CASCADIA Now Accepting Submissions for 2026 Festival
10th Anniversary Festival Dates April 30-May 3, 2026
CASCADIA International Women's Film Festival is now accepting submissions on FilmFreeway for its 10th anniversary festival season April 30- May 3, 2026. CASCADIA marks its 10th season this year, proudly showcasing exclusively women-directed films in beautiful Bellingham, WA. Since its founding, CASCADIA has featured the work of more than 280 women directors from around the world, and this year will present 30 to 40 exceptional films across four inspiring days.
CASCADIA presents programs for short subject films, feature narrative and documentary films. We showcase women filmmakers from throughout the world as well as local directors, considered to be those working in the region extending from Vancouver B.C., Canada to the Seattle, WA. metropolitan area. CASCADIA also searches for films by Indigenous women filmmakers and encourages emerging and student filmmakers to submit. Please let us know if you qualify for consideration in this area.
Members of CASCADIA’s film industry partners, which include Film Fatales, New York Women in Film and Television and the Alliance of Women Directors, among others, are eligible for a discounts on submission fees. Members must contact their respective organizations for the necessary discount code.
Each screening is followed by lively Q&As with filmmakers or industry panels, while networking events—from the spirited Saturday night party to the exclusive Honored Guest reception—bring the community together. Past Honored Guests include the legendary director Catherine Hardwicke, award-winning producer-director Yvonne Russo, Academy Award-winning Documentary Director Barbara Kopple; first woman DGA president, director Martha Coolidge; Cheryl Boone Isaacs, past president of Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and Oscar-winning Documentary Director Freida Lee Mock.
The online version of the festival takes place May 7-17 after the in person festival to provide accessibility for those unable to attend an in-person screening and promote our filmmakers with greater audience exposure.
More About CASCADIA
Located in Bellingham, WA, USA. in the Pacific Northwest, it is an ideal location for both film making and viewing. Bellingham is a city of 100,000 situated on the shores of Puget Sound and lies halfway between Seattle, WA. And Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Now entering its 10th year, CASCADIA is one of only a handful of festivals in the U.S. currently dedicated to presenting exclusively films by women directors. The annual film festival and its cultural and educational programs throughout the year champion the arts, community and diverse perspectives. The organization also works to provide film production, exhibition and distribution education.
Since its first festival in 2017, CASCADIA has presented films by more than 280 women directors from around the world with one-third of the films shown at their 2025 were made by women of color. Films by students, emerging directors and Indigenous women are also usually in the mix. More information is on our website at cascadiafilmfest.org.
