Chefs, Call Boards, and New Seasons of Life

Our August programming features Bumbershoot screenings, a festival-approved True Crime doc, and everyone's favorite rat-controlled chef.

August 11, 2026

Happy August, Seattle!

Hard to believe we’re already in the waning days of Summer. It’s still 80 degrees out, but every once in a while, a crisp breeze might cut through the heat. Stores are not-so-subtly putting out Scarecrows and Halloween decorations. And Film Distributors are releasing promotion for their Fall releases ahead of the Fall Festivals.

We’ve got a couple big Autumn things coming up too:

  1. We’re proud to partner with Bumbershoot for this year’s Videorama Program! In addition to world-class musical performances, Bumbershoot’s Videorama section will feature two days of screenings and Q&A’s featuring over 30 locally made short films, all programmed by six of Seattle’s most vital film organizations: Three Dollar Bill Cinema, Seattle Black Film Festival, Seattle Film Society, Seattle Asian American Film Festival, Scope Screenings, and the 48 Hour Film Project. Programming will run from 12:45pm - 9pm on September 5th & 6th. Grab tickets for Bumbershoot now!

  2. SFS is currently seeking Horror Short Film submissions for our October Locals Only! If you’ve got a short that’s scary, unsettling, upsetting, or generally leaves people feeling ill-at-ease, send it our way! We’re programming submissions for our spookiest block of the year soon and we’d love to see what you’ve got. Submit your films here!

Let’s get this show on the road!

Marcus Baker

SFS Creative Director

Table of Contents

SFS EVENTS

Thursday, August 27th @ Northwest Film Forum | Doors at 6:30pm, Films at 7

Whether you’re working on accepting a major life change, sharing important news, or crossing into a new stage altogether, the stories featured in our August edition capture what it means to move into a new season of life:

  • BALSTON by Liisa Kaufman and Carson Marie Earnest: Rocked out of her insular existence by the bite marks and bristles of a used toothbrush, Balston must make a choice between her safe, superficial existence and accepting who she really is. (10 min)

  • POP by Ed Castañeda: A haunted spirit seeks a new place to occupy and perform her killer, haunting song. (7 min)

  • RECHARGE by Christopher Meyer: A battery factory employee must cross a hostile industrial wasteland on his way to work (12 min)

  • I WILL HOLD YOUR HAND by Teni Ayo-Ariyo: An intimate short film that examines motherhood through personal experience, creative expression, and community, reflecting on what it means to care, create, and evolve. (5 min)

  • CLOSING TIME by Spencer Keller: Emma has something important to tell her boyfriend, but when she arrives to meet him at the local diner and he's missing, she has a gut feeling that something is wrong. (8 Min)

This event is presented in partnership with the Northwest Film Forum. Join us for a screening and Q&A with drinks to follow at Linda's Tavern! See ya at the movies!

Thursday September 3rd @ Northwest Film Forum | Doors at 6:30pm, Film at 7

This month, we’re proud to present the gripping legal documentary BABY DOE.

Thirty years ago, Gail Ritchey, a young woman from a conservative Christian community in rural Ohio, had a stillborn birth alone and left the evidence in the woods. Now a devoted mother of three, her quiet suburban life is shattered when DNA evidence links her to the infamous cold case of  “Geauga’s Child,” leading to her arrest for murder. Facing a possible life sentence, Gail must confront the weight of societal and religious pressures—and her own long-buried shame—to fight for her freedom.

Synopsis courtesy of Fourth Act Films.

This event is presented in partnership with the Northwest Film Forum and the Seattle Documentary Association.

EDUCATION

Wednesdays | Discord | 7pm-8:30pm

This month we'll be covering four mouth-watering pictures about the joys and troubles (and occasional mice) involved in cooking. Our field trip this month will be to see the new Anthony Bourdain biopic TONY. The full list of films includes:

  • Wed. 8/12: THE TASTE OF THINGS  - Discord

  • Wed. 8/19: RATATOUILLE  - Discord

  • Tues 8/25: TONY  - Field Trip!

Our meetings take place every Wednesday on the Discord from 7pm - 8:30pm (Field Trip excepted). Hope to see ya there!

TPS Seattle Center | 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Directors Lab is a monthly event for Directors and Actors to practice working together in a friendly, judgement-free environment.

Sign ups are free for Directors and Actors. Participants are selected on a monthly basis. To help offset rental costs, we ask for an optional $10 donation from our participants. Hope to see you there!

COMMUNITY EVENTS

COMMUNITY NEWS

Washington Filmworks - Small Budget Production Initiative Opening Soon!

Washington Filmworks Small Budget Production Initiative (SBPI) supports emerging Washington State filmmakers by offering funding assistance for motion picture projects with budgets between $20,000 – $1M. The application window will be open August 17-24.

Georgia Krause (LO #3, IF #5, LO #27)

Georgia Krause was recently selected as one of the recipients of NewFest & Netflix’s 2026 New Voices Filmmaker Grant. Recipients receive a $25,000 grant and career development opportunities as part of the collaborative effort with Netflix to support bold directors telling stories from a queer perspective. Congrats Georgia!

The National Festival for Talented Youth (NFFTY) is currently seeking volunteer screeners for their 2027 Festival. Screeners who review 50 films or more by January 15th will receive one complimentary All-Access pass to NFFTY 2027, along with potential additional perks and opportunities. Sign up to be a screener here.

Gabrielle Rosson (Fmr. Staff)

Gabrielle Rosson’s debut feature, the femme-horror comedy pic Trash Queen, was fully funded via their IndieGogo! They also announced the casting additions of Chris Kattan (SNL), Matty Cardarople (Stranger Things, Fallout), Lynn Lowry (The Crazies, Shivers), Jonathan Stoddard (The Roaring Games), Kevin Keppy (Smile). The film is scheduled to go before cameras later this year. Congrats Gabby!

FESTIVAL DEADLINES

RESOURCES + TOOLS

The Northwest Film Forum Call Board & Seattle Cast and Crew Call Discord serve as central hubs for cast and crew to source local work in and around Washington. You can post or find grips, gaffers, screenwriters, editors, actors, graphic designers, sound recordists, composers, set builders, or anyone else you need – paid or unpaid. You can also post requests for locations and equipment.

Online Resource | Future Film Coalition 

The Future Film Coalition (FFC) advocates for the independent film sector by uniting independent film professionals and organizations to build collective power and shape strategies that ensure U.S. independent filmmaking flourishes alongside the broader entertainment industry. FFC has been instrumental in organizing-against and reporting-on the Paramount-WB merger, including an up-to-date tracker for plain-language legal updates on the status of the fight.

Free Tool | DCP-o-Matic

DCP-o-Matic allows you to convert video, audio and subtitles into DCP files, the standard format required by cinemas across the world. While it’s always advisable to work through a professional if you want to ensure quality, DCP-o-Matic, when paired with a neat little Youtube tutorial (such as this slightly-dated-but-still-useful one), takes the worry out of making your DCP file on the fly.

SFS STAFF RECS

This month, we’ve got a Staff Rec from our Events Director, Ben Johnson:

Video Game | Planet Zoo

I've been playing Planet Zoo. I recently had a bout of nostalgia for the old management sim classics such as Zoo Tycoon and Rollercoaster Tycoon, and Planet Zoo is a great modern adaptation. The game is relaxing but can also be extremely detail oriented and challenging depending on the difficulty level. I've poured in hours trying to perfect the habit for my virtual Bornean Orangutans. Unfortunately there aren't dinosaurs so I can't live out my Jurassic Park fantasies.

Thanks for reading! See you next month :) 

Got questions, suggestions, or news? We’d love to hear from you! Drop us a line at [email protected].

Don’t forget, we’re a volunteer-run project under the fiscal sponsorship of a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization (Shun Pike) so you can always: