About Us

The Seattle Film Society is a filmmaker-run project dedicated to organizing, cultivating, and celebrating Seattle’s filmmaking community.

It was founded in 2023 by filmmakers Marcus Baker, Tommy Meisel, Kalee Quiñones, Quentin Lebeau, Ben Johnson, Caity Petterson, and Harlie Sullivan.

Through screenings, educational opportunities, and community initiatives, SFS strives to foster a diverse, collaborative, and close-knit Seattle film community.

Who We Are

Mission

The Seattle Film Society is where filmmakers and film lovers unite. Through a range of community initiatives and educational opportunities, we provide direct support and mentorship for filmmakers at all levels. Our goal is to not only advocate for Seattle’s unique cinematic ethos, but to foster a diverse, collaborative, and close-knit Seattle film community.

Vision

To provide a community where Seattle filmmakers thrive.

Values

Community & Connection

Our first and primary responsibility is our relationship to the Seattle Film Community. We endeavor to be honest and transparent at every turn in order to build and maintain the trust of our members, sponsors, and fellow cinema arts organizations. We aim to create strong alliances within our community that allow for Seattle filmmakers to thrive.

Accountability & Growth

We are proponents for growth and learning from mistakes. In our view: Mistakes are a part of life and vital to advance in the filmmaking process. Therefore, the most important part of a mistake is not the mistake itself, but the desire and attempt to redress it. Through honest assessment followed by ownership and remedy, we advocate for restorative practices that create room for individual growth and communal healing. Be willing to be wrong and ready to redress.

Inclusivity

Each of us shoulders the responsibility to create an environment where everyone feels comfortable bringing their whole person. As a community-driven organization, it’s our expectation that all who engage with our programs and initiatives do so with respect to diversity and inclusivity. Any discrimination based on race, creed, gender, accessibility, or sexuality will not be tolerated.

The Power of Cinema

To quote Roger Ebert: Film is an empathy machine. We believe that film is a powerful medium that has the ability to affect viewers in ways they do not consciously perceive. Through film, we seek to generate understanding, challenge convention, and drive progressive change.

Nurturing the Future

We aspire to create and embody leadership that leads with compassion, consideration, accountability, and responsibility. We will do this in ways both direct and through the systems we create. Our intention, at all points, is to lower ladders and open doors.

The Art of Having Fun

Film is a vast and deep medium with an untold number of expressions. We seek out all manner of films and filmmaking in order to highlight the craft, skill, and labor that animates it -- all in the name of a good time at the movies.

Meet the Team

  • Marcus Baker

    Artistic Director

    He/Him

    Favorite Films:

    The Verdict (1982), Rudy (1993), The Heartbreak Kid (1972), Bringing Up Baby (1938)

    Favorite Filmmakers:

    Elaine May, Sidney Lumet

    Marcus Baker is an Writer/Director based out of Seattle. His short form work includes the psychodrama COUNTERWEIGHT, the family drama ONE HUNDRED, and the upcoming short comedy THREE WOMEN AND A POSSIBLE FIRE NEXT DOOR. Prior to his Directorial projects, Marcus worked in a variety of production and post production roles for the Oscars, Emmys, Netflix, and more. Having loved film from an early age, Marcus's artistic vision and relentless ambition have converged seamlessly in his work, characterized by engaging narratives, flawed characters, and complex themes.

    With the Seattle Film Society, he is proud to play a leading role in fostering an artistic community based in communication, collaboration, and the shared love of filmmaking.

    Instagram / Website

  • Kalee Quiñones

    Co-Programming Director

    She/They

    Favorite Films:

    Boogie Nights (1997), Miller's Crossing (1990), Mildred Pierce (1945), Fish Tank (2009)

    Favorite Filmmakers:

    Andrea Arnold, Paul Thomas Anderson

    Kalee is a freelance editor and script supervisor, and volunteers at the Grand Illusion Cinema as a projectionist and assistant programmer. She's worked in post-production as a junior editor for the Daytime Emmy Award Winning web series, Red Bird, as well as created YouTube content for brands like REI, GitHub, Lee Jeans, Google, and Bungie. She's also taught her unique editing techniques to classes at SIFF and Northwest Film Forum.

    In 2022, she produced, directed and edited a music video for watts 103rd by Stres and she is currently in pre-production for a short, experimental dramedy film she wrote called Naked Wolf. When it comes to SFS, she's most excited about bringing filmmakers together and continuing to make filmmaking more accessible to the Seattle community.

    Instagram / Website

  • Tommy Meisel

    Co-Programming Director

    He/Him

    Favorite Films:

    Faces (1968), The Killing of a Chinese Bookie (1976), Ikiru (1952), Repo Man (1984)

    Favorite Filmmakers:

    John Cassavetes, Luis Buñuel

    Tommy Meisel was interested in movies from a very young age. He has written, edited, and directed several narrative and documentary short films. His latest narrative project, “When The Man Comes Around”, screened at film festivals throughout the country where it was nominated for several awards including best director. Tommy also enjoys making non-narrative documentaries on Super 8 and 16mm film and would like to do it more often. Outside of film he likes sailing, a light rain, the Pasta Da Vinci from Cheesecake Factory, playing the piano, and old maps.

    Instagram / Website / Letterboxd / Vimeo

  • Ben Johnson

    Events Coordinator

    He/Him

    Favorite Films:

    The Shining (1980), Blue Is the Warmest Colour (2013), Before Sunset (2004), Blue Velvet (1986)

    Favorite Director:

    Richard Linklater, Luca Guadagnino

    Ben Johnson studied digital arts and media at The University of Texas at Austin. He has directed several short films and also has experience in video game development, acting, and experimenting with various forms of digital art. His favorite types of films are slice-of-life, surrealist horror, and coming-of-age stories. His dream film project is to make a series of vignettes that explore characters in small towns across the United States using a network of filmmakers across the country that can help on these projects. He enjoys driving around small towns and taking dreamy pictures of his dog. He is waiting for someone to submit a short film to the Seattle Film Society about this. He is very excited to coordinate events for SFS and to explore the massive amounts of creative talent/ideas in the Seattle area.

    Most of all, Ben loves writing and brainstorming with others on story ideas. Send him anything you would like to brainstorm on, and he will be happy to work on it with you!

    VSCO

  • Caity Petterson

    Communications Coordinator

    She/Her

    Favorite Films:

    Stick It (2006), 10 Things I Hate About You (1999), Past Lives (2023), Hidden Figures (2016)

    Favorite Director:

    Celine Song, Greta Gerwig

    Caity Petterson comes from an extensive, passionate background in theatre. She graduated from PCPA’s Actor’s Conservatory in 2018 and later received her B.A. in Theatre Arts, Directing from CSU Fullerton. While there, she directed multiple original works and was a national finalist in directing at the Kennedy Center of the Arts College Theatre Festival in 2020. She continued her involvement with theatre following her graduation eventually landing in Seattle, where she quickly fell in love with the city's vibrant film scene. Though new to the medium, she's excited by its collaborative and communal possibilities. This excitement carries through to her work with the Seattle Film Society, where she's eager to help foster creative opportunity and put a spotlight on this beautiful, bountiful place we get to call home.

    Instagram

  • Quentin Lebeau

    Marketing & Communications Manager

    He/Him

    Favorite Films:

    After Life (1998), Barry Lyndon (1975), The Royal Tenenbaums (2001), The Tree of Life (2011)

    Favorite Filmmakers:

    Terrence Malick, Éric Rohmer

    Quentin Lebeau is a multi-media producer, creative, business operations specialist and lifelong Washingtonian, currently living in Seattle. He has worked in a variety of production roles on features, shorts, and commercial projects, and is looking forward to writing/directing his own short (hopefully soon). When he's not working through his never-ending watchlist of movies, he spends his time exploring the outdoors, or playing basketball and soccer.

    Instagram

  • Harlie Sullivan

    Programmer

    She/Her

    Favorite Films:

    Perfect Blue (1997), Waitress (2007), Living in Oblivion (1995), Revenge (2017)

    Favorite Filmmakers:

    Adrien Shelly, Coralie Fargeat

    Harlie Sullivan (She/Her) is a local actor, filmmaker, and artist. She blames her brother for sparking her imagination as a child, her parents for encouraging her to go to performing arts school and her best friends for pushing her to pursue her dreams. When it comes to films she’s a horror junkie all the way but appreciates all genres.

  • Shelby Smout

    Programmer

    She/Her

    Favorite Films:

    Back to the Future (1985), Paris, Texas (1984), The Tree of Life (2011), The Master (2012)

    Favorite Filmmakers:

    Ingmar Bergman, Sofia Coppola

    Shelby Smout is a film worker who was born and raised in this great, green state of Washington. After receiving her MFA in filmmaking and producing at Seattle Film Institute, she produced the award-winning spooky shorts EMIKO (2017) and A Purple Vision (2019), both directed by Justin Robert Vinall, and the drama Way Out of Here (2018) directed by Alexander Sylvester. Shelby has written and directed shorts like the science fiction piece, Planet Somewhere (2016), and a lil drama called Old Blue Eyes Ain't Nothin' (2018). Swipe Right for Emotional Baggage (2021) is her most recent directorial adventure. She freelanced in the local film industry until 2021, and she now works full-time at SIFF. For Shelby, an important facet of film is community. Her fondness for the medium wouldn't be as fervent as it is without the cineastes she met along the way. Because of this, joining the programming team is extra thrilling, allowing her to introduce the community—and herself—to local and new filmmakers.

  • Champ Ensminger

    Programmer

    He/Him

    Favorite Films:

    The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Jurassic Park (1993), Roma (2018), The Wailing (2016)

    Favorite Filmmakers:

    Jonathan Glazer, Apichatpong Weerasethakul

    Champ Ensminger is a Thai American filmmaker born in Chiang Mai and raised in Spokane, Washington. He has since pursued opportunities in filmmaking and digital storytelling in Seattle, Brooklyn, back in Chiang Mai, and back in Seattle. He has had the privilege of working with some amazing creative teams both stateside and abroad, and he intends to do so for a long time. His personal filmmaking practice explores narrative and abstract storytelling with music, as well as exploring his interests in culture and heritage through documentary. He makes up for all the time in the edit by cycling in Seattle’s glorious summer, or singing “Kiss From A Rose” at karaoke for the other 11 months of the year.

  • Fletcher Kenaston

    Content Coordinator

    He/Him

    Favorite Films:

    Giant (1956), The Godfather: Part II (1974), Mulholland Drive (2001), Parasite (2019)

    Favorite Filmmakers:

    David Lynch, Bong Joon-ho

  • Mike Clarke

    Digital Coordinator

    He/Him

    Favorite Films:

    2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), Punch-Drunk Love (2002), Amadeus (1984), Winged Migration (2001)

    Favorite Filmmakers:

    Spike Lee, Robert Eggers

    An escapee from the tech industry, Mike is a screenwriter working on an adaptation of a science fiction novel, with the intent that Toni Collette and Javier Bardem will play the leads. He has (so far) only been rejected twice from admission to the Sundance Screenwriter’s Lab. He has also been studying challenges of distribution for indie film and is working on tools to help break the chokehold of the big tech / big media platforms. Mike discovered SFS in June ‘24 and frequently attends Locals Only and the Screenwriting Club. He’s excited to contribute to SFS’ efforts in fostering the local film community and bridging its IRL and digital spaces.

  • Ethan Herbert

    Social Media Coordinator

    He/Him

    Favorite Films:

    Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters (1985), Wild Strawberries (1957), Yi Yi (2000), Oslo, August 31st (2011)

    Favorite Filmmakers:

    Edward Yang, Joachim Trier

    Passionate about the art of visual storytelling, Ethan focuses on being a Film Producer, Writer, and Director who can bring narratives to life through an intimate lens. As a recent graduate from Emerson College with a B.A. in Media Arts Production, he has honed his skills and cultivated a deep relationship with the cinematic medium.