NORTWESTFILMFEST
MAY 8-15, 2025
Welcome to NorthwestFilmFest 2025!
Thank you so much for supporting our filmmakers. We sincerely hope you enjoy the festival!
Questions? Check out this FAQ for some of the most common info/fixes.
Thank you so much for supporting our filmmakers. We sincerely hope you enjoy the festival!
Questions? Check out this FAQ for some of the most common info/fixes.
OPENING NIGHT SPECIAL EVENT!
blur: TO THE END is a captivating behind-the-scenes documentary that follows Blur’s longtime bandmates as they reunite to record a surprise album and prepare for their first-ever shows at Wembley Stadium.
OPENING NIGHT SPECIAL EVENT!
blur: live at wembley stadium follows the band's long-awaited, first-ever Wembley Stadium live show, where they played for over 150,000 fans!
HEADLINER. Half a century ago, the US government put Leonard Peltier in prison for murder. This year, he’s now home —but not yet pardoned, and still innocent.
Preceded by the short film: My Back Pages
From the World Series of Board Games on the Vegas Strip, The Hobby is an affectionate, character-driven portrait of the massive and diverse subculture of board games.
Preceded by the short film: Saturday
This shorts package includes:
One Punch • Strangers • Palmdale • Sara • Dylan • Disco Dolls and Chiko Rolls
Segal traces George Segal’s journey from a shy Long Island kid to a beloved leading man, in a heartfelt film celebrating his remarkable life and career.
Preceded by the short film: Terry’s Little Village
Five elite high school orators spend a year perfecting powerful performances, chasing victory at one of the world’s biggest public speaking competitions.
Preceded by the short film: The Lemonade Stand
Filmed throughout the Haida basketball season, Saints and Warriors captures how basketball fuels contemporary life on the remote Indigenous nation of Haida Gwaii.
Preceded by the short film: Living Landscapes of SGang Gwaay: K'uljaad
HEADLINER. Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, led a groundbreaking but privately complex life, revealed in full for the first time by her partner Tam O’Shaughnessy.
An uproarious comedy featuring Patrick Noth, Bobby Moynihan, Chris Parnell, Maria Bamford and more, Micro Budget is a mockumentary about an absolute moron attempting to make an ‘epic’ sci-fi/disaster movie.
Preceded by the short film: The Loving Couple
This shorts package includes:
How the World is Going to End • Dale • All Things Metal • A City That Cares • Look at my Furniture • Romchyk
MOTHER’S DAY FAMILY MATINEE!
The Snake and the Whale exposes the ecological consequences of four federal dams on the Lower Snake River, leading to the endangerment of the Southern Resident Orca.
Preceded by the short film: Christopher & the Bug
MOTHER’S DAY CENTREPIECE SCREENING!
Filmmaker Kim A. Snyder and Executive Producer Sarah Jessica Parker take us to the unexpected front line where librarians are first responders in the fight for democracy and free access to information.
MOTHER’S DAY CENTREPIECE SCREENING!
ZURAWSKI v TEXAS follows a group of women denied abortions under Texas’ harsh laws as they join forces with a determined attorney to challenge the state.
Preceded by the short film: Marks of Majesty
MOTHER’S DAY HEADLINER SCREENING!
Actress Marlee Matlin, born into a hearing family and shaped by early struggles, now reclaims her own story, in her own language.
Preceded by the short film: The Anniversary
SPOTLIGHT ON UKRAINE
Two friends embark on a 1,500 km bike journey along Ukraine’s front line, witnessing the devastation of war and sharing the powerful stories of those they meet in liberated towns and villages.
EDMONTON FILM PRIZE FINALISTS SCREENING
Emergence is short stop-motion animated film inspired by the emergence of consciousness from the material world.
Pride vs. Prejudice - Delwin Vriend set in motion a chain of events that impacted the lives of LGBTQ+ people all around the globe.
EDMONTON FILM PRIZE FINALISTS SCREENING
A small-time wrestling company accepts a well-paying gig in a backwoods town only to learn, too late, that the community is run by a mysterious cult leader with devious plans for their match.
HEADLINER. Centered on the decades-long controversy surrounding Lucy, an ailing elephant at the Edmonton Valley Zoo, this powerful documentary examines the broader ethical implications of keeping elephants in captivity.
This shorts package of all Alberta films includes:
The Saint & Bear • Crow • Apocalypse Book Club • The Tower • The Table Between Us • Vinnie • Insecure
HEADLINER. Predators, a gripping documentary by David Osit, revisits the controversial series To Catch a Predator, challenging viewers to examine the ethical complexities and voyeuristic appeal behind its rise, fallout, and enduring cultural impact.
Preceded by the short film: Nobody Wins
Filmmaker Alex Braverman explores the enduring genius of Andy Kaufman, whose boundary-pushing comedy challenged audiences and blurred reality, through rare footage and intimate reflections.
Preceded by the short film: While I Watch
HEADLINER. Chain Reactions explores the enduring cultural impact of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre through the personal memories and creative reflections of five influential artists: Patton Oswalt, Takashi Miike, Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, Stephen King, and Karyn Kusama.
After watching Alexandre Philippe’s mesmerizing new documentary, Chain Reactions, stay and see for yourself why TCSM still influences, disturbs, and terrorizes audiences today.
Who will survive, and what will be left of them?
