• CASCADIA International Women’s Film Festival Honors Native American Heritage Month With Special Film

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    “Missing From Fire Trail Road” will screen one time only on Thursday, Nov. 14 with a special guest appearance by the film’s director and producer.
    BELLINGHAM, WA – CASCADIA International Women’s Film Festival, in partnership with the Pickford Film Center, is proud to present an important film as its Native American Heritage month selection 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14 at the Pickford’s downtown location (1318 Bay St., Bellingham).
    “Missing From Fire Trail Road” is a riveting 100-minute documentary directed by Sabina Van Tassel that sheds light on the unsolved case of Mary Ellen Johnson-Davis, who disappeared over two years ago from the Tulalip Indian reservation near Bellingham.
    Because the investigation is at a standstill, her sisters and other tribal members set off to discover what happened to her and uncover a harsh reality: indigenous women are murdered at an alarming rate, and most crimes go unsolved and are committed by non-natives.
    Johnson-Davis’ story exposes how hundreds of indigenous women continue to go missing in the USA, perpetuating trans-generational trauma on Indian reservations.
    Both Director Van Tassel and Producer Deborah Parker, ex-vice chairwoman of the Tulalip Tribe, will attend the Bellingham screening. The two will participate in a discussion afterwards with the audience.
    Watch the trailer and buy tickets on the Pickford Film Center’s website here.
    French-American Director Van Tassel says this film has been on her mind for the past ten years. "I remember precisely the day I found out about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. It was also the very first time I heard about activist Deborah Parker. Little did I know then, that we would embark together on this journey a decade later," she says.
    Van Tassel's 2020 documentary “The State of Texas vs Melissa” created a media stir and was instrumental in saving a woman on death row from being executed. "All of a sudden, I was asked what I wanted to do next. I immediately talked about this film," Van Tassel recalls.
    The film was shot on location at both Tulalip and Lummi Nation. Musician Antone George, a Lummi Tribal member, co-composed songs for the film, with composer Christophe La Pinta, and recorded the vocals in a Bellingham studio.
    About CASCADIA International Women’s Film Festival
    CASCADIA International Women’s Film Festival is a multi-day annual event based in Bellingham, WA. The festival is dedicated to showcasing exceptional films directed by women from around the world and providing educational opportunities for women directors. CASCADIA is committed to promoting Bellingham, Whatcom County, and the surrounding area as a destination for filmmakers and film enthusiasts.
    Visit our website for more information at www.cascadiafilmfest.org.
     

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