We began around 25 years ago as the Bellingham Human Rights Film Festival, initially operating as a committee of community members and Whatcom Film Association staff, moving on then to independently produce an annual festival which became an important community event. Running for 1-2 weeks in multiple settings that included the Pickford Film Center, Fairhaven College, WWU, local schools and churches, we selected and screened human rights, social justice and environmental documentary films. These were followed by facilitated discussions, including talks with directors, and sharing of resources with opportunities for involvement and action. Hundreds of films have been presented over the years, free of charge. Many have been donated to local libraries, where they can continue to be accessed.
The pandemic forced changes after our last multi-day festival in 2020, and led to co-sponsoring films at the Pickford Film Center and providing facilitated discussions there. We have partnered with other organizations to co-present documentaries and discussions virtually. Since we are not holding long festivals now, we changed our name to the Bellingham Human Rights Film Association. We remain a group of volunteers passionate about the power of film and dialogue to address human rights issues, raise awareness and help promote positive change.