Seattle, WA – On May 30th, 2025, Northwest Film Forum celebrated its 30th Anniversary in unforgettable fashion with its annual gala. Given the significance of the milestone, this year’s gala theme was Existential Crisis–a nod to both the challenges and resilience that come with three decades of independent filmmaking and community building.  The sold-out event brought together filmmakers and supporters for an evening that honored the Forum’s legacy and looked ahead to its future.

Guests were greeted with comic portraits by Brian Theis (illustrator for Marvel Comics) and Justin “Moritat” Norman (illustrator for D.C. Comics), Tarot Readings from local musicians Bree McKenna (Tacocat) and Robin Edwards (Lisa Prank), and an over-the-top photo booth provided by former board member Larry Marshall.  The historic Washington Hall echoed with the sounds of old friends reuniting after decades of being apart and new connections being formed. The evening came together thanks to a dedicated Gala Committee, led by acclaimed local filmmaker Megan Griffiths and gala producer Kathy Ramos.  

Derek Edamura, Executive Director of Northwest Film Forum, spoke to the heart of the evening: “Your gift tonight directly supports the Forum’s efforts to continue to train the next generation of filmmakers.” 

The celebration continued with extravagant raffle and auction prizes that included festival passes to South by Southwest Film Festival, Vancouver International Film Festival, tickets to upcoming shows at the Paramount Theater, and personal styling and photoshoot sessions. All auction and raffle prizes, as well as the bar’s offerings, were provided through the generous sponsorship of businesses and organizations who support NWFF’s mission.  

For the Forum’s Associate Director Jill Busby, the theme captured both the spirit and the stakes of the evening: “This year’s theme—Existential Crisis—reminds us that even in those overwhelming, fearful moments, nothing feels more empowering than defending what we love, what we value, and working toward solutions in spite of all the growing pains.” 

The highlight of the evening came when Northwest Film Forum co-founder Deb Girdwood and former Executive Director Michael Seiwerath took the stage to reflect on the organization’s roots, “The early WigglyWorld days reflected mid-90s Seattle DIY culture,” said Michael. “We figured a lot out by experimenting, making things by hand, being unsupervised.”

Deb added, “The Forum uplifted a regional voice that reflected many weird and wonderful individuals and perspectives, incubating their work through shared resources and ever-evolving innovations.” 

The evening concluded with an outpouring of support during the Raise the Paddle segment, which alone raised over $45,000.  In total, the evening brought in more than $125,000, which will directly support Northwest Film Forum’s efforts to foster the next generation of storytellers, amplify underrepresented voices, and remain a homebase for the region’s evolving film community.

“What an honor and a privilege it is to be in a position where we can be in a room full of people who believe in continuing to fight and to keep on giving the gift of courage,” said Camille Hermida-Fuentes, Director of Operations, as the evening came to a close.

The support on display at the gala underscores the continued momentum that Northwest FIlm Forum has been building all year. Since January, the Forum has experienced its  two strongest consecutive quarters in over two years, with significant increases in ticket sales, attendance and memberships.  “We are deeply appreciative of our community for continuing to show up for us during this incredibly challenging time for nonprofits,” said Derek.  On the horizon, the Forum looks ahead to its Children Film Festival Seattle, ACTION! Narrative Apprentice Program and the 28th annual Local Sightings Film Festival. 

To support Northwest Film Forum or learn more about upcoming programs, please visit nwfilmforum.org.