Facebook Mail RSS
  • The Arts
  • History
  • Sports
    • All
    • High School
  • LocalTalk
  • Activities
    • Adult
    • Bargain Bellingham
    • Family
    • Indoor
    • Outdoor
    • Kids
  • Calendar
    • Calendar
    • Add An Event
    • Event Articles
  • Featured Business
    • Around the House
    • Restaurants and Pubs
    • Retail Shops
    • Services
    • Women in Business
  • Community Channels
    • Book Store
    • Chamber of Commerce
      • Bellingham Regional Chamber of Commerce
      • Ferndale Chamber of Commerce
    • Downtown Organizations
      • Downtown Bellingham Partnership
      • Lynden Washington Downtown Business Association
    • Food and Farming
    • Health Care
    • Heating and Air Conditioning
    • Hotel and Lodging
    • Media Partners
      • NorthAmericaTalk
    • Whatcom County Real Estate
  • Nonprofits
  • Travel
    • Day Trips
    • Overnight Trips
Search
Friday, June 13, 2025
  • About
    • The WhatcomTalk Team
    • Company News
    • Contact
    • Terms of Use
  • Advertise
    • Advertise with us
    • Marketing Insights
    • Customer Testimonials
    • Company News
Facebook Mail RSS
Sign in
Welcome! Log into your account
Forgot your password? Get help
Password recovery
Recover your password
A password will be e-mailed to you.
WhatcomTalk
  • The Arts
    • Mount Baker Toppers

      It’s Hard to Top the Mount Baker Toppers: Meet the All-Voices…

      Whatcom Transportation Authority

      Rolling Art Gallery: Whatcom Transportation Authority Whatcomics Bus on Display During…

      Bellingham Symphony Orchestra

      Moving Forward With the Bellingham Symphony Orchestra

      Nuages The Unknowns Aperatonic Trio

      Nuages, The Unknowns and Aperatonic Trio Put Contemporary Twists on Jazz

      Congregation Beth Israel tapestries

      The Days of Creation Needlepoint Tapestries and a Long Labor of…

  • History
    • Bellingham Little Squalicum Pier

      Bellingham’s Little Squalicum Pier Opening Recalls Era of Long Waterfront Piers

      George Hunsby Whatcom County

      Remembering George Hunsby: Whatcom County Storyteller, Historian, and Renaissance Man

      Postmarked Washington Whatcom County

      “Postmarked Washington” Sheds Light on Whatcom County History

      Elmer Cave Bellingham Superintendent

      Learn About Elmer Cave Bellingham Superintendent of Schools From 1909 to…

      Black history in Bellingham

      ‘For Peace and For A Decent Life for All:’ A Black…

  • Sports
    • All
    • High School
  • LocalTalk
    • Juneteenth Bellingham

      Bellingham’s 2025 Juneteenth Celebration at Maritime Heritage Park

      Peoples Bank Hosts Home Buying Seminar at Everson Library

      Fairhaven Festival

      Don’t Worry About Parking – Ride WTA to the Fairhaven Festival…

      Barron Heating

      Solar Myths vs. Facts: What Western Washington Homeowners Need to Know

      bellingham food bank hunger v hunger

      Hunger Vs. Hunger

  • Activities
    • AllAdultBargain BellinghamFamilyIndoorOutdoorKids
      man in a blue sit-in kayak on the Black River. A bridge over the river can be seen in the distance

      Kayaking, Stand Up Paddleboarding and Canoeing Near Olympia: Black River Gate…

      view of the mima mounds and a paved walkway from an observation deck with a metal mesh railing

      Walking Trails Near Olympia on a Natural Area Preserve

      Kayaking near Olympia

      Challenging Kayaking in Olympia With Rewarding Scenery? Check Out This Day…

      North Slope Trails Olympia

      Downhill Mountain Biking Near Olympia: North Slope Offers Shuttling Access and…

  • Calendar
    • Calendar
    • Add An Event
    • Event Articles
  • Featured Business
    • AllAround the HouseRestaurants and PubsRetail ShopsServicesWomen in Business
      The Fork at Agate Bay Bellingham

      The Fork: A Wayside Restaurant of Southern and Pacific Northwestern Fine…

      Moore Than Homes: Washington Builder Thrives With First Fed

      Boundary Bay Brewery Bellingham

      A Final Toast to Boundary Bay Brewery’s 30 Years in Bellingham

      Solarize Whatcom

      Replace Those Electric Bills With Solar Power: Solarize Whatcom Is Open…

  • Community Channels
    • Book Store
    • Chamber of Commerce
      • Bellingham Regional Chamber of Commerce
      • Ferndale Chamber of Commerce
    • Downtown Organizations
      • Downtown Bellingham Partnership
      • Lynden Washington Downtown Business Association
    • Food and Farming
    • Health Care
    • Heating and Air Conditioning
    • Hotel and Lodging
    • Media Partners
      • NorthAmericaTalk
    • Whatcom County Real Estate
  • Nonprofits
    • love2hope Bellingham

      Love2Hope Provides Food and Health Care to Pets That Need It…

      First Fed Foundation

      Banking on Community: First Fed Foundation Celebrates 10 Years

      Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services Teens Against Abuse

      Teens Against Abuse Inspires Prevention Education and Community Awareness in Whatcom County

      Assistance League of Bellingham’s Thrift & Gift Shop

      Behind the Scenes at Assistance League of Bellingham’s Thrift & Gift…

      Cascade Connections

      Cascade Connections Offers a Hand Up Into The Workplace

  • Travel
    • Day Trips
    • Overnight Trips

Polly Miller Strives to Bring Female Eye Film Festival to Bellingham

By
Marla Bronstein
-
Photo credit: FeFF.

Share via:

0 Shares
  • More

 

By Marla Bronstein

greenhouse logo“Always Honest, Not Always Pretty” is the tag line of the Female Eye Film Festival (FeFF) based in Toronto, and chaired by local Bellinghamster, Polly Miller. FeFF provides an exclusive showcase for women directors of independent cinema.

I met Polly a few years ago, shortly after she moved to Bellingham in 2009 to follow her heart. Polly carries herself with the all of the grace and panache of Audrey Hepburn. Her accent has a lovely French lilt. As one of the many Whatcom County residents who live here and telecommute elsewhere, her varied career and international flair make for a fascinating conversation.

female eye film festival
Polly Miller moved to Bellingham in 2009. She is the chair of the Female Eye Film Festival.

Polly was born in South Africa, and attended nursery school and one year of elementary school in London. Her family returned to South Africa for her junior high years, and then moved to France where she attended high school and obtained her baccalaureate. At that time, Polly wanted to experience the glamor of an American education. By then, her older sister had moved to Canada, and Polly settled on attending college in Toronto where she received a degree in general education from University of Toronto, and attended Ryerson University in Toronto, where she graduated with a degree in Radio and Television.

Polly first worked for CBC in Toronto for many years. Always the entrepreneur, she opened her own art gallery that showcased the commercial and professional work of photographers and illustrators, concurrently publishing a magazine. Since 1998, she has been an Account Executive and producer at The Backroom Agency, an advertising firm that specializes in travel and tourism, finance, beer, and wine.

Leslie Ann Coles, the Executive Director of FeFF hired Backroom to promote the event. Shortly thereafter, Leslie Ann invited Polly to join as Festival Chair in 2003, and Polly has been remained in this position ever since.

In December 2014, Polly learned that Bellingham was looking for ideas for a new signature event, grant funded by the Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism board, that would bring tourists to town to fill hotel rooms and boost local business, as well as highlight Bellingham. Along with some local FeFF supporters, Polly applied for the grant and came in as a runner up.

However, the team discovered that the City of Bellingham is eager for a film festival. Their application spread the word within the city and county, and drummed up a lot of support.

female eye film festival
“All The Time In The World” is a film about a family attempting to disconnect from the world. Photo courtesy: FeFF.

FeFF has curated a block of films being shown as part of Pickford Film Center’s 2015 Doctober series and will be screened on October 17 and 18. The FeFF films have won awards in the categories of Documentary, Shorts and Animation.

The Shorts program showcases local filmmaker Elli Smith and her documentary about a group of Native American youth. Saturday night’s program includes a powerful film of a woman’s recovery from a traumatic injury, as well as a film about agricultural entrepreneurs. Sunday’s back-to-back programs feature Wanda the Wonderful which is introduced by a selection of films from the Young Filmmaker Development Workshop, and All the Time in the World which highlights a family attempting to disconnect from the world, enabling them to reconnect with each other. (See the full line-up of Doctober’s events here.)

FeFF programming includes an educational component, and for its foray into Bellingham, is planning to host a free seminar. The working title of the paneled Director’s discussion is “Breaking the Glass Ceiling for Women in Film,” and will be moderated by local Western Washington University educator, Mel Damski. As a Hollywood ex-pat, he is one of many who supports the emerging and successful filmmaker. Polly appreciates Mel’s sensitivity to women’s issues and his willingness to support women in this kind of work. Check the FeFF Facebook page for more details on other upcoming events related to Doctober.

food fighters movie
The movie “Food Fighters” is intended to show how urban agriculture initiatives and local food businesses are coming together to create food security. Photo credit: FeFF.

As Polly continues to move forward with a committee of supporters to bring FeFF to Bellingham in the Spring 2016, she hopes a film festival such as this will enhance the overall experience of the town to its residents, as well as to visitors. Polly expects FeFF will contribute to the county’s economic growth by partnering with the arts community.

Polly is convinced that Whatcom County is a perfect location for FeFF for a number of reasons. First, she says, the environment is stunning and filmmakers will love it. For filmmakers, its proximity to “Hollywood of the North,” which include both Vancouver, BC and Seattle, is a bonus. Polly also notes that there is clearly a strong arts community that exists in Whatcom County – evidenced by the sheer number of individuals who are involved in the craft. Polly hopes to make Bellingham and Whatcom County a filmmaker destination.

Polly believes that FeFF will bring magic to Whatcom County. Based upon the history of other film festivals around the country, over a period of years, film festivals bring economic growth, as well as national and international recognition.

Polly hopes Bellingham takes ownership of the festival as a badge of honor. FeFF intends to connect with more local filmmakers from Whatcom County and the Pacific Northwest with the anticipated April event.

For more information about FeFF and how you can get involved, contact Polly at FeFF.Bellingham@gmail.com.

 

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Share via:

0 Shares
  • More
Previous articleWhatcom Museum Exhibition to Feature the Color Prints of Norma Bassett Hall
Next articleTechnique, Hard Work, and Fun Found at Opus Performing Arts School
Marla Bronstein

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

Mount Baker Toppers

It’s Hard to Top the Mount Baker Toppers: Meet the All-Voices A Cappella Chorus

Whatcom Transportation Authority

Rolling Art Gallery: Whatcom Transportation Authority Whatcomics Bus on Display During Art Walk

Bellingham Symphony Orchestra

Moving Forward With the Bellingham Symphony Orchestra

STAY CONNECTED

17,793FansLike
8,664FollowersFollow
3,763FollowersFollow

Upcoming Events

Jun
13
Fri
5:00 pm Shoestring Circus in Bellingham @ Under the bog top tent!
Shoestring Circus in Bellingham @ Under the bog top tent!
Jun 13 @ 5:00 pm
Shoestring Circus in Bellingham @ Under the bog top tent!
Shoestring Circus returns for their third season under the big top tent in downtown Bellingham! Back with an ALL NEW show featuring incredible new acts and circus artists from around the country. This season’s show[...]
6:00 pm June’s Words of a Feather: the S... @ Allied Arts Gallery
June’s Words of a Feather: the S... @ Allied Arts Gallery
Jun 13 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Step into a vibrant celebration where Whatcom County’s most captivating poems come alive alongside stunning artwork they’ve inspired! For two decades, the Sue C. Boynton Poetry Contest has connected our community through the power of[...]
7:30 pm “Your Grace” a new play by Natal... @ Idiom Theatre
“Your Grace” a new play by Natal... @ Idiom Theatre
Jun 13 @ 7:30 pm
Those Brazen Wenches Theatre Company proudly presents the world premiere of “Your Grace”, a bawdy, brainy, and bold new tragicomedy by local playwright Natalie Fedak. Directed by Dawn Hunter, the production runs June 11–21, 2025[...]
7:30 pm Days of Our Nights @ The Upfront Theatre
Days of Our Nights @ The Upfront Theatre
Jun 13 @ 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Days of Our Nights @ The Upfront Theatre
Indulge in the grand schemes we will cook up in the most dramatic comedy show you will ever see! Based on audience suggestions and soap opera tropes, we will improvise a world where no personality[...]
8:00 pm Shoestring Circus in Bellingham @ Under the big top tent!
Shoestring Circus in Bellingham @ Under the big top tent!
Jun 13 @ 8:00 pm
Shoestring Circus in Bellingham @ Under the big top tent!
Shoestring Circus returns to Bellingham! Their big top tent will be back at the Waterfront Pump Track from June 6th – 22nd with a brand new show for all ages! Come enjoy a circus spectacle[...]
View Calendar

Local Community Sponsors

Business

The Fork at Agate Bay Bellingham

The Fork: A Wayside Restaurant of Southern and Pacific Northwestern Fine...

Just outside Bellingham, by the shores of Lake Whatcom, is a curious sight: The Fork at Agate Bay, a fine dining restaurant and bar...

Moore Than Homes: Washington Builder Thrives With First Fed

Boundary Bay Brewery Bellingham

A Final Toast to Boundary Bay Brewery’s 30 Years in Bellingham

Solarize Whatcom

Replace Those Electric Bills With Solar Power: Solarize Whatcom Is Open...

Comcast

Unlock Unbeatable Internet Value in Whatcom County With Comcast’s New Five-Year...

Trending Now

2025 July 4th Fireworks in Whatcom County

Whatcom County Schools flag football

Whatcom Area Schools Prepare for Inaugural Varsity Girls Flag Football Season

The Fork at Agate Bay Bellingham

The Fork: A Wayside Restaurant of Southern and Pacific Northwestern Fine...

Editor Picks

George Hunsby Whatcom County

Remembering George Hunsby: Whatcom County Storyteller, Historian, and Renaissance Man

Cascade Connections

Cascade Connections Offers a Hand Up Into The Workplace

What Whatcom Families Should Know About the Healthy Children’s Fund

Recent Posts

  • 2025 July 4th Fireworks in Whatcom County
  • Whatcom Area Schools Prepare for Inaugural Varsity Girls Flag Football Season
  • Celebrate World Music Day at the ‘Come As You Are Music Festival’ in Aberdeen
  • Kayaking, Stand Up Paddleboarding and Canoeing Near Olympia: Black River Gate Area
  • The Fork: A Wayside Restaurant of Southern and Pacific Northwestern Fine Dining
ABOUT US
WhatcomTalk is a community social network delivering positive stories about what it’s like to live, work and play in Bellingham, Ferndale, Lynden, and the surrounding Whatcom County area. Advertise with WhatcomTalk. Brand your business and tell your story to your target market.
Contact us: info@whatcomtalk.com
FOLLOW US
Facebook Mail RSS
  • About
    • The WhatcomTalk Team
    • Company News
    • Contact
    • Terms of Use
  • Advertise
    • Advertise with us
    • Marketing Insights
    • Customer Testimonials
    • Company News
© WhatcomTalk, Inc.
 

Loading Comments...
 

    Share via
    Facebook
    X (Twitter)
    LinkedIn
    Mix
    Email
    Print
    Copy Link
    Powered by Social Snap
    Copy link
    CopyCopied
    Powered by Social Snap