Orcas Island Film Festival: Classic Film Series

The Orcas Island Film Festival is thrilled to announce the 2026 edition of its beloved Classic Film Series, this year themed “Films on Film” — a curated exploration of movies that turn the camera on themselves. From silent-era masterpieces to biting Hollywood satire, surrealist introspection, documentary treasure hunting, and behind-the-scenes chaos, this series celebrates the art of filmmaking by showcasing films about the making of films.

For as long as cinema has existed, filmmakers have been irresistibly drawn to examining their own craft. Audiences have always been fascinated by the worlds behind the lens—how stories are imagined, shaped, produced, and sometimes barely survived. This year’s series invites viewers to step into that meta-cinematic world and experience how film history has reflected on its own evolution.

Hosted by longtime film scholar and storyteller Michael Edward Yeaman, each screening includes a brief introductory overview and a post-film discussion, offering deeper insight into the filmmaking process and the cultural moments that shaped these iconic works.

This program is free to the public, generously underwritten by David Dotlich and Doug Elwood. Attendees are welcome to bring their own food and drinks. To see the full line-up, go here.