The Stories Water Keeps

A film program with more than one point of view

The two-day series brings documentary films, short features and community storytelling together with facilitated panels. Its stated subjects—Indigenous knowledge, maritime heritage and a changing Seattle waterfront—give the conversations an important role alongside the screenings.

Several listed partners offer context for those subjects. Setting Sun Circle is an Indigenous-led film organization whose work centers Native leadership, environmental stewardship and cultural resilience; it was formerly known as Children of the Setting Sun Productions. Maritime Washington connects people with the stories and cultures of the state’s saltwater shores, while Salmon Homecoming Alliance works to bring tribal and nontribal communities together around salmon restoration and protection.

The other listed partners are Maritime Blue, Seattle Aquarium and SIFF. Their descriptions point respectively to sustainable maritime business and practices, ocean conservation, and film discovery and arts education. The event page does not match partners to individual films, so these affiliations provide context rather than a film-by-film guide.

Further reading: The Stories Water Keeps - Friends of Waterfront ParkFriend of Waterfront Parkicon-searchlanguage icongear iconclose "X" iconcontrast iconlink icontext spacing iconpause iconcursor icondyslexic font iconicon-facebookicon-twittericon-emailicon-emailicon-facebookicon-instagramicon-threadsicon-youtubeicon-linkedinSeattle Center at Waterfront Park logo ↗ · The Stories Water Keeps | Port of Seattle ↗

Saturday’s schedule has a close film-and-panel pairing

Saturday begins with Tugboat Annie at 1 p.m., followed at 2:30 p.m. by a panel featuring Jennifer Ott, Eleanor Boba and Andrew Benett. The 3:30 p.m. film is still listed as TBC. At 4:50 p.m., the schedule names Tribal Guide to Maritime Washington: Suquamish.

A panel featuring Meagan Harden, Barbara Lawrence and Courtney Gooby is scheduled for 5 p.m.—just ten minutes after that film’s listed start. The schedule gives no film duration or explanation of how the two start times relate, so visitors planning to stay for both should account for the uncertainty. The 6 p.m. film appears as Fish Wars on the Waterfront Park listing and Fish War on the Port of Seattle listing; a 7:30 p.m. panel is listed without participants’ names.

Further reading: The Stories Water Keeps - Friends of Waterfront ParkFriend of Waterfront Parkicon-searchlanguage icongear iconclose "X" iconcontrast iconlink icontext spacing iconpause iconcursor icondyslexic font iconicon-facebookicon-twittericon-emailicon-emailicon-facebookicon-instagramicon-threadsicon-youtubeicon-linkedinSeattle Center at Waterfront Park logo ↗ · The Stories Water Keeps | Port of Seattle ↗

Sunday starts with a children-focused program

The Port of Seattle describes Sunday morning as focused on children’s connection to water, using films and hands-on activities. The schedule names Moana at 10:30 a.m. and Stories of the Salish Sea, a three-part video series, at 12:30 p.m.; it does not give further details about the activities.

The afternoon schedule continues with a 1 p.m. panel featuring Aaron Straight, Giles & Eba, Ryan Crim and Valerie Segrest, followed by The River Remembers at 1:50 p.m. A 3 p.m. panel has no participants listed. Ebb and Flow is scheduled for 3:50 p.m., with a 5:15 p.m. panel featuring Dr. Lawrence Matsuda, Shelly Solomon and Patrick Yamashita.

Further reading: The Stories Water Keeps - Friends of Waterfront ParkFriend of Waterfront Parkicon-searchlanguage icongear iconclose "X" iconcontrast iconlink icontext spacing iconpause iconcursor icondyslexic font iconicon-facebookicon-twittericon-emailicon-emailicon-facebookicon-instagramicon-threadsicon-youtubeicon-linkedinSeattle Center at Waterfront Park logo ↗ · The Stories Water Keeps | Port of Seattle ↗