Community-supported Pickford Film Center expands — again — at 27 years on.
The Pickford Film Center, a nonprofit cinema at 1318 Bay Street in Bellingham, will open three new screens at a second cinema a block over, at 105 Grand Avenue, on Friday, Aug. 1.
“What we set out to accomplish has been manifested, and everyone still gets along,” said Executive Director Susie Purves. “I am thrilled to have been a big part of this project that is providing a new cultural space in the Arts District.”
Since its founding in 1998 by community original film aficionados who called themselves the Whatcom Film Association, the Pickford Film Center has been the only independent cinema, operating 365 days a year, between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C.
The film center began at 1416 Cornwall Avenue as the Pickford Cinema, named for Mary Pickford, the Hollywood producer and actress from a century ago.
After several years, the need for more screens to share independent, foreign and documentary films with the community was evident, so the building at 1318 Bay Street was purchased.
It opened in 2011 and was named the Pickford Film Center — with two screens — and the Cornwall Avenue location was renamed the Limelight Cinema. The Limelight closed in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2021, board treasurer James Willson encouraged the organization to buy the Grand Avenue location while the commercial real estate market was still in its post-pandemic flux.
Local funding
In other counties — Snohomish, King and Pierce — the arts have more support from government and foundations. Here in Whatcom County The Grand was funded by individual donations and small businesses.
The Pickford on Grand has two 60-seat theaters plus a “jewel box” 20-seat theater. The additional screens mean a wider variety of films for a larger audience for a longer time.
Willson said, “While we’re excited about the expanded programming opportunities, this new space will solidify The Pickford financially into the future.”
Purves said the Pickford is unique for its post-film discussions, understanding of film as an art form not simply commerce, membership discounts and that the films are curated by a human, Melissa Tamminga, who knows what interests the community and travels the world to find films at top film festivals.
The popcorn butter is real too, she said.
Over the years, The Pickford began a number of special series, including Doc-ED Cinema East, Rocket Sci-Fi and Kid Pickford and supported community events like the Cascadia International Women’s Film Festival and Youth Pride Month. In addition, when nonprofit video rental archive Film is Truth closed its bricks-and-mortar doors in 2022, it donated more than 22,000 titles to the Pickford Film Center.
The community is invited to join in popping the corn and firing up the projectors for a new era of film in Bellingham. Open house festivities on Aug. 1 will begin with a ribbon-cutting ceremony followed by entertainment and other festive surprises. All of the new theater’s screens will be showing short films, and guests are encouraged to come in, explore the new space and enjoy free popcorn.
— By Margaret Bikman
Also read in Salish Current:
• “Arts, recreation, stories in the dark: where lodging tax revenues go,” Jan. 29, 2025
• “Back to the future: Film is Truth returns,” Nov. 4, 2024
• “Removing the barriers for people with disabilities,” April 3, 2024
• “Local festivals, theaters and movie lovers boost independent films,” Nov. 13, 2023