On Site
A monthly moving image series rooted in senses of place, focusing on artists' cinema both contemporary and historic.
On Site is an independent film series that explores themes such as land, belonging, history, industry, and environment. Each month, curators David Dinnell, Ellen Ito, and Jay Kuehner host a screening followed by a facilitated discussion between artists, community members, and local organizations. In addition to the films, On Site includes one hands-on workshop per month, covering everything from cinema history to DIY filmmaking. Tools, resource guides, and reading lists are provided to help you dig deeper into film, storytelling, and community placemaking.
On Site is held monthly from February through November 2025 and is free to attend. Check out the Event Calendar for more details.
about the curators
David Dinnell is a film programmer currently living in Seattle. He is the former Program Director of the Ann Arbor Film Festival, Media City Film Festival and the Tacoma Film Festival. He has curated film programs for the Flaherty Film Seminar, The Bienal de la Imagen en Movimiento (Buenos Aires), UnionDocs Center for Documentary Art (NYC), Canyon Cinema 50, among others. He is co-founder and co-curator of Mur Murs, an ongoing Los Angeles-based series presenting artists and cinema.
Ellen Ito is an artist, programmer, and curator raised in the Lower Duwamish Valley. Projects include Tacoma Art Museum’s exhibition Soft Power, MMCP’s Future Forward 2024, and the documentary Following Gordon. Ellen is the Curator of Special Projects at the Tacoma Art Museum.
Jay Kuehner is an independent film critic, curator, and educator based in the Pacific Northwest whose focus is on creative nonfiction and documentary practice. His work has appeared in Cinema Scope, Senses of Cinema, Film Comment, IndieWire and Sight and Sound.