The Bellingham Human Rights Film Festival offers the Bellingham community an annual 10-day film festival of powerful, thought-provoking films on the rights of people and Earth. The Bellingham Human Rights Film Festival is composed of volunteers whose primary goal is to present the community with free films that will raise awareness of some of the critical human rights issues facing our planet, locally and globally. The films are followed by discussions, sometimes with someone intrinsically involved with the making of the film or the issue, always with the hope of finding powerful opportunities for acting together to confront the unacceptable and promote liberty and justice for all.
Venue Key
AW — Academic West building, Room 204, Western Washington University
BHS — Bellingham High School Library, 2020 Cornwall Avenue
BPL — Bellingham Public Library, 210 Central Avenue
BTC — Bellingham Technical College, Settlemeyer Hall, 3028 Lindberg Avenue
BUF — Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship, 1207 Ellsworth Street
CF — Communications Facility bldg., Room 115, Western Washington University
FCA — Fairhaven College Auditorium, Room 300, Western Washington University
FCCB — First Congregational Church of Bellingham, 2401 Cornwall Avenue
OHS — Options High School, 2015 Franklin Street (new venue)
NWIC — Northwest Indian College, Log Building, 2522 Kwina Road
PFC — Pickford Film Center, 121 Prospect Street
PMM — Pioneer Meadows Montessori, 2339 Douglas Road, Ferndale (new venue)
WCC — Whatcom Community College, Syre Center, 237 West Kellogg Road
Thursday, February 21
“Warrior Women” (NWIC) 12:00 (USA/2018/64min) Life of Lakota activist Madonna Thunder Hawk.
“Water Warriors” (PFC) 7:00 (USA-Canada/2017/22min) Indigenous and non-native people come together to protect a community’s water in New Brunswick, Canada, from natural gas development.
“Keepers of the Future” (PFC) 7:30 (El Salvador-USA/2017/24min) A coastal hamlet in El Salvador commits to community wellbeing and to building resilience to climate change as well as pressures to cede their land to outside investors.
Friday, February 22
“Kids Can Save the Planet — Everything Connects” (PMM) 5:30 (USA/2018/35min) How humans are harming the planet, but also the many ways we can live in balance with Earth.
“Disaster Capitalism” (FCA) 7:00 (Australia/2018/52min) Reveals the corrupt underbelly of the global aid/investment industry.
Saturday, February 23
“The Reluctant Radical” (PFC) 12:00 (USA/2018/77min) Follows climate direct action activist Ken Ward for 1 ½ years.
“Kids Can Save the Planet — Plastic Is Forever” (PMM) 2:00 (USA/2018/19min) The long life of plastic trash.
“Kids Can Save the Planet — Tipping Point” (PMM) 2:30 (USA/2018/23min) Ways in which humans affect the Earth.
“Alive and Kicking — The Soccer Grannies of South Africa” (FCA) 7:00 (USA-South Africa/2016/20min) S. African grandmothers come together in a soccer team for health and mutual support.
“Burkinabe Rising” (FCA) 7:30 (USA/2017/72min) Cultural artists as politically active in Burkina Faso.
Sunday, February 24
“Plane Truths” (FCA) 12:00 (USA/2018/33min) Effects of increased Naval air training on Whidbey Island, Washington.
“The Other Walla” (FCA) 1:00 (USA/2018/19min) Two Walla Walla high school students affected by immigration policy.
“Children of the Civil Rights” (FCA) 2:00 (USA/2015/60min) The role of children in the civil rights movement in the U.S.
“The Issue of Mr. O’Dell” (FCA) 3:00 (Canada/2018/35min) The story of Jack O’Dell, veteran African-American civil rights activist.
“Warrior Women” (FCA) 7:00 (USA/2018/64min) Life of Lakota activist Madonna Thunder Hawk.
Monday, February 25
“Transmilitary” (BTC) 11:00 (USA/2018/93min) Profiles four service members who came out as transgender.
“Patrimonio” (AW) 4:30 (USA/2018/83min) Mexican village fishermen rally to challenge a multinational company.
“Warrior Women” (BUF) 7:00 (USA/2018/64min) Life of Lakota activist Madonna Thunder Hawk.
(Monday – Thursday — No films in evening)
Tuesday, February 26
“White Right” (OHS) 4:00 (USA/2017/55min) A Muslim filmmaker investigates the rising white nationalist movement in the United States.
“White Right” (BPL) 7:00 (USA/2017/55min) A Muslim filmmaker investigates the rising white nationalist movement in the United States.
Wednesday, February 27
“The Other Walla” (BHS) 7:00 (USA/2018/19min) Two Walla Walla high school students affected by immigration policy.
“Children of the Civil Rights” (BHS) 7:30 (USA/2015/60min) The role of children in the civil rights movement in the United States.
Thursday, February 28
“Water Warriors” (NWIC) 12:00 (USA-Canada/2017/22min) Indigenous and non-native people come together to protect a community’s water in New Brunswick, Canada, from natural gas development.
“White Right” (BTC) 2:00 (USA/2017/55min) A Muslim filmmaker investigates the rising white nationalist movement in the United States.
“Water Warriors” (CF) 4:00 (USA-Canada/2017/22min) Indigenous and non-native people come together to protect a community’s water in New Brunswick, Canada, from natural gas development.
“Kids Can Save the Planet — Plastic Is Forever” (WCC) 4:00 (USA/2018/19min) The long life of plastic trash.
“Kids Can Save the Planet — Tipping Point” (WCC) 4:20 (USA/2018/23min) Ways in which humans affect the Earth.
“Keepers of the Future” (CF) 4:30 (El Salvador-USA/2017/24min) A coastal hamlet in El Salvador commits to community wellbeing and to building resilience to climate change as well as pressures to cede their land to outside investors.
“Kids Can Save the Planet — Everything Connects” (WCC) 4:45 (USA/2018/35min) How humans are harming the planet, but also the many ways we can live in balance with Earth.
“The Bleeding Edge” (BPL) 7:00 (USA/2018/99min) Exposé of medical device industry and dangers of medical implants.
“Redefining Prosperity” (FCCB) 7:00 (USA/2018/57min) Building community in Nevada City to save a threatened river.
Friday, March 1
“Kids Can Save the Planet — Everything Connects” (BTC) 10:00 (USA/2018/35min) How humans are harming the planet, but also the many ways we can live in balance with Earth.
“Transmilitary” (FCA) 7:00 (USA/2018/93min) Profiles four service members who came out as transgender.
Saturday, March 2
“The Sacred Place Where Life Begins” (FCA) 12:00 (USA/2013/19min) Sustaining life in the Alaska National Wildlife Reserve.
“Redefining Prosperity” (FCA) 12:45 (USA/2018/57min) Building community in Nevada City to save a threatened river.
“Land” (FCA) 2:15 (Switzerland/2018/8min) How might human displacement be experienced?
“The Unafraid” (FCA) 2:30 (USA/2018/87min) Profiles three DACA students who want to attend college.
“Singing Our Way to Freedom” (FCA) 7:00 (USA/2017/87min) Portrait of Chicano musician-activist Ramon Sanchez.