CASCADIA International Women's Film Festival celebrates its tenth festival season with the 2026 festival, April 30-May 3, to showcase the exceptional work of women directors from around the world. To date, CASCADIA has proudly presented the work of more than 280 women directors worldwide. Approximately 30-40 films will be screened over the course of the four-day in person festival. An online festival version afterwards is also planned.

Located in beautiful 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.

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.

We also encourage screenwriters and accept unproduced short film script of 20 pages or less for consideration for our Script Studio. Submissions for scripts opens November. 30 and closes January 23. Up to four scripts will be selected. Please check Scriptwriting under Categories and Fees for more details.

Festival films are followed by Q&As with filmmakers or industry panels. CASCADIA also hosts networking events, including the Saturday night Directors’ Party, and a special reception and program with its Honored Guest. 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 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.

Awards & Prizes

All filmmakers selected for the festival receive a screening fee and laurels.

Rules & Terms

CASCADIA International Women's Film Festival accepts only short films directed or co-directed by women. To be considered for the 2026 festival, films must have been completed and released AFTER October, 2024. Only completed, final release films will be allowed. No additional editing or revisions will be permitted once a film has been submitted. We accept films of any genre but the running time including titles must be UNDER 22 minutes.

Films must be presented in English. If not, English subtitles or dubbing is required. We will NOT accept films that have been shown previously locally in another festival or at our local theatres (near Bellingham) and prefer that films not be shown in regional festivals or theatres (Near Seattle or Vancouver) or that they are not currently accessible on streaming services such Amazon and Netflix. Closed captioning is highly encouraged and preferred.

CASCADIA's feature films are curated. If you have a feature you'd like us to consider, contact us at info@cascadiafilmfest.org and someone will get back to you.

We strongly suggest anyone considering submitting to review the Official Selections from the previous festivals. This will be a good indicator of the level of quality we are seeking. Trailers for those films may be found on our website. http://www.cascadiafilmfest.org
37 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
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Hospitality
Networking
  • Lorena Villanueva

    This festival is more than a beautiful experience! The team goes above and beyond to make filmmakers feel valued, the selection of films show a strong variety and care in the process. The activities planned during the festival are not only interesting, but full of networking opportunities, seeing beautiful places and learning and meeting wonderful people.

    May 2026
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  • Laura Kemp

    This festival gets 5 stars in all categories! The films were very high quality and diverse, the learning and networking opportunities were plentiful for filmmakers and screenwriters alike. The venues were convenient and beautiful. I can see why they're now celebrating 10 successful years. All the best for the future.

    May 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you Laura! We're glad you had a good time and look forward to seeing you back at the festival again!

  • Alex Royer

    This is an amazing festival! So much attention to details and felt so supported as a filmmaker. Great audience and networking and such a beautiful place. Would recommend to everyone!

    May 2026
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  • Simbelle Productions

    From the first communication to the last (for now), this festival has been so wonderful and kind to our team. We were unable to make it in-person, but Cheryl and team made us feel included and up to speed before, during and after the festival! We hope to make it in-person in the future!

    September 2025
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you Lauren and Cara! We were honored to have your film, "Before You," in the 2025 festival. Look forward to seeing more of your future projects!

  • Lindsay Nyman

    This festival is truly exceptional! The team goes above and beyond to support filmmakers, with a strong online presence and behind-the-scenes efforts to promote both the films and the artists behind them. I felt incredibly honored to be included and to have They Call Me The Tattoo Witch selected. The festival itself is well-run and vibrant, and in such a fantastic location. Thank you, CASCADIA, for the opportunity! I’m looking forward to submitting more work in the future!

    May 2025
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you Lindsay. Your film about the tattoo artist who is giving so many people, women in particular, a new sense of self-esteem was fascinating to our audience. We look forward to seeing more of your work soon!