When the lights go down, community shows up

Across neighborhoods and small arts districts, the communal movie experience continues to shape how we relate with one another

Story by Chayton Engelson

Published Feb. 17, 2026

Film is an essential part of Bellingham culture, and the Pickford Film Center plays a significant role in creating that community. It acts as a haven for film lovers to gather and build community. “Folks stick around in the lobby,” said Skyler Hunt, the staff and projection manager of the Pickford. “They all cluster in their little groups and stand around talking about it for an hour.” // Photo by Chayton Engelson

The Pickford values showing movies that most places wouldn’t, highlighting many of the independent productions that they believe are valuable not only in terms of bringing in money, but also have a deeper meaning to audiences. Hunt believes that the trend of streaming films at home deprives audiences of the impact that comes from experiencing a movie alongside others. “It's kind of like the difference between looking at a photograph of a painting and seeing it in a gallery when the environment is focused on helping you experience this art,” said Hunt. // Photo by Chayton Engelson

A key part of film culture in Bellingham is the Fairhaven Outdoor Cinema, an event held weekly during the summer where the Fairhaven Association projects films on a wall in the Fairhaven Village Green. The events attract large crowds and create a family-friendly atmosphere, with many classics shown every year. The most commonly shown movie is “The Princess Bride,” which brings in their biggest crowd. “There is something incredibly important, especially for our youth, to get out and experience those little nostalgic experiences,” said Kimberly Anderson, executive director of the Fairhaven Association. “I think it's really important to just have those moments where you can just kind of be a kid again.” // Photo provided by the Fairhaven Association

Seeing a movie in person with a room full of other people is one of the most valuable parts of film culture. Each audience member simultaneously brings their own perspectives and forms their own opinion of the film. “You're experiencing this film as an individual person and getting all the emotions of that, but you also have a sense of other people responding to it at the same time as a community,” said Melissa Tamminga, the program director for the Pickford. “I think that can be a really powerful thing, that can make you feel a sense of community.” // Photo by Chayton Engelson

The lobby of the new Pickford on Grand St., which opened on Aug. 1, 2025. The location introduces three new theaters, two of them with 61 seats and one jewel-box theater with 20 seats. // Photo by Chayton Engelson

The original Pickford Film Center was founded in 1998 by a group of local film fans who valued film culture. Pictured is the front of the building on November 21, 2025. The original location has two theaters, one with 135 seats and another with 75 seats. The theater's mission is to bring independent films to the local community and create a uniquely Bellingham experience. // Photo by Chayton Engelson

Everything from the room full of strangers — the smell of buttered popcorn, the soft-cushioned seats and the rows of elbows squeezed in to avoid bumping into the next person — is part of this intentional film experience. It may seem like a simple ritual, but it’s one that many people have drifted away from as films moved onto living-room screens. “Being focused on the experience is important, and also seeing it in a crowd full of people reacting at the same time, and kind of feeling that energy, you can't get that on your couch,” said Hunt. // Photo by Chayton Engelson