Shed A Tear: Three Dollar Bill Cinema Pulls The Plug On Festivals For 2026

Sad tidings to report for LGBTQ+ fans of Three Dollar Bill Cinema, the non-profit producers of numerous LGBTQ+ film related events and programs including the annual Seattle Queer Film Festival and the Translations Film Festival. Due to funding shortages, the group is severely cutting back on its programming for the forseeable future including producing any festivals this year. Lindy Boustedt, the board president for Three Dollar Bill Cinema released a statement Tuesday announcing the cuts and the board’s intention to rebuild the organization.

Three Dollar Bill, like many non-profits and especially LGBTQ+ ones, has struggled in recent years as governments fail to support them, and corporate groups have focused more on profit over philanthropy, donating far less to any kind of non-profit organization. There’s also the lack of support from the wealthy, who used to make philanthropy part of their lifestyle, but newer generations of wealth have focused on conspicuous displays of living large with multi-million weddings, yachts, and hired sex workers to entertain on those yachts. The days of any kind of philanthropy are long gone.

It also hasn’t helped film festival groups that people are now preferring to enjoy cinema from the comfort of their couches, watching films on phone screens and iPads instead of large screens in cinemas.

It’s all quite depressing.

Read their message in full down below and if you can help support Three Dollar Bill Cinema, please do what you can.

Dear Three Dollar Bill Cinema Members, Donors, and Supporters,

As we move into 2026, Three Dollar Bill Cinema is entering a year of rebuilding. Thoughtfully, intentionally, and always with our community at the center. Our goal is simple: to make your connection to Three Dollar Bill more meaningful than ever before.

Last year, we marked two important milestones—the 30th anniversary of the Seattle Queer Film Festival and the 20th anniversary of TRANSlations—with a single, shared event. It was a powerful moment to honor our history while also looking ahead, and we’re deeply grateful to everyone who celebrated alongside us.

As we look ahead, we also want to be honest about where we are. Right now, producing a traditional large-scale festival isn’t the most sustainable path for our organization.

So, in 2026, we’re evolving and rethinking how we show up for our community.

Instead of one large festival, we’re focusing on smaller, more frequent experiences that allow us to stay active, responsive, and truly connected throughout the year. This shift opens the door to new partnerships, one-off screenings, and opportunities to experiment with formats that better serve you.

Here’s what that already looks like and what we’re excited to be building:

• A partnership with the Seattle Jewish Film Festival, including a screening of The First Lady
• Member discounts for queer film screenings at Northwest Film Forum
• The launch of our first Queer Filmmaker Fellowship (2026)
• An upcoming screening and event with Seattle Film Society (June 2026)

We know the way people engage with film and with each other is changing. We want to evolve alongside it, while staying grounded in what has always mattered: bringing people together through queer cinema.

This doesn’t mean our festivals are gone forever. It means we’re taking the time we need to rebuild so we can continue this work with care and sustainability for years to come.

And we can’t do that without you.

As a board, we are committed to making sure your support is felt not just in words, but in what we create together. We’d love to hear from you:

• What would you like to see next?
• What would make your experience with Three Dollar Bill more meaningful?
• What does the future of queer film community look like to you?

If you’re someone who wants to be part of shaping that future more directly, we’d love to talk. We’re inviting community members who are interested in joining the board to help guide this next chapter and we’re also looking for volunteers who want to roll up their sleeves and help bring ideas to life through programming, partnerships, events, or outreach.

However you want to be involved—by sharing feedback, lending your time, or helping lead the way—your voice and energy matter.

Thank you for your continued support, your passion, and your belief in this work.

With love and gratitude,

Lindy Boustedt

Board President, Three Dollar Bill

Lindy@threedollarbillcinema.org