The Pickford Film Center: True Cinema
The Pickford Film Center on Bay Street
Cue the Martin Scorsese “ABSOLUTE CINEMA” meme, for The Pickford Film Center is an independent cinema which goes beyond being “just” a movie theater. They are a dynamic nonprofit and live up to their mission of strengthening the community through education, dialogue, and the celebration of film itself.
The Pickford Film Center now has two stunning locations in Downtown Bellingham. The first is the classic: The Pickford Film Center on 1318 Bay St and the new Pickford on Grand located on 105 Grand Ave.
The Pickford is this nonprofit that continues to provide an experience, etiquette and opportunity to enjoy movies that is eons better than any Regal, AMC, or other big name movie theater.
Let me tell you why.
The Big Picture
First, I am a BIG movie person. I love watching movies, engaging in dialogues about movies, breaking down the nitty-gritty of the acting, lighting, cinemaphotography. I love the smell of the popcorn, the feel of the space, getting cozy in my seat. Then debating if I have to go to the bathroom…
The Pickford shows movies that you might not see anywhere else from documentaries, foreign films, AND they also show current blockbuster movies as well.
Chef and I had walked by the Pickford countless times throughout college or when we visited the Woods Coffee that used to be in the Flatiron Building for study sessions.
I’m fairly certain the first movie I saw at the Pickford was Parasite directed by Bong Joon Ho in 2019. Prior to that movie we had been Regal-stans. That was just what we had growing up. But I don’t think Parasite was at Regal and Chef wanted to see it. So he found it at the Pickford. I knew nothing about that film… Which, by the way, you SHOULD see.
When I first attended the Pickford (on Bay Street) I was skeptical I would like it. It’s going to be small. Will the sound be good? I think I’m going to feel squished. The screen doesn’t look that big.
But I was excited to see this film. Walking out of there I was blown away. Not only by the film but by the experience of the Pickford space and being with my fellow theater-goers. In addition to being a lover of film, I am a theatre person, I love attending staged productions and the audiences that go to the Pickford have a quality I’ll try to articulate.
The movie-theatre audience, every time I attend a show at the Pickford, are fully engaged. Pickford audiences are giving every film a quality of attention that just makes you want to absorb the film as much as you can. Nobody is talking. No one pulls out their phone. It’s not this 50/50 “will it be rowdy” coin toss. The people who go to the Pickford are there to watch a movie with a community and it shows.
The Studio Ghibli Series Showcase
The next memory I cherish from the Pickford (again, Bay Street) that really solidified the theater as one of high-quality and cinema-lovers was their Studio Ghibli series showcase of Hayao Miyazaki movies in 2023 through most of 2024.
What began as just Chef and I committing to going to the movie theater once a month for each movie evolved into having our friends from Seattle make day trips monthly to join us for these wonderful films.
What blew me away specifically, was the quality of the sound in the Pickford theater. I had seen those movies hundreds of times. But seeing Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind changed my brain. The 1984 film had a depth of sound in the foley and music I had never absorbed before or since and I know that is because of The Pickford’s 7.1 surround sound. We watched Nausicaä in “House 1” which is the 75-seat theater and probably my favorite at Bay Street. Then we saw several others including the latest installment at the time, The Boy and The Heron in “House 2” the 132-seat theater and it was just as marvelous.
I’ll circle back to more adventures the Pickford provides, but since I’m chatting about the phsyical locations let’s switch gears and talk about the actual space and of course — The popcorn and snacks.
The Lobby of The Pickford Film Center on Bay Street.
Movies at The Pickford Film Center on Bay Street
So, the big picture details:
House 1: 2K bulb projection, 7.1 surround sound, 1.85:1 screen w/ vertical movable masking, 75 seats
House 2: 2K bulb projection, 7.1 surround sound, 235:1 screen w/ horizontal movable masking, 132 seats
Like I said earlier, I love House 1 there is just something satisfying about it being so compact without compromising on comfort or spacing. I’ve seen movies like Perfect Days (2023), directed by Wim Wenders, Poor Things (2023) directed by Yorgos Lanthimos in House 1. Then Mickey 17 (2025) also directed by Bong Joon Ho in House 2. We’ve also seen so many others and “Big Ticket” blockbuster movies there over the years.
See Movies on Playing Right Now at the Pickford on Bay Street
“The Grand Pickford”
Movies at The Pickford Film Center on Grand Avenue
Okay, okay, my ONLY qualm with the Pickford is the new space is called: “The Pickford on Grand” and I DESPERATELY hope we colloquially start calling it: The Grand Pickford. Because it is GRAND.
The three theaters details:
Saturna Capital Theater: 4K laser projection, 7.1 surround sound, 1.85:1 screen, 61 seats
Joy Cinema: 4K laser projection, 7.1 surround sound, 1.85:1 screen, 61 seats
Loober Jewelbox: 2K bulb projection, 7.1 surround sound, 1.85:1 screen, 19 seats
I’m embarrassed to share that I haven’t made time to see a movie at the Grand, we just end up on Bay Street. Though, we did recently attend and absolutely adore the event The Pickford On Grand hosted for Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (2025) where we had to adventure around Bellingham to different businesses as a scavenger hunt to solve a murder mystery! It was incredibly delightful, challenging, but not impossible to solve! Alas, we solved the mystery but didn’t win the raffle for local prize.
I have no doubt it is a great space. Since I can only imagine that the entire staff and volunteers at the Pickford helped in the development to bring The Grand to life and have created a space using their knowledge and wisdom from running the Pickford Film Center since 1988. I’ll be sure to write a special blog highlighting my first visit to “The Grand Pickford”!
See Movies on Playing Right Now at the Pickford on Grand Avenue
The fancy concession display at The Pickford on Grand — Peep those Cookie Dough Bites!!
The Popcorn at the Pickford Movie Theater
Drumroll please… drrrr…. drrr…. tiss! Is great! I won’t lie, it took some getting used to as a “Child of Regal Cinema” opening the regal doors and getting blasted by the wall of popcorn and butter (is it butter?) smell is a sensory memory forever engrained in my brain but honestly — The Pickford keeps it’s quality high from concessions to their screens.
Eating a bucket of Pickford Popcorn isn’t going to make you feel sick and that is a huge win, let’s be honest. Are you even at the movie theater if you haven’t devoured the popcorn during the previews? Which, the previews at the Pickford are amazing. You have to go to understand what I’m saying, but I’ll share another pro: the previews aren’t 30+ minutes at the Pickford.
The popcorn is freshly popped, buttered, they provide fun toppings for you to use that beyond just salt and it’s just the quintessential necessity for any movie-goer.
In addition to popcorn, the Pickford’s Concession Menu includes:
Snacks
Pretzels
Pickles
Baked goods like cookies
Candy
Dots
Gummy Bears
M&Ms (of all vareities)
Sour Patch Goodies
Chocolate candies
Drinks
Fountain Drinks
Jones Sodas
Cold Brew
Kombucha
Drip Coffee, from local roasters
Tea, from local providers
Beer & Cider, from local breweries
NA Beer
Wine
I mean, come on, how cool is all that stuff? They have more and have their full concession menu on their website and I’m sure they update what’s offered so keep an eye out. Now I’ll confession another secret, The Pickford also has my favorite candy of all time: Cookie Dough Bites. Another core-movie-theater-going-childhood request. They are just these little edible cookie dough balls covered in chocolate that are the size of skittles but I LOVE THEM. Literally every time I walk by the Pickford I go in and buy a bag. You can’t find them anywhere else consistently!
The Pickford Film Center For Community
Accessibility
According to the Pickford’s website all theatres are ADA Accessible with wheelchair seating with diagrams for you to view online. The Pickford also offers a free ticket to an accompanying caretaker if you send them an email or visit the box office. Plus closed captioning and assistive listening devices are available at the box office. Service animals are welcome at the Pickford, though they cannot be in a seat (whamp wha). They also have several seats sprinkled throughout the theaters that are 1-inch wider and have armrests that lift while other seats might not have those adjustments. So many of these options are available for you to review online on the Pickford’s website. The folks at the Pickford are also wonderfully kind and I’m sure can answer most questions in person, online, or over the phone.
Events
The Pickford hosts and curates some stunning annual and pop-ups, and series events like Doctober, Kid Pickford, Musicals on the Big Screen and so many more.
Doctober is the one that comes up most consistently. Every October the Pickford turns into this month-long documentary film festival. It’s something wild like 30+ films in a single month.
Education
Beyond the series events they also provide a number of education films for kids of all ages, preschool to college and just endless opportunities for people devoted to films. They also have a literal library known as the Film is Truth Library where you can rent movies, throwback to Blockbuster and Hollywood video anyone? Bellingham did technically have it’s own indie version known at Film is Truth which I had the joy of wandering through many years ago. They also allow filmmakers to rent their screens for a screen test? Like how awesome and enlightening must that be for a production team?
The Pickford is More Than a Movie Theater to see Movies
Let’s all go to the lobby!
Wowza! When I started writing this, I knew the Pickford did a lot, but to really dive into it and write about what they do for the community? The Pickford is a beacon that we are so lucky to have in Bellingham.
Chef and I have had a membership on and off and now I’m thinking we better go renew it (for more than the free popcorn on Mondays).
The Pickford is a community resource, experience, and opportunity to enjoy cinema with others who are there to watch a movie and be transported for 2-hours to discover something together.
I’ll forever be a fan of the Pickford Film Center.
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