Northwest Film Forum Will Expand to Seven-Day Schedule
The Seattle art house cinema will begin daily operations on October 5 to support rising attendance levels.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Arthouse
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The Northwest Film Forum in Seattle will officially move to a seven-day operating schedule starting October 5, 2026. This expansion follows a period of significant growth for the nonprofit cinema.
Why it matters
The shift in operations is driven by thriving programming and increased audience demand for independent films. The organization aims to leverage this momentum to host more community events and partnerships.
Attendance at the theater surged by 62 percent between 2024 and 2025, with 2026 figures showing an additional 27 percent gain. The venue will now operate seven days per week to accommodate demand.
The players
Northwest Film Forum
This organization operates a nonprofit art house cinema in Seattle that promotes independent and experimental filmmaking.
Jill Busby
She is the full-time executive director of the Northwest Film Forum who assumed leadership in January 2026.
The details
The organization hired additional projectionists to support the new schedule, which enables the cinema to meet film distribution requirements for dedicated screen runs. This move marks a recovery for the venue, which had laid off approximately half of its staff in 2024.
Timeline
The Northwest Film Forum will begin seven-day operations on October 5, 2026.
The Seattle Trans Underground Film Festival is set for October 15-18, 2026.
Jill Busby assumed the executive director role in January 2026.
The organization experienced significant staffing layoffs in 2024.
Industry Dynamics
The expansion follows the 2024 Northwest Film Forum staff layoffs, marking a period of organizational recovery and stabilization. By increasing its operational capacity, the cinema aims to remain competitive within the independent film distribution landscape.
Local film enthusiasts will gain expanded access to screenings on Mondays and Tuesdays when the theater was previously closed. This change also ensures the venue can consistently host upcoming events like the Seattle Trans Underground Film Festival.
The takeaway
The move to a daily schedule demonstrates the resilience of independent venues as attendance trends rebound following organizational challenges. This expansion provides a more consistent cultural resource for the local community and traveling film festivals.
Further reading
For more information on the local cinema scene, see Arthouse.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Stranger.
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