(Switzerland, Belgium)
Maria valdez, CASCADIA Director, "Vida" Directed by Delphine Lehericey
PANELS ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC Washington State Premiere
Sponsored by Barbara vz Howard
12:30 p.m. FEATURE FILM
6:40 p.m. FEATURE FILM
PICKFORD FILM CENTER
Preconceived–(U.S. West Coast Premiere) PICKFORD FILM CENTER
Directed by Sabrine Keane, Kate Dumke Miss You Already–(United States)
Directed by Catherine Hardwicke
Sponsored by Mt. Baker Planned Parenthood
Sponsored by Paul McMullen
Introduction and Director Q&A

15
 FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

8:30 p.m.–11 p.m. DIRECTORS’ PARTY & LAURELS Panelists:

PRESENTATION Barbara Brown, Director, Past President,
Women in Film Seattle
Ponderosa Beer & Books 1225 Roeder Ave.
Mary Lou Belli, Two-time Emmy-winning Director
Join CASCADIA directors, panelists and guest speakers
and Author
for late night bites, desserts, drinks and fun.
Julie Trimingham, Award winning Director and Writer
Music by DJ Aireekah of Glyter Lyfe.
Laurel certificates will be presented.
Acting Ensemble Directors:
Sponsored by Audrey & Steve Gellerman, Argyle Salon, RICH Brown and Eva Gil: Faculty Members, Department
Ann & Carlton McQueen of Theatre, College of Fine and Performing Arts, Western
INCLUDEd IN ALL ACCESS PASS - Individual tickets Washington University.
available through CASCADIA Sponsored by Daniel & Pandora Larner
FREE OF CHARGE – OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
9:15 p.m. Feature film program Breakfast breads, pastries, juice & coffee by local bakeries.
PICKFORD FILM CENTER
Twilight–(United States) 2 p.m. SHORT FILM SHOWCASE–Connections
Directed by Catherine Hardwicke and 'Love Letters' Encore
NOT part of the festival. ADMISSION NOT included in
PICKFORD FILM CENTER
All Access Pass. Purchased tickets through the Pickford. LOVE LETTERS–(United States)
Directed by Greta Schiller
SUNDAY, APRIL 28 The Ruse–(Canada)
Directed by Johanne Prégent
10 a.m.-1 p.m. SCRIPT STUDIO Sponsored by Cindy and Jonathan Franklin
New Prospect Theatre –207 Prospect St.
Welcome & Introduction: Dan Larner, CASCADIA Roses —(United Kingdom)
Board Member Directed by Coral Knights

Musica Quarantena–(United States)

Writers and Scripts Directed by Lilian T. Mehrel
Fire and Oak by Susannah Stengel Sponsored by Heron's Haven
How to Eat an Elephant by Donna Mae Foronda
Wherever You Are by Amelia Renee Cuttle Evanescence–(United States)
Directed by Maaman Rezaee
Winners and Losers by Cece A. Wheeler
Sponsored by Kenneth Fulton
Moderator: [subtext]–(United States)
Josh Krenz, Bellingham Film Script Studio Directed by Erin Brown Thomas
Coordinator Sponsored by Glenda Henifin

16
 FESTIVAL FUN!

4:15 p.m. FEATURE FILM

PICKFORD FILM CENTER
The Cowboy and the queen
Directed by Andrea Nevins
Co-Sponsored by Sheila and Robert Goodwin and
Kelly Stables

6:10 p.m. FEATURE FILM

PICKFORD FILM CENTER
Ama Gloria–(France)
Directed by Marie Amachoukeli
Sponsored by Megan Tylor and Kent Stoddard

7:30 p.m. CLOSING NIGHT NO HOST WRAP DINNER

JUXT TAPHOUSE – 119 W. Holly St. Bellingham
Close out the festival with festival directors, CASCADIA
board members, volunteers, and attendees for a No Host
Wrap Dinner. Swig artisan beer, cider, wine, and delicious
food while bidding farewell to friends new and old!
Just show up and join the closing celebration!
NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE other than your
dinner and drinks – OPEN TO PUBLIC
NO RESERVATIONS OR TICKETS NEEDED

17
 FEATURED FILMMAKER

The 2024 Shirley Jo Finny Featured Filmmaker

This year, CASCADIA has created a special designation
to celebrate the growth and development of a festival
filmmaker and honor the legacy of Shirley Jo Finney,
who passed away in October,

Finney was a prolific, nationally-known and award-

winning director, drawn to material by playwrights of
color. She contributed enormously to the festival, serving
as a member of its advisory board, its final selection
committee, and as a discussion moderator and script
studio panelist. In establishing the Shirley Jo Finney
Featured Filmmaker award, we preserve her memory by
recognizing 'one of our own.'

CASCADIA has chosen Dr. Jules Arita Koostachin to be

Jules Koostachin
the first Shirley Jo Finney Featured Filmmaker.

The festival has been fortunate to have programmed Koostachin’s short films in years past and now we
are delighted to present her feature film "WaaPaKe" this year in its U.S. Premiere. The film is a personal
story of forgiveness, hope, love, and family. It is in keeping with the community
storytelling of Koostachin's earlier works and is a beautiful expression of her
talents. CASCADIA is proud to spotlight her deserving work. The film has already
received awards and screenings at several important international festivals.

The U.S.Premiere of “WaaPaKe” will be the Opening Night film and will screen
Thursday, April 25 at 6:30 p.m. in the Pickford Film Center. A discussion with
Koostachin will follow the film and will be moderated by CASCADIA’s Program
Director, Claudia Puig.

Following the discussion, a reception for Koostachin will take place at the
Opening Night Party at Penny Farthing in the Chuckanut Distillery. Buy your
tickets early as space at the party is limited.
18
Shirley Jo Finney
 OPENING NIGHT FILM & PARTY

Opening Night Film & Party THURSday, APRIL 25:

6:30 p.m. Opening Night FILM
"WaaPaKe" Pickford Film Center
Join CASCADIA to kick off the start of this year's festival at its Red
Carpet Opening Night Party at Penny Farthing Restaurant in the 9 p.m. Opening Night PARTY
Chuckanut Distillery. The party and reception for Featured Filmmaker Penny Farthing Restaurant & Bar
Jules Koostachin follows immediately after “WaaPaKe,” the Opening (Chuckanut Distillery, Bellingham
Night feature film at the Pickford. 1309 Cornwall Ave.)

Directors will arrive from the evening screening where they, along with Film & Party included in All Access Pass.
the partygoers, will walk the red carpet into the restaurant. The party Individual tickets to party are $35 and
brings together CASCADIA's directors and special guests, board and can be purchased at CASCADIA.com
audience members to exchange notes, continue the conversation with
Party is open to the public.
Koostachin and share thoughts about film while enjoying tasty late Attendance at the film not
night appetizers catered by Penny Farthing and toasting the festival necessary to atend.
with a glass of bubbly.

Film sponsored by IMCO Construction

Sponsored by San Juan Broadband & Cascade Brain and Spine Center

19
 HONORED GUEST

An Evening with
Catherine Hardwicke
Before Greta Gerwig there was Catherine Hardwicke

Catherine Hardwicke, the trailblazing filmmaker behind

acclaimed works “Thirteen,” “Twilight,” and “Miss You
Already” will share her insights, inspiration, and cinemat-
ic magic at the CASCADIA International Women’s Film
Festival as this year’s Honored Guest.

CASCADIA presents “An Evening with Director Catherine

Hardwicke" at the Mount Baker Theatre, Friday, April 26.

Hardwicke’s career has been nothing short of extraor-

dinary. From her groundbreaking debut with “Thirteen”
to the global phenomenon of “Twilight,” she has consis-
tently pushed boundaries. Her verité lens captures raw
emotions, teenage angst, and powerful narratives that
resonate with audiences worldwide. As an outspoken
champion for women in film, she shares her honest ex-
periences as a female director in an effort to highlight
inequalities in the industry and help to enact change.

During An Evening with Director Catherine Hardwicke,

audiences will learn about her creative process, the art
of storytelling, and the delicate balance between passion
and pragmatism.

20
 CATHERINE HARDWICKE
FRIday, APRIL 26
A ticketed meet-and-greet dessert recep- 7 p.m. An Evening with Catherine Hardwicke
tion for Hardwicke, with cash bar, takes Mount Baker Theatre
place immediately after the film. 8:30 p.m. Meet and Greet dessert reception
Mount Baker Theatre's Encore Room
Admission to both events including pre-
sentation and reception is included in Program and Reception included in All-Access pass.
Festival All Access Pass. w/o pass: Program = $20. Program & Reception = $40
Student tickets for Program: $10 available with Student ID.
Individual tickets for the presentation or Tickets available through Mount Baker Theatre Box Office
presentation and reception can be pur-
chased directly through the Mount Baker
Theatre box office. (Click here for link.)

See sidebar for details

Program sponsored by Patti & Frank Imhof.

Reception sponsored by Diane Norman.

TWO HARDWICKE FILM SCREENINGS

"Miss You Already" Saturday, April
26th at 6:40 p.m. This British romantic
comedy-drama film written by Morwenna
Banks stars Toni Collette, Drew Barrymore
and Dominic Cooper. A Q&A with Hard-
wicke will follow.

“Twilight” Saturday, April 26th at

9:15 p.m. Co-presented by CASCADIA
and the Pickford Film Center. In-person
introduction by Hardwicke. This film is NOT
included in the festival. Purchase separate
ticket directly from the Pickford.
21
 DIRECTOR'S PARTY

Saturday, APRIL 27: 8:30 p.m. $35

Ponderossa Beer & Books (1225 Roeder Ave.)
Party included in All Access Pass. Directors' Party
Individual tickets can be purchased at CASCADIA.com
Advance purchase suggested but not required.
Celebrate with directors, writers, festival goers,
CASCADIA Board members and volunteers at the
festival’s climatic, fun-filled Directors' Party immediately
Scheduled to attend after the evening screening of Catherine Hardwicke’s "Miss You Already."
IN-PERSON festival Sample the scrumptious late night charcuterie board to include gluten free
Maria Valdez and vegan options with a mixture of sweet/savory choices. Your ticket also
Vivian Cheung includes your choice of a glass of beer, wine or non-alcoholic beverage.
Jan Jalenek Additional drinks will be sold separately. Coffee will also be available.
Lorena Lourenco
Dance the night away with DJ Aireekah of Glyter Lyfe and keep the party vibe
Jules Koostachin
going. You'll be there for the presentation of this year's laurel certificates to our
Jessica Plumb
visiting directors.
Kate Dumke
Victoria Brown Open to the public. Attendance at film is not required.
Catherine Hardwicke Sponsored by Audrey & Steve Gellerman, Argyle Salon, Ann & Carlton McQueen

22
DIRECTOR’S PARTY!

23
 SCRIPT STUDIO

SUNday, APRIL 28: 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

New Prospect Theatre (207 Prospect Street) Script Studio
sPONSOred By: Daniel and Pandora Larner
Writers and Scripts CASCADIA’s Script Studio provides screenwriters with a
chance to hear their scripts read aloud by actors, to discuss
Fire and Oak by Susannah Stengel
How to Eat an Elephant by Donna Mae
their work with a panel of film professionals, and to network
Foronda with women directors and other film professionals.
Wherever You Are by Amelia Renee Cuttle
Winners and Losers by Cece A. Wheeler Four short screenplays, written by women, are selected by
judges from the film world. The four selectees are required
Moderator to attend the Script Studio, if possible in person, and if not,
Josh Krenz, Bellingham Film Script Studio electronically.
Coordinator
Each script is projected on a large screen for the audience,
Panelists while actors read the script. Then the panel of film
professionals weighs in, discussing the script’s strengths and
Barbara Brown, Director, Past President, weaknesses, and making suggestions for improvement.
Women in Film Seattle

Mary Lou Belli, Two-time Emmy-

winning
Director and Author

Julie Trimingham, Award winning

Director and Writer

Acting Ensemble Directors

RICH Brown and Eva Gil: Faculty
Members, Department of Theatre,
College of Fine and Performing Arts,
Western Washington University.

Breads, pastries, juice & coffee from

local bakeries.

FREE OF CHARGE

OPEN TO PUBLIC
24
 SCRIPT STUDIO

2024 Script Studio Selectees

Susannah Powers Stengel —“Fire and Oak”
Susannah Powers Stengel has the gift of gab. She is an Arkansas-fried, queer, neurodivergent
screenwriter. Performing improv from childhood built her “Yes And '' muscle strong like a bull.
After a drama degree at Grinnell College and a Master’s in Dramatic Literature at Indiana Uni-
versity, Susannah taught drama throughout her twenties. Susannah-in-Seattle now writes televi-
sion, features, and shorts. Susannah explores the Seattle film scene in a variety of roles–from
head writer to script supervisor to assistant director to actor. Career triumphs include: leading
writing workshops for the Chance the Rapper Arts Fund, running award-winning 48 Hour Film
Projects writers' rooms, and writing for Tapped House TV.

AMELIA CUTTIE —“Wherever You Are”

Amelia Cuttle is a third-year screenwriting student at the University of Central Florida. While she
has worked on a variety of independent sets as a script supervisor, her greatest passion lies in
writing and directing. As president of UCF's chapter of the National Organization for Women
(NOW), she is also involved in advocacy work. Her intention to have a career in filmmaking is
charged by her belief that it is the most impactful form of storytelling, and her desire to make the
impact of her own stories a positive one!

DONNA MAE FORONDA —“How to Eat an Elephant”

Donna Mae Foronda, a Bay Area-born screenwriter, has honed her craft through experiences
at NBCUniversal and the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM), alongside collaborations
within the indie film community, including film incubators, Scary Cow and Bay Area Indies
(BAI). Her work, often inspired by her Filipina-American heritage, spans dark comedy, magical
realism, and social thrillers, earning accolades from venues such as The Castro Theatre in San
Francisco, the Asian Film Festival of Dallas, and the Maine International Film Festival. Balancing
her love for storytelling with her tech job, Donna eagerly dives into each project, exploring her
imagination.

CECE WHEELER –“Winners and Losers”

Cece Wheeler is a writer and director from Seattle, Washington. She studied Biology and Film
at Middlebury College in Vermont, where her animated short "Goodnight" was featured in the
Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival. Cece is currently pursuing her MFA in film at Columbia
University. She was the recipient of the 2023 Sloan Treatment Grant in support of her feature
screenplay, and her previous short film "All the Bodies Were Girls" premiered at the New York
International Short Film Festival this past Fall. She is in post-production on her newest short,
"Coasting." As a writer and filmmaker, Cece is interested in exploring stories of girlhood, partic-
25
ularly against the backdrop of the natural world.
25
 PANEL DISCUSSIONS

Pan
Saturday, APRIL 27: 10 a.m.
New Prospect Theatre
(207 Prospect St.) The Key Role of
Free. Open to the Public
Music and Sound in Film
Moderator
Claudia Puig, The music and sound design of a film can make or break a
CASCADIA Program Director movie. The best film scores can heighten the impact of a film
without the viewer even noticing. But how do directors decide
Panelists what music to use, how do composers create a great score
Catherine Hardwicke
and how does what they create impact the film’s characters?
Award-winning Director & 2024
CASCADIA 2024 Honored Guest
Learn from two of the best how directors and composers work
together, the process they use,and the relationship they devel-
Justin Melland op to build a score that makes a movie memorable.
Bellingham based award-winning
TV composer. For more information
about Justin, visit his website.

26
 PANEL DISCUSSIONS

nels
Saturday, APRIL 27: 11 a.m.
New Prospect Theatre
Telling the (207 Prospect St.)
Free. Open to the Public
Underrepresented Stories
We speak with four filmmakers who are deeply committed to Moderator
highlighting diverse voices in their films. We will discuss the Claudia Puig,
CASCADIA Program Director
essential value of storytelling that amplifies under-represented
voices, the importance of diversity both in front of and behind Panelists
the camera and the challenges faced in achieving this goal. Vivian Cheung
CASCADIA Director, "For Roy"
Lorena Lourenco
CASCADIA Director, "Stitched"
Maria Valdez
CASCADIA Director, "Vida"
Victoria Brown
Producer , "Choices"

27
 HOME HOST PROGRAM

Home Hosts Connect

with Directors
When CASCADIA’s visiting directors arrive in
Bellingham for the festival, CASCADIA’s volunteer
hospitality liaison matches them with local residents
who have volunteered to welcome them to the
city. Home hosts, such as Wendy Bohlke and Brian
Hansen, generously open their homes, provide
breakfast each morning, and introduce them to our
area. Within days, directors and their home hosts
become friends, often keeping in touch with one
another long after the festival ends.

The program is one way CASCADIA connects our

festival’s filmmakers to our community. “We have
hosted women directors and screenwriters for three
CASCADIA festivals and for musicians in 14 of the
Bellingham Music Festivals,” says Wendy. “We enjoy
meeting creative, purposeful people, and we love to show folks around the community.”

One year, besides showing their guests around the area, Wendy gave her guest director a lesson
in the fine art of pie-making. “Oh the fun you can have by hosting visiting artists who come to

C
Bellingham to participate in CASCADIA!”

During their four-day stay, festival directors learn from our hosts about our area, and the hosts
learn about their guests' work in the film industry. As a result, friendships are formed that last well
beyond the festival.

“Hosting visiting artists and musicians allows communities to put on events which they probably
could not do without that support,” Wendy notes. “We like to share meals with visitors and hear
their stories. We have stories to share too and could always use a new audience,” she adds joking.

28 And who knows, some of those stories might end up in a film one day!
 HOME HOST PROGRAM

.
Thank You
2024 CASCADIA HOME HOSTS
f
Maureen ‘Mo’ West and Michael Gannon
Patti and Frank Imhof
Leanne Kramer
Dawn Q & Barry Landau
Debby and Bary Meyers
Diane Norman
Ellen Pfeifer and Dan Polvere
Julie & Grant Richardson
Sue Ritmuller
Jan & Lindsey Vereen
Barbara Young
Wendy & Mike Hammes

CASCADIA It takes a village!

29
 BOARDS and STAFF

Founding Board Board of Directors

Cheryl Crooks: President Audrey Sager: President
F. Lee Van Horn: Lucas Senger: Vice President
Vice President/Treasurer Shing Liau-Root: Treasurer
Marla Bronstein: Secretary Barbara Bitner: Secretary
Everett Aison Valerie Dalena
Mel Damski Lyn Dennis
Carol Gipson Daniel Larner
Sheila Goodwin
Ann McQueen
Barbara vz Howard
Sati Mookherjee
John McGarrity
Amy McIlvaine Lynda Moore
Polly Miller Rochelle Robinson
Susie Purves
Megan Taylor FESTIVAL Staff & Volunteers
Julie Trimingham Cheryl Crooks: Executive Director
Emily Weiner Claudia Puig: Program Director
Katie Schreiber: Online Festival
Advisory Board Coordinator
Everett Aison Scout Powell: Submissions Coordinator
Christopher Bianco Tara Nelson: Communications Coordinator
Andrea Leebron-Clay Barbara Bitner: Graphic Designer
Mel Damski Darsie Bowden: Film Guide Copy Editor
Robert Goodwin Debby Meyers: Hospitality Liaison
Sheila Goodwin Stilletto Rosso Productions: Festival trailer
Darrell Hillaire Talking With Crows: Festival trailer
Susan Lonac Katilin Barailler: Executive Director
Amy McIlvaine
Assistant
John McGarrity
Mia Tocas: Communications Assistant
Maria McLeod
Polly Miller Haven Carr: Operations Intern
Dennis Minor Haley Rapata: Venue Coordinator
Jordan Neyens Marla Sidrow: Venue Coordinator
Michael Petryni
30 Susie Purves
Lance Rosen
 DONORS

Media Sponsors Chrysalis Inn and Spa Nicholas Mastrellis

KCTS Crosscut Julie Fleetwood Rochelle Robinson
Cascadia Daily News Cindy & Jonathan Franklin Ann Suloway
Mount Baker Experience Kenneth Fulton
Northern Light Greenwood Cider Centennial Circle $100+
Glenda Henifin Anonymous through Whatcom Com-
Platinum $10,000+ Deborah Loober CPA & Jane Burns munity Foundation
City of Bellingham Herons Haven (Debby and Barry American Association of University
Whatcom County Meyers) Women
Anonymous Sati Mookherjee & James Harle Argyle Salon
Fund Uzma Ahmed & Sabbah Randwana
Gold $5000-$9,999 Mary & John O'Connell Kirsten Barron
Patti Imof True North Legal Services Heidi Beierle
Women of Morey Avenue Leslie Boswell & PJ McGuire
Silver $2,500-$4,999
Audrey Sager and Marla Bronstein
$199-$499 - SPONSOR/Donors Amanda (Amie) Carr
Steve Gellerman
Heidi Beierle Chrysalis Inn
Bronze $1,000-$2,499 Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship – City of Bellingham
Anonymous Environmental and Social Justice Carol Comeau
Argyle Salon Committee Becky Conner
Barbara Vz Howard Becky Conner Carolyn Coughlin
Robert & Sheila Goodwin Valerie Dalena Valerie Dalena
IMCO Construction John Danneker Patricia Decker
Khush Kush Claudia Hall Katherine Diaz
Dan Larner Michelle Kopcha Veronica Douglas
Amy Mclvaine Karen and John Moffat Lerner Tina England Colwell
Paul McMullen Lynda Moore Julie Fleetwood
Carlton McQueen Susan Warner (Continued next page)
Diane Norman RL Widmann
People's Bank
$25-$99 - Donors

Thank you
Megan Taylor & Kent Stoddard
Beth Brownfield
San Juan Broadband
Patricia Decker
Rose Anne Featherston
$500 - $999 - DONORS
Kristina Heinz
American Association of University

k
Judy Kleinberg
Women
Sylvia Kramer
Kirsten Barron
Jennifer Lynch 31
Carolyn Coughlin
 DONORS

Centennial Circle Khush Khush People’s Bank

(Continued) Michelle Kopcha Maggie Peters
Kenneth Fulton Laura Laffrado Grace Phelan
Audrey Gellerman & Steve Sager Pandora & Dan Larner Martha Price
Carolyn Gibbons Karen & John Moffat Lerner Julius & Stephanie Ridgway
Robert & Sheila Goodwin Manson & Shing Liau-Root Cindy and David Schmidt
Mark and Deborah Gordon Donna Lively Clark Mary Ellen Shields
Amy Gould Debora Loober & Jane Burns Sheila Sondik
Greenwood Cider Mary Loquvam True North Legal Services
Lauren Grimanis Barbara Lupo Constance Tuson
Claudia Hall Judy Maller Michelle Viado
Michelle Harmeier Gail & Alan Maltun Susan Warner
Laurie & Ken Heck Barbara Matilsky & Jyoti Duwadi Whatcom County
Glenda Henifin Amy McIlvaine Women of Morey Avenue
Herons Haven (Debby and Barry Ann McQueen Kathryn Whitmer
Meyers) Carlton McQueen RL Widmann
Rees Hughes & Amy Uyeki Chris Mohnkern Dominique Zervas
IMCO Construction Sati Mookherjee & James Harle
Patti Imhof Lynda Moore In-Kind donors
Beth Joffrion & Diana Shenk Linda Nestor Boundary Bay Brewery
Robin Kagan Diane Norman Village Books
:

If a scene doesn't work

on three levels - it's not
advancing the story,
the characters, and
telling me something
new - then put it in
32 the trash. Catherine Hardwicke
THANKS to our SPONSORS!

33
 SELECTION COMMITTEE

Program DIRECTOR: CLAUDIA PUIG is president of the Los Angeles

Film Critics Association, a longtime critic on NPR’s Film Week, a film festival
programmer and a cultural consultant. In 2020 she won the Excellence in
Entertainment Journalism award from the National Association of Latino
Independent Producers, and in 2017 she was the recipient of the Roger Ebert
Award for Excellence in Film Criticism from the African-American Critics
Association. She was recently featured in the Los Angeles Times as one of the
14 film critics making media more inclusive and Indiewire as one of 20 Latin
Americans making a difference in American independent film.

Sheila Goodwin has been a professional actress for 40 years,

working in theater and television. She has guest-starred in episodic television
and movies of the week, most notably with Donald Sutherland in “Behind the
Mask” and as Margaret Scully in “The X-Files.” She also is a psychotherapist
with a practice in Bellingham. She is married to Bob Goodwin and has two
sons, Jesse and Matthew. She is an avid reader and equestrian.

Lucas G. Senger is a multi-industry creative professional. Senger’s film

projects have been awarded top honors at Tribeca International Film Festival,
SXSW, Naples, Manchester and Seattle International Film Festivals among
others. He has contributed production leadership to media projects on Vice,
MTV, Fuse and Sundance. His projects have been featured in Rolling Stone,
Spin, and Indiewire. Lucas’s academic work is dedicated to frameworks of
management for creative projects and people. He is co-instructor of Western
Washington University’s AACSB-accredited MBA consulting capstone, Arts
Enterprise and Cultural Innovation program. Lucas is co-founder of Cake
Machine, a consultancy that supports creative organizations by providing
strategies to generate financial stability without limiting creative output.
34
 SELECTION COMMITTEE

Michael Petryni is a former writer/producer of network television

movies and miniseries. In addition, he wrote for a number of television
series including “Spencer for Hire,” “Moonlighting,” “Matlock,” and
“Knot’s Landing,” for which he was staff story editor. He is a recipient of
the Christopher Award for his television movie “Child in the Night.” Prior to
writing for television, Petryni was a journalist and film critic and wrote for
the Arizona Republic in Phoenix. He moved to Bellingham with his family in
1996 and served as chair for the Pickford Film Center’s capital campaign.
He was a recipient of the Bellingham Mayor’s Arts Award in 2007.

STACY REYNOLDS Stacy Reynolds has ten years experience in musical

theater and directing, producing, writing, and acting for Talking To Crows,
Lightening Sky Films, and her own personal short film project in collaboration
with Last Chance Productions. In 2019 she completed her first feature film,
Just Like The Men. Stacy holds a B. A. in literature from the University of
Washington.

HOLLY SHIFFER Holly Schiffer Zucker is a former Senior VP, Post

Production for HBO Films, Series & Mini-Series. Projects included: "Game
of Thrones," "Chernobyl," "Boardwalk Empire," "Angels In America,"
"Behind the Candelabra," "The Normal Heart," "Temple Grandin," "The
Knick," "Generation Kill," "Path To War," and "Elephant." She was an
adjunct professor at the University of Southern California in the Peter Stark
MFA Program from 2010-2019. She served as a member of the Academy
of Television Arts & Sciences, the Visual Effects Society, Women in Film,
and the Executive Council for Exceptional Minds. Prior to her move into film
and TV, Holly was a professional dancer in NYC with the José Limón Dance
Company and Jennifer Muller/The Works. She currently resides in Bow, WA.
35
 SHORT FILM JURORS

Short film jurors set high standard

In seven short and Italy. “With this diversity, we ensure that our
years, CAS- festival is truly an international one with an inter-
CADIA has national perspective,” says CASCADIA’s Executive
developed a Director, Cheryl Crooks.
reputation as a
discerning and This is Paige Thomas’s third year as a juror. She
highly selective is a director of photography and lives in Los An-
festival, thanks geles. She has worked with crews around the
in part, to our world, photographed three features and some TV
dedicated short episodes giving her a depth of experience in both
film jurors. mediums. “I love being a screener for CASCADIA
because the projects are diverse, interesting, and
Our stable of fun, “ she says. “Each and every project is special
short film jurors and interesting.”
are located all
SHA RON ST REAMS over the world. Steve Klodt, who’s based in Den-
Each year, 30 of ver, studied film production at
them view and San Francisco State and New
evaluate each film based on CASCADIA’s criteria York universities and earned a
for direction, creativity and originality, writing, master’s degree in journalism
cinematography and sound. Those with the highest at the University of Colorado.
ratings advance to the final selection committee. He has edited books and pub-
lished film reviews and articles.
CASCADIA’s jurors include both women and men, "Learning about talented women
and are working writers, producers, actors, direc- filmmakers; seeing their amaz-
tors, directors of photography, editors, animators, ing films; experiencing their
script supervisors, critics, programmers, film ar- ideas and creativity; and visiting
chivists, scholars and professors. Two-thirds live in unfamiliar locales and cultures
the United States, with half located in Bellingham through their films is not only a
or Seattle and half based elsewhere, primarily Los remarkable opportunity but also
Angeles and New York. Our international jurors a privilege,” says Steve.
live in places such as Hong Kong, France, England
36
Pai ge T
 SHORT FILM JURORS

Bellinghamster Sharon
Streams grew up watching
art house and world cine-
ma, studied film in college
and was a founding board
member of the Pickford Film
Center, CASCADIA’s home
theater. “Being part of the
selection process for CAS-
CADIA has let me experi-
ence the variety and cre-
ativity that short films can
offer,” says Sharon.

These three and all our

STEV E K lo dt
jurors share their time and
expertise to select CASCA-
DIA’s short films and make
it the outstanding festival it has become. It
would not be possible without them.

37
Thomas
 FEATURES

AMA GLORIA LAST DANCE

MArie Amachoukeli Delphine lehericey

(FRANCE) (NARRATIVE) 83' (switzerland, belgium)
Sponsored by Megal Taylor
(NARRATIVE) 84'
and Kent Stoddard
Sponsored by Barbara vz Howard

POWER ALLEY THE COWBOY

AND THE QUEEN

lilLah halla (brazil) andrea nevins

(narrative) 92' (USA) (documentary) 84'
Sponsored by Wendy Bohlke Sponsored by Sheila and Bob
and Brian Hansen Goodwin and Kelly Stables

83
 FEATURES
SHORTS

PRECONCEIVED
CHOICES

kate dumke & jules koostachin

sabrine keane (CANADA) (documentary) 80'
(USA) 80' Sponsored by IMCO Construction
(Documentary)
Sponsored by Mt. Baker
Planned Parenthood

Love Letters Miss You

Already

Gretta Schiller CATHERINE HARDWICKE

(USA) (Documentary) 39' (USA) (NARRATIVE) 112'
Sponsored by Paul McMullen

39
 SHORTS

Hemorrhage
A SHATTERING MÅngata

Ruth Hayes Maja Costa

(USA) (ANIMATION/ (GERMANY) (NARRATIVE) 15'
DOCUMENTARY) 4' Sponsored by Chrysalis Inn and Spa

Musica
ROSES
Quarantena

Lilian T. Mehrel (USA) CORAL KNIGHTS

(ANIMATION/NARRATIVE) 4' (UK) (LGBTQ) 15'
Sponsored by Heron's Haven

40
 SHORTS
SHORTS

SAMPO SPIT IT OUT

Marziyeh Riahi MELINA KIYOMI COUMAS

(IRAN) (NARRATIVE - Subtitles) (USA) (NARRATIVE) 3'
13' Sponsored by Carol Snowball Sponsored by Women of Morey
Avenue

SOL SUPERNOVA HAMSTER

Kimberly Mendiola & Farima Nofely (IRAN) 19'

Alyssa Rodriguez Sponsored by True North Legal
Services
(USA) (NARRATIVE) 18'
Sponsored by The Women of 41
Morey Avenue
 SHORTS
SHORTS

BLOOD LIKE
A SHATTERING
WATER

Jan Jalenak Dima Hamdan

(USA) (NARRATIVE) 20' (PALESTINE) (NARRATIVE) 14'
Sponsored by Deborah Loo- Sponsored by Greenwood Cider
ber and Jane Burns

Bodily Call of the

reNAISSANCE ORca

CLAUDIA LEE Jessica Plumb (USA)

(UK) (EXPERIMENTAL) 7' (DOCUMENTARY) 18'
Sponsored by Mary and John
O'Connell
42
 SHORTS
SHORTS

CHOICES EVANESCENCE

Kameishia D Wooten Maaman Rezaee

(USA) (NARRATIVE) 13' (USA) (NARRATIVE) 15'
Sponsored by American Associ- Sponsored by Kenneth Fulton
ation of University Women What-
com Branch

FOR ROY STICHED

Vivian Cheung LORENA LOURENCO

(CANADA) (NARRATIVE) 12' (USA) (NARRATIVE) 16
Sponsored by Ken Sager, Austin
Burke, Miami
43
 SHORTS and Special Feature

THE RUSE [subtext]

Johanne Pregent ERIN BROWN THOMAS

(canada) (NARRATIVE) 11' (USA) (NARRATIVE) 17'
Sponsored by Cindy and Jonathan
Franklin

VIDA

MARIA VALDEZ
(USA) (NARRITIVE) 20'
Sponsored by Julie Fleetwood and
John Binns
44
45
 DIRECTOR BIOS

MARIE AMACHOUKELI: Ama Gloria (FRANCE)

VIVIAN CHEUNG: For Roy (Canada) Vivian Cheung is an emerging Chi-

nese-Canadian female filmmaker born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia. She made her
directorial debut with her short film, “For Roy,” which earned her Best First Time Director and
People's Choice Best Short at the 17th Mighty Asian Moviemaking Marathon, an annual compe-
tition presented by the Vancouver Asian Film Festival. The film continues to win multiple awards
and screen in festivals around the world. Since MAMM17, Vivian was selected as a finalist in
Regent Park Film Festival's 2022 Emerging Filmmaker Pitch Competition. She was one of the fif-
teen selected science filmmakers to workshop with CBC's popular show, “The Nature of Things”
and one of fifteen filmmakers in the Vancouver International Film Festival's 2023 Catalyst Men-
torship Program.

MAJA COSTA: Mangata (Germany) Maja Costa is a multilingual screenwrit-

er/director. After studying the cello at the Milan Conservatory and getting an MA in ANES/
Egyptology, she studied screenwriting and directing at the DFFB (The German Film and Televi-
sion Academy Berlin), and attended Serial Eyes on scholarship from Sky Italia. She is currently
developing original series for different production companies and broadcasters and adapting
the novel "E.E." by Nobel Prize laureate Olga Tokarczuk into a feature film. Her award-winning
short film “Mångata” (2023) was granted production support by the European Space Agency
and has been screened at more than 50 film festivals worldwide.

46
 DIRECTOR BIOS

KATE DUMKE: Preconceived (USA) Kate Dumke (director) is a storyteller

with a boundless curiosity for the human experience and a special interest in cultural/
societal influences and women's lives. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania
with a degree in political science and photography before continuing her documentary
studies in New York City at the International Center of Photography’s Documentary and
Visual Studies program.

LILAH HALLA: Power Alley (Brazil) Lillah Halla is a Brazilian filmmaker grad-
uated from EICTV, Cuba. Her short film "Menarca." (2020), was one of the ten selected at the
Cannes Film Festival Critics' Week, licensed by Canal + and "Mubi." "Menarca." was award-
ed at TIFF -Tirana (2021), Toulouse (2021), Kurzfilmtage Winterthur (2020) and Curta Cinema
(2020). "Levante" (Power Alley), 2023, is her debut feature film. Her second feature, "Fleh-
men,"currently under development, was part of Full Circle Lab Nouvelle Aquitaine and Sam
Spiegel Jerusalem Lab in 2021/2022.

DIMA HAMDAN: Blood Like Water (Palestine) Dima Hamdan is a

Palestinian journalist and filmmaker based in Berlin. She spent over 12 years working
with the BBC Arabic and World Service in London, with reporting assignments in Iraq,
Lebanon, and Palestine. The stories of people she met along the way inspired many of
her film projects. A self-taught filmmaker, she has written and directed several short films
since 2007. One film, “The Bomb,” had a successful two-year festival tour, winning the
Best Female Director award at the Ayodhya Film Festival, and receiving honorable men-
tions at the Stockholm Independent Film Festival and the Festival del Cinema dei Diritti
Umani di Napoli. Her debut feature film project, “Amnesia,” won the Grand Prize of
the Atlas Ateliers of the Marrakech International Film Festival in 2023, and is slated for
production in 2024.
47
 DIRECTOR BIOS

CATHERINE HARDWICKE: 2024 Honored Guest (USA)

Hardwicke’s first film as a director (and co-writer) was the critically-acclaimed coming-of-age
"Thirteen," which won numerous awards in global film festivals, including the Director’s Award
at Sundance, Golden Globe nominations for Holly Hunter and Evan Rachel Wood, and an
Academy Award nomination for Holly Hunter. Hardwicke has since then become best known
as the director of "Twilight," which launched the blockbuster franchise and earned nearly $400
million at the global box office.

Hardwicke’s other credits include: "Lords of Dogtown," (Heath Ledger, Emile Hirsch), "Miss
You Already," (Drew Barrymore, Toni Collette), "Red Riding Hood," (Amanda Seyfried, Gary
Oldman), "Miss Bala," (Gina Rodriguez) and "The Nativity Story," (Oscar Isaac). For television,
she has directed episodes of "This Is Us," "Eye Witness," "Low Winter Sun," "Hell on Wheels,"
"Reckless" and the 14 part Quibi series "Don’t Look Deeper" (Don Cheadle, Emily Mortimer).

Hardwicke previously worked as a Production Designer on films including "Vanilla Sky," "Three
Kings," "Tank Girl," and the classic western "Tombstone." She holds an Architecture degree
from UT Austin and did graduate work in animation at UCLA Film School.

Hardwicke’s latest work includes the wild action/comedy "Mafia Mamma," filmed in Rome (Toni
Collette, Monica Bellucci), a gritty family drama "Prisoner’s Daughter" (Kate Beckinsale, Brian
Cox), which premiered at the 2022 Toronto Film Festival, "Dreams in the Witchhouse" (Rupert
Grint, Ismael Cruz Cordova), inspired by a J.P. Lovecraft novella - for the Netflix anthology
series Guillermo del Toro’s "Cabinet of Curiosities." She recently worked on the upcoming Hulu
series, "Under the Bridge," starring Riley Keough and Lily Gladstone.

RUTH HAYES: Hemorrhage (USA) Ruth Hayes animates in film, video and
pre-cinema devices, using experimental approaches to form and content. “Wanda” (1990)
contrasts feline and feminine desire. “Reign of the Dog; A Re-visionist History” (1994) critiques
conventional histories of the conquest of the Americas. “On Our Way” (2011) meditates on con-
trasts between wild and settled landscapes in western Washington State. Ruth’s flipbooks were
featured in “Daumenkino: The Flipbook Show” at Düsseldorf’s Kunsthalle in 2005. Her films
“Perilous Experiment” (2016), “Copper Perforation Loop Triptych” (2016) and “Amulet” (2022)
experiment with the materiality of analog film. The 2022 Supreme Court decision eviscerating
women’s rights to bodily autonomy compelled her to return to animating on paper to produce
“Hemorrhage.” Ruth earned her MFA in Experimental Animation from California Institute of the
Arts, and taught animation in the interdisciplinary curriculum of The Evergreen State College in
Olympia for 25 years, retiring with emerita status in 2021.

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 DIRECTOR BIOS

JAN JALENAK: A Shattering (USA) Jan Jalenak grew up In Memphis, TN, and
started out in New York City as an actor and playwright. As a writer, her plays have appeared
at the Greenwich Street Theatre, the Studio Theater, Playwrights Horizons, the Actors Studio,
Naked Angels, the Robert Moss Theater, and the Gene Frankel Theatre, among others. Jan is a
graduate of NYU and is a lifetime member of the Actors Studio and New Circle Theatre Compa-
ny. Her acting training with the inimitable Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse in
the 80’s instilled in her a fearlessness to dig deeper with both her acting and writing. After rais-
ing two wonderful daughters, Jan is happy to be back in theater and film. After her award-win-
ning short, “You Can Kiss Me,” she produced her current film, “A Shattering,” which she plans
to be the beginning of many creations for the screen.

SABRINE KEANE: Preconceived (USA) Sabrine Keane (director and produc-

er) graduated from Harvard College with a degree in philosophy where she honed her ability to
think about complex ideas and articulate them in a coherent and rational manner. Growing up
immersed in diverse cultures, she fostered an appreciation for the nuances that define varying
belief systems. She believes in the power of visual storytelling to spark deep thinking and dia-
logue.

MELINA KIYOMI COUMAS: Spit it Out (USA) Melina Kiyomi Coumas

(she/her) is an award-winning experimental filmmaker from the island of O'ahu. She enjoys exper-
imenting with both narrative structure and the filmic medium, while exploring themes surrounding
memory, identity and perception.

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 DIRECTOR BIOS

Coral knights: Roses (UK) Coral is an emerging filmmaker from London.

She hopes to make sensitive films that give weight to seemingly small, yet significant moments
in people’s lives. In addition to writing and directing, Coral works as a casting associate with
casting director Lucy Pardee, working most recently on features “Club Zero” (Jessica Hausner),
“Lollipop” (Daisy-May Hudson) and “Silver Haze” (Sacha Polak). She was also casting assistant
on “Aftersun” (Charlotte Wells). Coral was part of Encounters Film Festival’s emerging filmmak-
ers scheme, Widening The Lens, in 2019. “Roses” is her first professional short film, and she is
very grateful to the people who helped her produce it.

Jules Arita Koostachin: WaaPaKet (Tomorrow)

CANADA) Dr. Jules Arita Koostachin (Attawapiskat) is an award-winning filmmaker, moth-
er, writer, performance artist, and academic. With her background in community work, social
justice themes emerge in her films, alongside bravery, healing, connection and humor. Jules
honors her Cree-speaking grandparents who raised her and her mother, a residential school
survivor/warrior. Relying on a creative eye, keen mind and strong heart, Jules’ accomplishments
include raising four sons while pursuing academics and art. Graduating from Concordia Univer-
sity’s Theatre program, Jules attended Ryerson University’s Documentary Media master’s pro-
gram, receiving early recognition with an Award of Distinction and an Academic Gold Medal
for her thesis documentary film, “Remembering Inninimowin.” Jules went on to do her PhD in
Indigenous documentary and protocols and processes, through the Institute of Gender, Race,
Sexuality and Social Justice program at the University of British Columbia. Jules is represented
by The Characters Talent (acting) and Lucas Talent (writing, directing).

Claudia Lee: Bodily Renaissance (UK) Claudia Lee is an emerging filmmak-

er based in London. She studied Drama: Film, Theatre, and TV at the University of Bristol gradu-
ating in 2016. Claudia has a strong focus on showcasing female narratives in her filmmaking,
but wants to explore female stories across different styles and genres. With a love for both dark
horror and joyful musicals, she is navigating her cinematic interests across genres, but always
remaining true to her desire to present the female experience from a place of truth and multiplic-
ity. She has worked as a PA to a number of renowned directors such as Ron Howard, Robert
Zemeckis, Boden & Fleck, Andrew Stanton, and Kari Skogland. Her experience as a PA has
allowed her to shadow and learn a huge amount from some of the world’s finest filmmakers and
provided her with a great deal of support and drive to create her own work."

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 DIRECTOR BIOS

DELPHINE LEHERICEY: Last Dance (Switzerland, Belgium) After

receiving a performing arts degree from the University of Paris, Delphine worked as an actress
and stage director. In 2007, she shifted her focus to direction with the film “Comme à Os-
tende,” which was selected for the Locarno Film Festival’s Concorso Cineasti del Presente. Two
years later she co-directed the documentary ‘Les Arbitres[ (Referees)” which was selected for sev-
eral festivals and distributed by Gaumont. She continued her documentary work with two films
for Arte and RTBF: “Mode” (2011) about designer Jean-Paul Lespagnard and “A Chef and her
Lucky Star” (2016) about the Michelin-starred chef Isabelle Arpin. In 2013, Delphine released
her first feature film, “Puppy Love,” which had its international premiere at the San Sebastián
Film Festival. Her second feature film, “Beyond the Horizon” (2019), adapted from Swiss
novelist Roland Buti’s eponymous book, also premiered at San Sebastián, where it won the
Greenpeace Lurra Prize and Best Film and Best Screenplay at the Swiss Film Awards in 2020.
Delphine also cowrote a graphic novel, “Etoilé,” about the world of gastronomy published by
Editions Dupuisand and developed her first series, “Les Indociles,” adapted from the graphic
novel by Pitch Comment and Camlle Rebetez.

LORENA LOURENCO: Stitched (USA) Lorena Lourenço is a proud Latina im-

migrant and an award-winning writer-director from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She is a USC School
of Cinematic Arts alumna and her latest short has been licensed by HBOmax and has been
selected for competition at LALIFF (where it screened as Best of Fest) as well as Outfest, Inside
Out, Out On Film, Official Latino Film Festival, among others. She was selected for The Orchard
Project's episodic lab, where she workshopped her series "Sula and I.” That same series has
Diane Guerrero attached to star and has received initial support from Mark Duplass.

Lilian T. mehrei: Musica Quarantena (USA) Lilian T. Mehrel is an

award-winning writer & director. Her films have premiered at Tribeca and screened interna-
tionally at Clermont-Ferrand. She has received awards from ABC/Disney and Alfred P. Sloan.
Featured in Variety, Forbes, The Hollywood Reporter, and the New York Times, her body of
work includes “Water Melts,” created with MG Evangelista and supported by Google/YouTube
& TFI, “Musica Quarantena,” created with Danielle Rhoda starring Elisa del Genio (HBO’s
“My Brilliant Friend”), and “The Loneliest,” starring Madeline Wise (HBO’s “Curb Your Enthu-
siasm”). She earned her BA from Dartmouth with a Senior Fellowship and her MFA from NYU
Tisch School of the Arts. A mixed-ethnicity daughter of immigrants, she also authored/illustrated
a family memoir and is a PD Soros Fellow. Lilian inspires audiences to laugh and cry with her
funny, hopeful swirl of cinematic poetry.

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 DIRECTOR BIOS

ANDREA NEVINS: The Cowboy and the Queen (USA) Andrea Nev-
ins is an Academy Award-nominated, Emmy award-winning director, producer and writer. Her
keen interest in lives in transition led her to chronicle retired dancers given a late in-life chance
to perform. "Still Kicking," her first independent documentary, earned her an Academy Award
nomination. Her first feature-length documentary, "The Other F Word," about anti-authoritarian
punk rockers donning the cloak of paternal authority, premiered at SXSW and won quick theat-
rical distribution by Oscilloscope and network broadcast on Showtime. In examining the huge
transitions NFL football players make from superstardom to relative invisibility, she directed the
2014 season-opener for Peter Berg’s HBO series, “State of Play.” Her feature "Play It Forward"
grew out of this work and was selected to open 2015’s ESPN/Tribeca Film Festival. Critically
acclaimed "Tiny Shoulders: Rethinking Barbie," a Hulu Original Documentary premiered in
April 2018 at Tribeca Film Festival, Hot Docs and on Hulu. Indiewire called her most recent film,
hysterical, an FX Original, "Equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking, moving and entertaining."
It premiered at 2021's SXSW and Hot Docs, and can be streamed on Hulu.

KIMBERLY MENDIOLA: Sol Supernova (USA) Kimberly Mendiola Leon

(she/her) is a young Mexican-Guatemalan filmmaker from Lynwood, California, whose story-
telling focuses on current events, and self-identity. At the bright young age of 16, Kimberly has
been highlighted publicly on Good Morning America for her talents. Kimberly hopes to continue
growing as a filmmaker, and leaving her mark in the industry.

FARIMA NOFELY: Hamster (Iran) Fatima Nofely was born in 1988 and became
interested in cinema as a teenager. She began her filmmaking education by enrolling in a
filmmaking course offered by Asghar Farhadi. She subsequently began a master’s program
in dramatic literature at the Faculty of Art and Architecture of Islamic Azad University, Tehran
Center Branch in 2016. Eventually she joined the Iranian Youth Cinema Society in 2019. She
began her directing career with the short film "Impersonation" (2017) about the Islamic Repub-
lic’s banning of female spectators from football stadiums. In 2019 she directed a short film,
"Wallet," that won the international grand prize at the 15th Mobile Film Festival in Paris. In
2020, she made the short documentary film "Derby in Tajrish," and then in 2023, she made the
short film "Hamster," co-produced in France and Iran.

52
 DIRECTOR BIOS

JeSSICA PLUMP: Call of the Orcas (USA) Jessica Plumb is an award-win-

ning filmmaker and writer based in the Pacific Northwest. She is the creative director of
Plumb Productions, a multi-media storytelling company specializing in films focused on
the environment, people, and place. She is the producer and co-director of “Return of the
River,” a feature documentary about the largest dam removal (to date) in history, recog-
nized with over a dozen festival awards, including Best Storytelling by the International
Wildlife Film Festival, and Best Writing from the Jackson Hole Science Media Awards. In
2021, she exhibited a video art piece on climate change at the Kumho Museum of Art
in Seoul. She has produced short films for HHMI Tangled Bank Studios, National Geo-
graphic Learning, Original Pursuit, the Clean Energy Transition Institute, and numerous
non-profit and educational institutions. Plumb holds a BA from Yale University and an
MFA from Goddard College. Raised on the coast of Maine, she now lives on the Olym-
pic Peninsula, close to wilderness and waters she loves.

JOHANNE PREGENT: The Ruse (CANADA) Since her first film in 1987,
Johanne Prégent has directed numerous projects for the big screen and television, including “Les
Orphelins de Duplessis,” “Les grands Procès,” “Les Intrépides,” and “Scoop.” Her films have
won numerous awards in Quebec and abroad. She teaches directing, cinematographic writing
and character creation at L’inis (L’Institut National de l’Image et du Son in Quebec) and is a
screenwriting advisor and scriptwriter-editor on numerous film projects and TV series.

MAAMAN REZAEE: Evanesence (USA) Growing up as a queer woman in

a persecuted religious minority in Iran helped Maaman Rwzaee develop a dark sense of humor
which she later used for a career in filmmaking. She went from being expelled from state uni-
versities in Iran for political activities to becoming a political refugee in the US. For a few years
she pursued an academic career as an assistant professor of film in University of New Mexico
before finally finding her dream of being unemployed during the Hollywood strike in LA. During
all of it, she kept writing and directing films that focus on issues of memory, belonging, and
transcultural dynamics, some of which are also funny. Her feature script “Ashes” was a finalist
at Sundance Development Lab and the short films she has written and directed have screened in
festivals and galleries such as Blackstar, ICA LA and Anthology Film Archive.

53
 MARZIYEH RIAHI: Sampo (IRAN) Marziyeh Riahi was born in Tehran, Iran. She
graduated in Cinema from the University of Applied Science and Technology in Tehran and then
from the Iranian Youth Cinema Society (IYCS), specializing in film directing. She is currently
editor-in-chief of Short Film News, (http://www.shortfilmnews.com/en), Asia’s first website spe-
cializing in short films and documentaries.Her debut short film, "Driving Lessons," was eligible
for the 92nd Oscar Academy Awards in 2020. Marziyeh is also a member of The Network for
Promotion of Asian & Asia Pacific Cinema (NETPAC) and a member of Iran's Film Critics and
Writers Association (ISFCW).

Alyssa Rodriguez: Sol Supernova (USA) Alyssa Rodriguez (she/her) is

Latina filmmaker who is motivated to tell stories that give representation as well as make emo-
tional connections. Alyssa wants other little girls to see themselves not only in front of the cam-
era, but behind the camera too.

Gretta Schiller: Love Letters (USA) Greta Schiller is an award-winning

producer and director of documentary films and co-founder of Jezebel Productions, a nonprofit
women’s production company founded in 1984. Producing over a dozen films since then, her
work brings lost histories of marginalized groups into the cultural narrative. Her newest project
is “The Five Demands,” released by Icarus.Films and playing in cinemas. It was produced with
support from the National Endowment for the Humanities, National Endowment for the Arts,
New York State Council on the Arts and the Library of Congress/Ken Burns Prize. Her other
films include “Before Stonewall” (1985 Sundance Film Festival, 1987 PBS Broadcast, 1987
Emmy Award-winner, 2019 National Film Registry), “International Sweethearts of Rhythm”
(New York Film Festival and Best Documentary at the Philadelphia Film Festival), “Paris Was a
Woman” (1995 Audience Award Winner, Berlinale), and “The Man Who Drove with Mande-
la” (1998 Best Documentary, Berlinale, PBS broadcast), among others.

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ERIN BROWN THOMAS: [subtext] (USA) Erin Brown Thomas is a writer/
director who makes sad, haunting comedies. Her characters rarely get what they want, but
always get what they need. As a director, Erin’s films have won awards at Oscar qualifying
festivals such as Hollyshorts and Cinequest, as well as top prize at Catalyst Story Institute. Her
work has appeared at AMPAV at Cannes, Austin Film Festival, Cleveland International, and
Palm Springs Shortest, where she was an Artist in Residence. Erin was also a 2020 finalist for
Shondaland’s Women in Film Mentorship program. As a writer, Erin’s work has advanced in
many contests and programs including Ron Howard’s Imagine Impact, Sundance New Voices,
Sundance Development Track, Scriptapolooza, ScreenCraft Comedy, Austin Film Festival, Blue-
Cat Screenplay, and ISA Fast Track. Her feature “The Body of Chris” is trending on the Coverfly
Red List and was a 2022 Semi-Finalist for the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences
Nicholl Fellowship. Erin is the co-founder and Artistic Director of Salute Your Shorts Film Festival.

Maria Valdez: Vida (USA) Maria Valdez is a Guatemalan-born, Califor-

nia-raised, award-winning director. Her goal as a filmmaker is to tell stories that reflect the
diversity of the human spirit. Her passion is bringing human interest stories to life from the Latino
perspective and amplifying authentic portrayals of Latina characters across multiple genres. She
has applied her style to almost every genre and has been recognized for her work ranging from
comedy and drama to action. The unifying thread that stitches her stories together is the celebra-
tion of family, culture, and the embodiment of strong Latino characters.

KAMEISHIA D. WOOTEN: Choices (USA) Kameishia Wooten is a Los An-

geles-based director, writer, and producer who creates provoking, inclusive, socially impactful
stories for TV & Film. She got her start working in various production and business affairs roles
at Disney, Paramount, and Netflix. She has made seven short films and a web series. Most
recently, she was selected for the prestigious Ryan Murphy’s Half Initiative Program as a shad-
owing director. She is a 2022 Fellow of Women In Film's inaugural Shorts Lab supported by
Google for a short film she wrote and directed called “Choices.” Her feature screenplay, “Desti-
ny’s Road,” was selected for the Women In Film/Sundance Financing Intensive and Stowe Story
Sidewalk Lab. The proof-of-concept short film version of the same name has screened in over 20
film festivals and has received several awards including Best Short Film at the Jamaica Inter-
national Film Festival and Best Audience Award at the Moorpark Film Festival. Originally from
Goldsboro, North Carolina, Kameishia earned her MFA in Directing from Columbia College
Chicago. Kameishia also serves as a board member for Alliance of Women Directors. 55
 VIRTUAL TOURS
Bellingham and Whatcom County are amazing places to visit or to live.
Below is a selection of short virtual tours of a some of the many
delights of the amazing setting for the Cascadia International
Women’s Film Festival. Published by Whatcom County Tourism.

Overview of Whatcom County Bellingham Farmers Market

Looking for something to do? Just because
There’s nothing like the Bellingham Farmers’
we’re at home doesn’t mean we can’t keep
Market to add inspiration, color and joie de
exploring. vivre to your day. One of the most successful
farmers’ markets in the country, the Bellingham
Bellingham Beer: Known for its Farmers Market started with 20 vendors in
outdoor beauty, Bellingham is also a highly 1992, and a quarter-century later has grown
decorated craft beer destination. Sit down with to 140 vendors and up to 10,000 visitors on a
owners of several Bellingham breweries to talk peak season Saturday.
about why they love this place and how they
collaborate as a beer community.
Mt. Baker: The Mt. Baker ski area may
be closed but a virtual bluebird day of skiing
Galbraith Mountain: Did you know on the mountain is better than nothing.
Bellingham’s Galbraith Mountain is ranked
among the top 10 places to ride in the nation by Whatcom Museum: Hear from
Singletracks Magazine? Virtually explore Galbraith Christina Claassen about Bellingham’s
located on North Lookout Mountain and see why Whatcom Museum! Get a glimpse of these
for yourself. #BasecampBellingham.
iconic buildings, first-class art exhibitions,
extensive collections, and varied educational
Outdoors: Bellingham and Whatcom programs that serve patrons of all ages.
County are a nature lover’s paradise for hik-
ing, biking, paddling, fishing, climbing, snow
sports, and more. VIrtually explore from the
A View From Above:Uncrowded
country roads stretch through wide vistas
mountains to the sea. connecting Whatcom County with Bellingham,
56 touching the shore of Bellingham Bay.
 VIRTUAL TOURS

Whatcom Arts Project: Bellingham Lummi Island: Take an aerial tour

and Whatcom County value togetherness. We of Lummi Island, a beautiful getaway off the
believe in staying connected. To achieve that shores of Whatcom County.
goal, more than 30 performing and visual arts
organizations have collaborated to form the Larrabee State Park: Take to the
Whatcom Arts Project—a campaign to inform, sky to see Larrabee State Park at sunset. Just off
entertain, educate, inspire, collaborate, sup- of Chuckanut Drive, Larrabee is a beautiful spot
port, promote, and uplift each other daily. to hike around and enjoy time spent near the
water.
Blaine, Washington: Blaine,
Washington is beautifully framed by Mt. A View From Above:
Baker to the east and Semiahmoo Bay and the
Georgia Strait to the west. It is also home to Uncrowded country roads stretch through wide
Drayton Harbor and is just a short drive to the vistas connecting Whatcom County with Belling-
U.S.—Canadian border. ham, touching the shore of Bellingham Bay.

57
Photo by: Cheryl Crooks
 !CASCADIA WOMEN REEL-LY
KNOW HOW TO PARTY!

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