Pickford Film Center Announces 2026 Doctober Festival

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  The Pickford Film Center has announced its 2026 Doctober film festival“The Pickford Film Center’s 2026 Doctober program is live, and the monthlong film festival, “dedicated to one of Bellingham’s proven favorite genres,” returns Oct. 1–25 this year.”
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  The 2026 Doctober film festival is scheduled for Oct. 1–25“The 34 features and seven shorts explore everything from environmentalism to aging, identity, global crises and community. Audiences can also expect visits from filmmakers and special guests, pre-screening receptions and group discussions. While this year’s programmer, Adam Sekuler, is a Doctober rookie, he’s a familiar face in the industry itself. The veteran editor, curator and filmmaker has programmed movies in locales including the Pacific Northwest, Minneapolis, Detroit, New Orleans and even Europe.  In curating Doctober, Sekular followed a guiding principle: “Are these films something that I feel the folks in Bellingham are going to like?” Several films deal with the outdoors. Others were specifically chosen to be presented in partnership with local groups, such as the Whatcom Museum and the Whatcom Council on Aging. Sekuler said Bellingham residents tend to be curious, aware and engaged with larger societal issues. Documentary films tend to be “expressive abou”
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  The event will feature 34 documentary featuresNo usable supporting receipt — unverified.
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  The event will feature seven shortsNo usable supporting receipt — unverified.
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  The event will explore themes including environmentalism“The 34 features and seven shorts explore everything from environmentalism to aging, identity, global crises and community.”
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  The event will explore themes including agingNo usable supporting receipt — unverified.
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  The event will explore themes including identityNo usable supporting receipt — unverified.
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  The event will explore themes including global crisesNo usable supporting receipt — unverified.
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  The event will explore themes including communityNo usable supporting receipt — unverified.
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  Programmer Adam Sekuler is a veteran editor and curator“The veteran editor, curator and filmmaker has programmed movies in locales including the Pacific Northwest, Minneapolis, Detroit, New Orleans and even Europe.”
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  The festival aims to showcase films relevant to Bellingham residents' interestsNo usable supporting receipt — unverified.
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  The festival includes partnerships with local groups like the Whatcom Museum“Several films deal with the outdoors. Others were specifically chosen to be presented in partnership with local groups, such as the Whatcom Museum and the Whatcom Council on Aging.”
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  The festival includes partnerships with local groups like the Whatcom Council on Aging“Several films deal with the outdoors. Others were specifically chosen to be presented in partnership with local groups, such as the Whatcom Museum and the Whatcom Council on Aging.”
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  Sekuler noted that Bellingham residents are 'curious, aware and engaged with larger societal issues'“Sekuler said Bellingham residents tend to be curious, aware and engaged with larger societal issues.”
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  The festival will include filmmaker visits“Audiences can also expect visits from filmmakers and special guests, pre-screening receptions and group discussions.”
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  The festival will include pre-screening receptions“Audiences can also expect visits from filmmakers and special guests, pre-screening receptions and group discussions.”
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  The festival will include group discussions“Audiences can also expect visits from filmmakers and special guests, pre-screening receptions and group discussions.”
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  The opening night will feature the documentary 'Once Upon a Time in Harlem'No usable supporting receipt — unverified.
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  The documentary 'Once Upon a Time in Harlem' is co-directed by William and David Greaves“Co-directed by William Greaves and his son, David Greaves, "Once Upon a Time in Harlem" features interviews with witnesses to the Harlem Renaissance.”