From April 24th – 27th, 2025, CASCADIA International Women’s Film Festival invites audiences to experience the powerful stories of women told through cinema. This annual celebration unites international filmmakers, artists, and cinephiles in a shared mission to build community locally and globally while honoring the impact of women in film. For those who can't join in person, an online festival version will run May 1-11, 2025.
Opening Night Celebration
The festival kicks off at the Pickford Film Center on Thursday, April 24th at 6:30 p.m. with the screening of Magic Hour, directed by Jackie Christy, who will be attending. The evening will continue with the Opening Night Red Carpet After Party at 9 p.m. at Penny Farthing Bar and Restaurant (1309 Cornwall St.) at Chuckanut Bay Distillery.
Festival Spotlight Films
Folk Tales (Norway): Directed by Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady (Jesus Camp), this moving documentary explores a unique program set in the Artic for teens overcoming emotional challenges.
All God’s Children (United States): Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Ondi Timoner, this timely documentary chronicles the collaboration between a Rabbi and a Reverend in Brooklyn as they seek to heal racial and religious divides. Timoner, who lost her home in the Eaton fires, brings a deeply personal perspective to this important work.
Butterflies (Finland): Directed by Jenni Toivoniemi, this dramedy blends Tango festivals, family dynamics, and political chaos in a wry exploration of self-discovery.
Village Keeper (Canada): Directed by Karen Chapman, this understated drama delves into themes of class, generational trauma, and enduring maternal love.
Ohjus (The Missile) (Finland): Directed by iMia Tervo, this gripping Finnish film based on a true story adds intrigue to the lineup.
Honored Guest Yvonne Russo
CASCADIA is proud to welcome award-winning producer-director Yvonne Russo as this year’s Honored Guest. Join us for "An Evening with Yvonne Russo" on Saturday, April 26th, at 7:00 p.m. at the Mount Baker Theatre’s Walton Theatre, presented by Cascade Daily News. The evening will feature a screening of Russo’s film VIVA, VERDI!, followed by an interview and audience Q&A.
Visiting Artists and Directors
Short film directors from works like Dandelion, Broken Flight, Play Date, Rupture, The Vote, and Death Pays Flora a Visit will be present, with directors Tanna Frederick and actress Mimi Kennedy of Death Pays Flora a Visit available for interviews.
Special Events
Script Studio Workshop: On Sunday, April 27th, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., aspiring screenwriters can join CASCADIA’s Script Studio Workshop at the New Prospect Theatre (207 Prospect St., Bellingham). This free event offers this year’s four chosen scriptwriters the chance to hear their scripts read aloud by actors, gain professional insights, and connect with industry professionals.
Art exhibit showcasing 55 artists: The works go on display Friday, April 4 at the Dakota Gallery in downtown Bellingham in conjunction with CASCADIA International Women’s Film Festival. CASCADIA introduced the exhibition of work by women artists from throughout the region in 2024 as an extension of the festival’s celebration of artistic work created by women. This year’s exhibit will open Friday, April 4 at 6 p.m. at the Dakota Gallery, 1322 Cornwall, during downtown Bellingham’s April Artwalk. The exhibit is free and open to the public. The art will remain on display through May 24.
Poetry Project: New this year, CASCADIA invites poets attending the festival or viewing films online to reflect on their experiences through poetry. These works will be published later this year by Ravenna Press, a highly respected press based in LaConner. This inspiring initiative was spearheaded by CASCADIA board member Sati Mookherjee, a nationally recognized poet.
Bellingham as a Destination
CASCADIA is proud to partner with local hotels, offering special discounted rates for attendees. Participating hotels include Home 2 Suites by Hilton, SpringHill Suites Bellingham, Holiday Inn & Suites Bellingham, and Hotel Bellwether. Please contact individual hotels for details. Stay the weekend and enjoy all that Bellingham has to offer!
The full schedule will be live at cascadiafilmfest.org beginning March 21.
CASCADIA is a multi-day annual film festival celebrating exceptional films directed by women from around the world. Ours is one of only a handful of festivals in the U.S. dedicated to this purpose. Currently, it is the only festival of its kind in the Pacific Northwest. Since its first festival in 2017, CASCADIA has presented the films of 250 women. The 2025 festival, to be April 24-27 in person and May 1-11 online, will be our eighth. The organization also works year-round to provide film production, exhibition, and distribution education.
Its program spans all film genres: narrative, live action, animation, documentary, and experimental films of all lengths.
CASCADIA is based in Bellingham, WA., a city of approximately 100,000 people on the shores of Puget Sound. It lies about halfway between the film meccas of Seattle, WA and Vancouver, BC. The city enjoys strong local and regional support for the arts. It is also a destination for hikers, kayakers, climbers, sailors and other outdoor enthusiasts. Increasingly, filmmakers, too, are finding Bellingham, attracted to its proximity to urban and rural environments, as well as the ocean, lakes, rivers and mountains. It is also home to Western Washington University, with 15,000 undergraduates and graduate enrollment, including the well regarded College of Fine and Performing Arts.
CASCADIA is an IRS-registered non profit 501(c)(3) organization.
