Northwest Film Forum

May 6, 2010

A fundraiser for Northwest Film Forum

Save the date! Our Annual Gala is a dinner, a party and a show, and this year we are moving all three to the glamorous Georgetown Ballroom. The evening starts with cocktails at 6, and continues with dinner, a live auction and a film program. It ends at 9, when the after-hours dancing begins.

This benefits everything the Film Forum presents, offers and teaches, from the shows we hang 200 times each year in our cinemas to the filmmaking classes we offer to emerging filmmakers; and from the film and projection gear we maintain to camps we hold for young people in the summer.

Stay tuned for more information!

The perfect gift for the cinephile or cine-curious person in your life!

For a limited time Northwest Film Forum is offering a Holiday Admit-2 Pass (an $18 value) for just $12!
Buy some for yourself - or everyone on your list.

Click here to purchase now

This offer ends December 31, 2009.

Handmade gift certificates can also be purchased in-person from our box office or offices, but the special discount price is only available online.  Gift certificates purchased in-person are $18.

This pass is good for all regularly-priced Film Forum events and expires one-year from purchase date.

Facing a $70,000 budget shortfall, the non-profit film arts center made an appeal to its supporters. The money raised will be used to preserve important programs and support artists. 

Like many arts organizations, Northwest Film Forum faced the end of its fiscal year with an income down 30%. Before making major cutbacks, it appealed to its members and supporters to help preserve key programs.

Though unable to reach the $70,000 goal, the organization has received an astonishing and inspiring amount of support. To manage the remaining shortfall, some restructuring will be necessary, including possibly changing the fall quarterly printed calendar to online-only. Two full-time positions have been reduced to three-quarter time positions and one position has been converted to part-time contract work, with all three affected employees being offered continued employment in these roles.

"This year has been a challenging one, says Executive Director Lyall Bush. “But I am heartened by the words from our supporters, many of whom stressed just how important a vital Film Forum was to their daily lives. It is humbling to see so many people open their hearts, and wallets, in this rough economic climate. Our talented staff has been hard at work on a three-year plan for the organization, an initial draft of which was presented to the Board in June. Once we put the current crisis behind us, we look forward to serving the community and continuing to be Seattle’s premiere film arts center."

"I was most impressed with how the Film Forum staff and membership rallied to save the programs they have worked so hard to create," comments Board President Jennifer Roth. "Northwest Film Forum means so much to Seattle, and we are working hard to preserve and strengthen what people love, while also making sure we stay on stable financial ground."

Despite the budgetary challenges, the Film Forum is planning an ambitious fall calendar that includes a visit from independent filmmaking legend Melvin Van Peebles and emerging Argentine director Lisandro Alonso. This season will also feature the first event in the new Live at the Film Forum series, which explores cinema as a collaborative, live art form with performances by several Northwest artists. Fall is also the time of Northwest Film Forum's annual flagship event, the Local Sightings Film Festival, a celebration of local filmmaking achievements.

A complete schedule of events and screenings planned at Northwest Film Forum this fall is available at www.nwfilmforum.org.

Northwest Film Forum is still accepting donations to help with the financial crisis. Donations can be made at www.nwfilmforum.org.

We have some good news. Last week we sent out a letter about our current budget shortfall (scroll down to read the original letter). I said we were down $70,000 and I made an urgent request to you. If each of the 10,000 people on our email lists gave $10, I wrote, our woes would be solved.

Within minutes you responded. Our email bulged with news that you were pushing our online giving button, over and over. Within an hour we had $2,200, and within a day we had $10,000. And then checks started arriving, and then you started bringing cash into the theater and up to the window. One person called and said, "I'm driving by. Come out to the street." I was given with an envelope stuffed with bills.

And you told us things while you were at it. "It's the least I could do," someone wrote. "Northwest Film Forum changed my life." "I love what you do for the city," someone else said. Several people said, "You're important." We heard all that and it warmed us. Thank you for that, and thank you for giving.

And then yesterday we received a call from Sub Pop. They had read the letter and they wanted to help, and they decided that they wanted to offer the Film Forum a matching gift of $10,000. Starting now your $10 gift is worth $20. What a great idea. Thank-you, Sub-Pop! You can make your matched donation now.

So, totals: we are at $28,000 right now, with $42,000 to go to reach our goal by August 15. Thanks to all of you for spreading the word, for saying yes, and for giving. We are humbled by your appreciation of what we do. We promise to give back, too: a Film Forum you can be proud of.


Lyall Bush
Executive Director

P.S. You can also help the Film Forum by coming to see movies this weekend. Check out our listings, grab a friend and buy a ticket today.

I am writing to you to ask for your help. I am asking you for $10, the price of an average movie ticket. The Film Forum has had done many great things this year, but much like other organizations our income is off by 30%. And while we remain scrappy and imaginative in tough spots, this time is different.

We are looking at real changes at the Film Forum unless you say yes and support us. We need to reach a goal of $70,000 by August 15. Please walk it in, mail it in, or click here to make your donation.

You and 10,000 others are receiving this, which means you regularly find our emails and enews in our inbox, which means that you care, too. Maybe you even love what we do and believe the city is a better place - more sophisticated, inspired, or just more fun -- because of the films we show here, the summer filmmaking camps we offer to kids, the screenwriting and film editing classes we schedule, the filmmakers we bring to town (and the classes they teach), and the movies we are so instrumental in getting made.

Classes, filmmaker support, equipment rental, special screenings, and film series, many of these programs may be put on hold, shelved, or stopped altogether without your small gift. That means programs such as Soul Nite and ByDesign could go. It means fewer masterpieces such as "Silent Light" showing up on our screens. It means maybe no more camera rentals. Jobs and programs are on the line.

So, as the movie voiceover says, imagine a world: imagine a world in which people can open a door and find community. Imagine a world in which emerging filmmakers can receive the advice, equipment, collaborators and support they need to make their movies. Imagine a world in which anyone can register for classes to get the tools they need to enter the fields of screenwriting, editing, and video production. Imagine a world in which you can see movies that change the way you see the world. Imagine a world where you can find people of a like mind for inspiration and community.

Fifteen years ago we did that, all of it. To summarize what the Film Forum provides the city would take a much longer letter, but if you are a member or regular patron you have a pretty good idea already. You already believe in what we do.

You can keep all this, now, for the price of a ticket at your average movie theater. It's tough out there, we know that; we have tried our best to keep moving ahead in spite of the current economy. But now we know that some of what we do and provide will go dark without your support.

I am asking you urgently. If you have benefited from our equipment, from the images on our screens, from our classes, from our network of people, from our famously great parties, we are asking you to say yes, you believe, yes you can give $10. Yes.


Lyall Bush
Executive Director

Call all current NWFF volunteers!  Allow us to grill you up some delicious grub as our way of thanking you for all your hard work this past year.  We couldn't get by without you.  Join us for fun & games, fun & friends, and fun & food.

Saturday, July 11
3pm onwards
Cal Anderson Park (11th between Denny & Pine on Capitol Hill)

RSVP so we know how much food to get!
volunteer@nwfilmforum.org

Friends are welcome

We entice you with the following

•    Join or renew your membership before June 30, 2009 and receive an admit-two pass (value $18 and good through December, 2009).
•    Join or renew your membership before June 30, 2009 and we will extend your membership by two extra months - your membership won't expire until September 30, 2010!
•    Join or renew your membership before June 30, 2009 and be entered to win a year-long admit-two pass to all Film Forum films.

Members receive our calendar in the mail, discounts on tickets, and depending on the level of your membership, free popcorn, family discounts, invitations to press screenings, and other fabulous benefits.  Everything you give above $50 is tax deductible.

Click here to renew or become a member!
 

Northwest Film Forum and the Satellite Lounge (right around the corner at 12th and Pike) have teamed up to bring you a special post-movie deal!

Bring your NWFF movie stub in for $1 off drinks during the week, or $1 off food OR drinks on the weekends!

http://www.satellitelounge.com/

You are enthusiastically invited to
break the shackles of the ordinary
and attend

Unbridled Stimulus Package

An evening of dinner, bidding opportunities, performance, games, and froth
to benefit Northwest Film Forum

Produced by Implied Violence

Saturday, April 18
China Harbor
2040 Westlake Avenue North
 
6:00 P.M.
By reservation only
Seating is limited

Festive attire heartily encouraged

Table of 8 $600
Single Tickets $75
Sponsor table of 8 - $1000 includes ½ page ad in catalog
 
To reserve
Click here
or
contact Susie: 206-329-2629 / susie@nwfilmforum.org

Seats are selling fast — Buy your ticket today!

Check out the Online Auction too!

Click here to visit the Online Auction webpage

March 6, 2009

Lyall Bush has accepted a permanent position at the Seattle-based film arts organization.

Northwest Film Forum (NWFF), Seattle’s film arts organization, is proud to announce that Lyall Bush has been hired as its new Executive Director. In his new position Bush will continue to bring new energy and vision to the position left by Michael Seiwerath in 2008, as he solidifies a three-year plan that will invite new audiences into Northwest Film Forum.

Bush comes from a nonprofit background and has worked in the area of film for over a decade. He organized film festivals when he worked for Humanities Washington and as written about film for a wide variety of publications. Bush’s involvement at Northwest Film Forum began several years ago when he was vice-president of the board; over the years he has also moderated panel discussions and given talks on filmmakers at the Film Forum.

"NWFF is thrilled to welcome Lyall as our Executive Director," says president of the board Jennifer Roth. "Since November, when he first came to us as Interim Executive Director, he has led our new three-year strategic planning process. His work with the board and the staff has brought an exciting new vision to us for our future."

Bush started as Interim Executive Director on November 10 last year. He took over from the previous Executive Director Michael Seiwerath, who announced plans to leave Northwest Film Forum in the spring of 2008.

“Northwest Film Forum is built on a strong foundation of passionate people working for a great cause,” says Bush. “I have been very impressed these past few months by the dedication of the board of directors and by the intelligence and creativity of the staff. When I was offered the permanent job I accepted immediately. Michael spearheaded tremendous growth throughout his time here and that has made my work of exploring new directions for the organization a lot easier."

Most recently Bush served as the Executive Director of Richard Hugo House, where he raised the organization’s visibility in the city and energized the board and staff around his new vision for programs and development. In 2003 NWFF entered into a new era with its expansion into a well-equipped 8,000 square foot space in Capitol Hill. Bush plans to use his experience to continue NWFF's path of becoming the leading film arts organization in the region.

The Film Forum operates the region's first and only non-profit center for the film arts. Community members can view films 360 days a year. NWFF prides itself on attracting a wide variety of audience members from long-time cinephiles, to children and families, artists, students and more. The organization also boasts the impressive Start-to-Finish program, which partners with a local artist to produce a feature length film. NWFF provides a funding strategy for the project, allowing local film artists and directors to bring their work to a much larger arena. The most recent film made through Start-to-Finish, David Russo's The Immaculate Conception of Little Dizzle, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and will screen next week as well at the South by Southwest Film Festival.

The current space, located at 1515 12th Ave (between Pike and Pine), is Seattle's first proper cinematheque. It houses two theaters, which play 200 films per year, year-round classes for emerging filmmakers, equipment for filmmakers, and artist support. The Film Forum is unique in that it focuses on bringing great films to the community, on fostering and nurturing local film artists, providing access to filmmaking equipment; and granting funds directly to working film artists.

There are now several homegrown producers, cinematographers, writers, and other crew members that are working steadily, in Seattle and abroad, due to the connections made and experience achieved through Northwest Film Forum.

David Russo's ‘The Immaculate Conception of Little Dizzle’ is the sixth feature film supported by this unique commission

SEATTLE –Northwest Film Forum (NWFF) is proud to announce the Sundance Film Festival premiere of The Immaculate Conception of Little Dizzle by filmmaker David Russo this January in Park City, Utah.  The Immaculate Conception of Little Dizzle is the sixth film produced in association Northwest Film Forum’s innovative Start-to-Finish program and the second to participate in the Sundance Film Festival. Police Beat premiered at the 2005 event.

“The Sundance Film Festival is the premiere showcase and launch pad for independent American film,” says producer Peggy Case. “We could not be more thrilled to be chosen from such a huge pool of talented applicants.”

Start-to-Finish is unique to NWFF and supports a narrative feature film of a Washington-state filmmaker. Using a holistic approach to supporting the filmmaker, NWFF aids in the project from conception to preproduction, shooting, post-production, sales and distribution. NWFF provides the filmmaker with gear, space, connections and expertise.  

“There’s nothing like Start-to-Finish in the country,” says Interim Executive Director Lyall Bush. “It’s a sign of something being right that two out of six films have made it to such a prestigious festival.”

The film features Russo’s unique visual design and animation.  Paired with sequences by Dutch animator Rosto and a talented young cast, this film is sure to excite Seattle and Sundance film fans alike.

Familiar northwest icons including the Space Needle, Viaduct, the waterfront, the Seattle skyline, and ferries haunt the background of a strange new world. Little Dizzle is an edgy and character-driven story with a unique Seattle flavor.

It was the first Seattle film to be “incentivized” by WashingtonFilmWorks and is funded in part by grants from the Rockefeller Foundation and Creative Capital.

Dory (Marshall Allman) loses his high-tech job and starts working as a night janitor. He forges an unexpected bond with a ragtag group of outcast cleaning colleagues. The story takes a sinister turn when Dory discovers that he and his co-workers are the unwitting subjects of a misguided corporate experiment.

Northwest Film Forum recently announced the next Start-to-Finish grant recipient. Production on Dayna Hanson's Rainbow will begin in 2009.

More information about Little Dizzle is available www.littledizzlefilm.com. 
 

Bush brings a passion, vision and history of working with nonprofit arts organizations to his new position.

SEATTLE – Northwest Film Forum (NWFF), Seattle’s nonprofit center for film arts, welcomes Lyall Bush as its interim executive director. Officially assuming his role on November 10, 2008, Bush joins the organization with a new spirit and energy that will build on the legacy left by Michael Seiwerath and continue to drive NWFF to greater community and artistic goals.

Bush comes from a nonprofit background and has worked in the area of film for over a decade. He organized film festivals when he worked for Humanities Washington and as written about film for a wide variety of publications.

Bush’s involvement at Northwest Film Forum began several years ago when he was vice-president of the board; over the years he has also moderated panel discussions and given talks on filmmakers.

"NWFF is thrilled to welcome Lyall as our interim executive director," said president of the board Jennifer Roth. "He brings exciting new energy to the organization as well as valuable experience in strategic planning and the capacity for creating a strong vision for the organization." Bush is assuming the role of previous executive director Michael Seiwerath, who announced plans to leave NWFF earlier this year.

“Northwest Film Forum is built on a strong foundation of passionate people working for a great cause,” said Bush. “I will be working for a great board of directors and a smart and dedicated staff. Michael’s work to bring Northwest Film Forum to where it is today, spearheading tremendous growth throughout his term, makes my work moving forward that much easier. I plan to continue that momentum while bringing my own experience and sense of organizational vision.” 

Most recently Bush served as the executive director of Richard Hugo House, where he raised the organization’s visibility in the city and energized the board and staff around his new vision for programs and development.

In 2003 NWFF entered into a new era with its expansion into a well-equipped 8,000 square foot space in Capitol Hill. Bush plans to help NWFF become a leading nonprofit for the film arts in the region.

Traditionally, the role of executive director includes leading the organization’s flagship program, Start-to-Finish, which partners with a local artist to produce a feature length film. NWFF provides funding for the project, allowing local film artists and directors to bring their work to a much larger arena.

The most recent film, Robinson Devor's Police Beat, premiered in Dramatic Competition at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival, and has played to great acclaim at festivals worldwide.

NWFF operates the region's first and only non-profit center for the film arts. Community members can view films 360 days a year.  NWFF prides itself on attracting a wide variety of audience members from long-time cinephiles, to children and families, artists, students and more.

The current space, located at 1515 12th Ave (between Pike and Pine), is Seattle's first proper cinematheque. It houses two theaters, facilities and equipment for filmmakers, and a dedicated space for workshops and filmmaker offices.

NWFF is unique in that it focuses not only on bringing great films to the community, but on fostering and championing local film artists.  NWFF presents educational programs with a curriculum by filmmakers and for filmmakers; provides access to filmmaking equipment; and grants funds directly to working film artists.

There are now several homegrown producers, cinematographers, writers, and other crewmembers that are working steadily, here and abroad, due to the connections made and experience achieved through Northwest Film Forum.

Northwest Film Forum is happy to partner again with Waste Free Holidays this year to help you give experiences instead of stuff.

Coming this November 15 through December 31, more than 140 local businesses and organizations will offer discounts of 15 percent or more on tickets, gift certificates and memberships for concerts, plays, sporting events, spa treatments, museums, restaurants and much more.

Northwest Film Forum is offering an "Admit-2" Gift Certificate at the enticing price of just $12.00 (regular price is $17.00).

King County Solid Waste Division and Seattle Public Utilities sponsor the King County program, which began in 1996. The City of Tacoma, Kitsap County and Thurston County also offer Waste Free Holidays programs with their local businesses.

Reducing waste is especially important during the holiday season. Americans throw away 25 percent more trash between Thanksgiving and New Year‘s Day than during any other time of the year. The Waste Free Holidays program rewards the public for reducing waste, and supports local businesses.

You can learn more about the program here, and purchase your Waste Free Holiday Pass on Brown Paper Tickets beginning November 15th.

On October 16,2008 NWFF welcomed Olga Tatosiyan, an arts manager and curator from Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. She will be in residence with us for a month as she learns about the inner workings of NWFF and the Seattle arts scene. She will also share her experience at Russia's National Centre for Contemporary Arts where she curates video art at a 5000 square-meter contemporary arts building, which had formerly been a government arsenal.

Olga comes to us from Nizhny Novgorod, Russia where she is a senior researcher of the National Centre for Contemporary Art (NCCA), the curator of the video art project "Arsenal Video" and contemporary architecture project "Archoteca." She is the former manager of the large-scale program "The Cultural Capital of Volga Region." She is currently involved in the most ambitious project of the Volga region branch of NCCA called "The Arsenal: The Territory of Contemporary Art." The building of Nizhny Novgorod armory, the Arsenal, is a federal landmark. It was built in the middle of the XIX century and is one of the largest buildings in the Kremlin of Nizhny Novgorod (more than 5000 square meters). In 2010 after repairs and restoration the former armory will become the Arsenal, an international museum and exhibition centre.

Olga's visit is funded by CEC ArtsLink which provides travel grants to artists and arts managers between the US and Eastern Europe/Russia. In the coming weeks, we'll introduce Olga to many of Seattle's fine artists, theaters, galleries and drinking establishments.

On Thursday, Nov. 6 at 7pm Olga will host a screening of contemporary Russian video art in our cinema.
More information here.

Join us for the "Exiled In Seattle" film release party, presented by We Emerge in partnership with Longhouse Media and NWFF.
Celebrate the Seattle release of Kent Mackenzie's The Exiles with music by Daisy Chain and DJ Miss A.

Friday, October 10 - starting at 10:30pm (after the 9pm screening of The Exiles)
21+

We are pleased to announce the creation of a new House Manager position and the hiring of Stan Shield to take on this role.

The House Manager position is designed to attend to the needs of the front-of-house, including box office,
concession, and audience experience issues.  Stan will be on hand during the evening to oversee a smooth night out at the movies for our patrons and answer any questions about NWFF.

Stan has been around Northwest Film Forum for more than a dozen years: as an audience member, artist, and colleague of other Seattle art, theater and film non-profits.  Recently Stan has worked at Capitol Hill Arts Center, helping with everything from ticketing, house managing and coordinating outside events.  In 2008 he was in the programming department of the Seattle International Film Festival, focusing on short films and SIFF’s ShortFest.

Says Stan of taking on his new role, "I'm very excited to help take Northwest Film Forum to the next level!" 

Michael Seiwerath, executive director of the Seattle-based non-profit Northwest Film Forum, has announced his plans to step down from his position within the next several months. Seiwerath has been a part of the organization for twelve years and has held the position of Executive Director since 2001. During his tenure, Seiwerath guided the cinematheque and filmmaking center through a decade of consistent growth, including the expansion from a two small venues with limited staff, to a specially-designed 8,000 square foot space housing two cinemas, editing suites, classroom space, and filmmaker offices. No plans have yet been made for his replacement, though Seiwerath will stay on throughout the transition process.

Michael Seiwerath started at Northwest Film Forum soon after its founding with an all volunteer staff. Seiwerath held the roles of Theater Manager, Studio Director, and Program Director before obtaining the position of Executive Director. His leadership helped the organization establish a reputation as the premier film exhibition space in Seattle, and the heart of artistic filmmaking in the Pacific Northwest. Nearly 1000 members strong, NWFF has grown to currently aide 625 filmmakers in the production of more than 100 films annually, and offer more than 60 workshops each year. Seiwerath's dedication to the innovative Start-to-Finish grant program, which partners the resources of NWFF with a local artist to produce a feature length film, using both for and non-profit funding, established the program as a model unique in the non-profit world. The most recent completed film, Robinson Devor's Police Beat, premiered in Dramatic Competition at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival, and has played to great acclaim at festivals worldwide. The current feature, David Russo's The Immaculate Conception of Little Dizzle, is in post-production.

Under his leadership, NWFF completed a $625,000 capital campaign for the build-out of its current home, helped raise over one million dollars for the production of local films and grew the organizational budget by 80%. During this time, NWFF has increased its national presence, distributing films (Police Beat, Walking to Werner) and putting together its first international touring film retrospective (A Man Vanishes: The Legacy of Shohei Imamura), a collaboration with the Freer and Sackler Galleries, Smithsonian Institution. The year-round cinema programming has grown to highlight two festivals, Local Sightings, Washington's premiere festival of regional film, and the Children's Film Festival Seattle, which annually tours to venues such as the REDCAT in Los Angeles and Pickford Cinema in Bellingham, Washington.

Seiwerath will leave the organization in its most solid and respected state. Northwest Film Forum boasts a talented full-time staff of seven, a part-time staff of two, a highly-qualified and diverse board and over fifty enthusiastic and dedicated volunteers. Building on the vision of founders Jamie Hook and Deborah Girdwood, the unique character of NWFF was shaped in large part by Seiwerath's efforts, and the organization will continue to benefit from the lasting impacts of his untiring hard work and excellent leadership. At this time, Mr. Seiwerath has no immediate plans for the future, but remains committed to the success of Northwest Film Forum.

Stated Michael Seiwerath: "I am extremely proud of what NWFF has accomplished in the twelve years I have been working here. From our humble beginnings as a non-profit startup, it's grown to become a Seattle landmark for movie screenings, and a force in film production and education. It's a comprehensive home for cinema, where on the same day, a visiting artist is introducing their work, a cinematography class is under way, and filmmakers are editing late into the night. I am particularly pleased with our programs to commission new work, showcase premieres of movies made with our assistance and involve artists exploring the intersection of film and other art forms."

"Our growth and successes have come out of the efforts of our dedicated board, staff and volunteers, as well as the support of members, funders and audiences. In particular, I am grateful for the contribution of our current staff, whose excellent work will continue our mission. I am stepping down this summer, at a period of relative calm between film productions and festivals, so I can reflect on what the future holds for me. I have confidence that the new leadership will take the organization to great heights.

Jennifer Roth, Northwest Film Forum Board President commented: "The NWFF Board of directors is proud of all of the accomplishments of Mr. Seiwerath and wish him the very best in his next endeavors. We are pleased that he will help us transition to our next phase and continue to be a part of Northwest Film Forum in the future. We plan to conduct a national search to find the next director and believe that change is always for the best. Though we will miss Michael and believe the organization has flourished with his vision, we trust his decision and are confident that this in the best interest of NWFF."

NWFF has launched a new Callboard for local film and video productions!

The Callboard is intended for use by filmmakers, grips, gaffers, screenwriters, editors, actors, graphic designers, sound recordists, composers, musicians, set builders, volunteers, enthusiasts -- in short, anyone who's interested in helping films get made in Seattle.

For more information, and to sign up, visit nwfilmforum.org/callboard

NWFF is now selling gift certificates, hand-made by local artist Marissa Hiller. Admit-2 passes are available for $17.00, and are valid for any regularly priced show.

Come by and pick out your favorite design during regular box office hours (open 1/2 hour before every show).

NWFF is proud to offer half-price admission to all regularly priced Monday screenings, unless otherwise noted.

This means general audiences get in for $4.50, children and seniors pay $3.25, and our members get tickets for a measly $3!

We can offer this only for patrons buying their tickets at the box office.

Spread the word, and don't miss the best deal in town!