CASCADIA International Women's Film Festival is proud to announce award-winning filmmaker Yvonne Russo as the Honored Guest for this year’s festival. On Friday, April 25, at 7:00 PM, at the Mount Baker Theatre's Walton Theatre, CASCADIA will host an unforgettable evening featuring the screening of Russo's latest documentary, VIVA VERDI! followed by an exclusive interview with the filmmaker and an artisan dessert reception. Tickets for this special event will go on sale March 21, with early bird festival passes available now.
Yvonne Russo, a proud member of the Sicangu Lakota Tribal Nation, is a trailblazing director, producer, and writer whose work spans film, television, and animation. Her storytelling elevates diverse and underrepresented voices, blending creative vision with impactful narratives. CASCADIA is honored to recognize her remarkable career achievements, including:
Film & Television Accomplishments: Director and producer of Vow of Silence: The Assassination of Annie Mae on ONYX Collective/Hulu; producer of Kelly’s Bar with Casey Affleck; production advisor on Woman Walks Ahead starring Jessica Chastain; and creative force behind the adaptation of the 1989 cult classic Powwow Highway.
Awards & Recognition: Honored with the Producer of the Year Award from the American Indian Film Festival and Outstanding Achievement in Producing from First Americans in the Arts.
Cheryl Crooks, CASCADIA's Executive Director, shared her excitement: “CASCADIA's Honored Guest is chosen for their career accomplishments and contributions to the industry, particularly to women in film. Yvonne Russo is more than worthy of this recognition. Her work as a director, producer, and writer has profoundly advanced Indigenous storytelling and inspired audiences worldwide.”
Russo’s latest documentary, VIVA VERDI!, offers an intimate portrayal of Milan’s Casa di Riposo per Musicisti, the retirement home founded by composer Giuseppe Verdi for opera singers and musicians. The film has already captivated audiences at prestigious festivals such as the Woodstock Film Festival and the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. This event at CASCADIA marks the Pacific Northwest debut of VIVA VERDI!
Reflecting on her journey, Russo said, “One of the greatest aspects of my work is telling stories that inspire and elevate humanity.”
CASCADIA celebrates the power of stories told by women to entertain, enlighten, and inspire. By bringing together international cinema, artists, filmmakers, and moviegoers, CASCADIA builds community locally and within the film industry nationally and worldwide. The festival has proudly presented the work of more than 250 women directors globally and will feature approximately 30 films over the four-day in-person festival.
Join CASCADIA in celebrating the achievements of this extraordinary filmmaker.
Stay tuned for the full line-up of films and events!
ABOUT CASCADIA INT’L WOMEN’S FILM FESTIVAL
CASCADIA is a multi-day annual film festival celebrating exceptional films directed by women from around the world. Ours is one of only a handful of festivals in the U.S. dedicated to this purpose. Currently, it is the only festival of its kind in the Pacific Northwest. Since its first festival in 2017, CASCADIA has presented the films of 250 women. The 2025 festival, to be April 24-27 in person and May 1-11 online, will be our eighth. The organization also works year-round to provide film production, exhibition, and distribution education.
Its program spans all film genres: narrative, live action, animation, documentary, and experimental films of all lengths.
CASCADIA is based in Bellingham, WA., a city of approximately 100,000 people on the shores of Puget Sound. It lies about halfway between the film meccas of Seattle, WA and Vancouver, BC. The city enjoys strong local and regional support for the arts. It is also a destination for hikers, kayakers, climbers, sailors and other outdoor enthusiasts. Increasingly, filmmakers, too, are finding Bellingham, attracted to its proximity to urban and rural environments, as well as the ocean, lakes, rivers and mountains. It is also home to Western Washington University, with 15,000 undergraduates and graduate enrollment, including the well regarded College of Fine and Performing Arts.
CASCADIA is an IRS-registered non profit 501(c)(3) organization.
