LAKE STEVENS FILM FESTIVAL invites Pacific Northwest films & filmmakers to a two-day screening and networking event. LSFF exists to cultivate an appreciation for the arts within Lake Stevens, connect creatives to wider industry circles and showcase diverse viewpoints from both established and emerging creators.
Our 2025 submission window is open for narrative shorts and screenplays!
Green Light Lake Stevens is a screenplay competition for films set in Lake Stevens, co-presented by Lake Stevens Film Festival and Northwest Screenwriters Guild. LSFF invites storytellers to submit their 10 page script by May 31st. First place scripts are produced and screened at LSFF 2025. Visit FilmFreeway for full contest rules!
GREEN LIGHT LAKE STEVENS
MEET THE TEAM
LAURA BETTELHEIM
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Laura is a filmmaker as well as a SAG-AFTRA actor and Lake Stevens native. She completed film school in San Francisco and then moved to New York City where she and her husband lived for six years before returning to her hometown of Lake Stevens in April 2020. While a student at Lake Stevens High School, she helped organize the school's first "Viking Film Festival." Now, in the city where she first fell in love with film, she is developing a local film community and expanding opportunities for greater engagement with the arts.
EMILY TIMMER
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Emily grew up amongst evergreens in Tacoma, Washington. After a decade of travel through Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa - directing documentaries - she now writes and directs films in Southern California. Emily holds a Masters in Film Production from Chapman University. Her award-winning short films have traveled the festival circuit, and she is a Consulting Director on a forthcoming feature documentary about Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Alongside her filmmaking, Emily serves as a Coach for Koreatown Run Club in Los Angeles, and a Mentor for the ProductVS Fellowship by Run Tech Club. She remains curious - very - and can be found on long runs, still a lover of evergreens.
JOY RATZEL
PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Joy has been involved with the Lake Stevens Film Festival since its first year. Joy’s involvement stemmed from wanting to support a friend’s goals and deepen the local community’s access to quality forms of art. Arts advocacy has always been a passion of hers. Currently, Joy is on the Snohomish County Arts Commission, the Secretary of the Craft Future Foundation board, and Chief Operating Officer for a local fine art and whole sale ceramics company. Her favorite movie genre is Psychological Drama & Horror.
SOPHIA KENNY
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Sophia earned her BA in Film Studies at North Carolina State University in 2019 and continued her passion for film by completing her MFA in Filmmaking and Producing in 2023 at Seattle Film Institute. She has written and directed numerous short films since 2019 and most enjoys the horror and comedy genres. She currently serves as a Fundraising and Events Coordinator by day for a local non-profit and enjoys creating impactful events and campaigns through storytelling. By night (and on her days off), she’s an avid screenwriter and is currently working to develop an animated series with a fellow SFI alumni.
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