Also visually striking is Northwest photographer Matika Wilbur’s long-awaited new book, Project 562: Changing the Way We See Native America. It’s the culmination of Wilbur’s 10-year effort to travel the country and photograph members of each of the 562 (when she started) federally recognized Native American Tribal Nations. 

Photographed in the clothing and location of the subject’s choosing, the resulting portraits are engaging, regal, endearing, poignant — but most of all diverse, as they refute stereotypes and project individuality. Wilbur celebrates the book release and her huge accomplishment tonight at Elliott Bay Books (April 29, 7 p.m.).

And for people like me who live to see Seattle on the big screen, there’s Filmlandia! A Movie Lover’s Guide to the Films and Television of Seattle, Portland and the Great Northwest. Written by former Seattleite David Schmader, the book dances deftly through a festival of NW films, from the obvious (Sleepless in Seattle) to the never-heard-of (Twice in a Lifetime? With Gene Hackman having a beer at The Dubliner??). 

Schmader offers clever plot synopses, sly reviews and (my favorite) points out exactly where different scenes were shot. Also helpful, he offers a sort of Northwest-o-meter. To wit, regarding 2009’s True Adolescents: “… plenty of Seattle totems, including the Comet Tavern, some Rainier Tall Boys, a Mariners name-check, and a sullen Mark Duplass in a knit hat, sadly eating a granola bar.”

A very funny public speaker, Schmader is doing a couple local book-launch events: at Scarecrow Video (April 29 at 2 p.m.) and at Third Place Books Seward Park (May 4 at 7 p.m.).

Related: Watch for the May 5 episode of Mossback’s Northwest, wherein Crosscut’s Knute Berger gives his own take on the long history of films shot in the region.

Lastly! For folks who enjoy independent movies not necessarily from the Northwest, three niche film festivals are about to get rolling: 

The National Film Festival for Talented Youth (NFFTY), featuring films from directors age 24 and under (April 27 – 30 in-person, April 27 – May 7 online); the Cadence Video Poetry Festival at Northwest Film Forum (April 27 – 30 in-person, April 27 – May 7 online); and Translations: The Seattle Trans Film Festival (May 5 – 6 in-person, May 4 – 7 online). Happy screening.