Seattle International Film Festival

Great way to see a lot of films that likely will not be in theaters. Have attended for several years, really enjoy films where the director is in attendance and takes Q&A after the movie. Good prices for the movies, pretty much the same as a normal movie, just be prepared to wait in line, and get your tickets in advance for ones you want to see.

Review Number 600
I have been attending this festival for several years and have loved every minute of it. They offer such a wide range of programming, there’s no way you wouldn’t be able to find at least one film to enjoy. Aside from the annual festival, SIFF also offers year round programming at local theaters they actually own and maintain so you know you’re going to get quality entertainment all year long.
One of the really cool things about the festival is having the opportunity to interact with the film makers themselves both at the screenings and during festival events like gala parties and red carpet appearances. On any given night, you are bound to see someone like Hayley Atwell, Kevin Bacon, or Joss Whedon being interviewed, photographed, or just having a great time alongside everyone else.
The festival really takes the «international» part of it’s name seriously as they feature literally hundreds of films from around the world and offer special presentations like their African Films Program which is actually co funded by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. For me, it’s always a fun treat to see these types of films and I would say at least a third of the films I watch are subtitled so you know you’ve got to be paying attention.
While SIFF doesn’t garner the same type of attention as other festivals like Cannes, SXSW, Telluride, or Sundance, they do lay claim to the title of «Most Watched Festival» thanks to the sheer volume of movies they are able to present. I don’t know of anywhere else where you can, with some strategic planning and a bit of luck, watch four or five films in one day at theaters in multiple cities around the greater Seattle area including Bellevue, Renton, and Kirkland.
I know I’m going on about the festival in general, so I will add some personal experience here as well. As a SIFF member, I have always found the staff to be very friendly and passionate about what they are doing which makes me feel right at home as a movie lover myself. There has been more than one occasion where i have needed to purchase multiple tickets for a bunch of different festival movies and every employee I have interacted with has been very pleasant and accommodating. There are also hundreds of people who volunteer during the festival and it always seems like they are having just as much fun being there as everyone which makes waiting in line a much nicer experience than it might otherwise be.
While all of this might seem a bit daunting for someone new to the festival experience, I am here to reassure you that these guys always put on a top notch show. Of course, there will always be a few snags here and there but, as they say, the show must go one and these fine folks always seem to make it happen.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, the lights are going dim and I must turn off my electronic devices because the show is about to start!

as a member, i am treated like cattle as they scan the barcode of my lifetime pass. they insist on tracking every film i see through siff/​uptown/​film center for the rest of my life without the option to «opt out» of this data collecting/​tracking, which i never consented to and is NOT in my contract. makes me regret every buying a membership. and every event i go to of theirs they run out of drinks and food in the first ten minutes. don’t believe me? see for yourself at one of their «parties». ugh. i wish they would figure out what they are doing, as they used to be so much better. they treat their members so poorly just to make a dollar. it shows you where their real interest is. shady company. very sad…

A little pricey, but it’s two blocks from my apartment! They have a lot of great selections and are totally cool about asking about the Indy movies they show. The popcorn is yummy too!

tons of selection. bigger than the one in sf. friendly staff.

I’ve watched some great films such as «Food Inc» and «Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel» over the years. I enjoy independent films so I like this event. I wish it were longer because I always end up missing some of the movies I want to see but that is due to poor planning on my part.
The no refund on tickets thing is annoying. I also find the website a little dense and confusing. I wish there were a way to save your favorite films so you could have a list in your account or something. I have a hard time keeping track as I eliminate them.
I’m surprised by how much selection there is considering Seattle isn’t a big film city or anything. All in all, a great film festival.

Overpriced for what should be a great showcase for local films. :(

Great films are shown here, however they have a no refund policy which slightly dampens the spirits should something arise causing you to not be able to go when you intended. So just be sure you can go and have a phenomenal watching excellent films.

This is a Seattle treasure and a big reason why I love this city. I’m a total cinephile and have been a regular SIFF attendee for the past 4 years. My fiancé and I also (finally) became members this year. Do yourself a favor and pick up a membership, it pays for itself in no time – believe me.
Unlike a lot of the more glamorous US Film Fests (Sundance, Tribeca, etc), this festival caterers to the moviegoer rather than the film industry. Every showing is open to the general public and most regular screenings are cheaper than anything you’d find at the local cineplex. In addition to showing many buzzed-​about indie films: 500 Days of Summer, Hurt Locker, Beginners; the festival also hosts some amazing one-​of-​a-​kind events. One of my favorites is their re-​scored silent film series. A couple years back, we saw 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea at the Paramount with live music provided by Stephin Merritt (of the Magnetic Fields) and Daniel Handler (author of the Lemony Snicket books) it was bizarre, hilarious, and beautiful. Another highlight for my was the SIFF Tribute to Edward Norton, which included a screening of «Leaves of Grass» as well as an interview and Q&A with the actor. Most of the screenings also include visits from the cast and crew. At last year’s screening of «Natural Selection,» I sat 2 rows behind actress Rachel Harris. I did my best not to geek out… too much.
SIFF also takes full advantage of Seattle’s historic theaters, from the grand palatial Paramount to the creaky and charming Harvard Exit. I was especially excited to see that they resurrected Queen Anne’s Uptown Theater and transformed it into SIFF Cinema – one of 2 year-​round SIFF venues. The volunteers and programmers who run the fest do a fantastic job. Shows always start on time and it’s clear the people introducing the screening really love film.
The only criticism I can offer is that I did not enjoy the Opening Night Gala that I attended back in 2010. The movie was okay, but the venue (Benaroya) was waaaay too small to host a full house for drinks and hors d’eourves. I had dished out major cash to score «preferred» entry and open bar only to find out that «preferred» entry was non-​existent for those who had to pick up tickets from will call. The lines for food and drink were so long that we decided to go home rather than brave them. Laziness on our part, yes, but I do hope they’ve improved logistics for these events in the future.

It’s the largest film festival in North America.
Did you hear me?
You shouldn’t complain, you should be honored and thrilled you live anywhere near something where you can experience film of every genre at your leisure year to year.
I was most excited to see so many SIFF events in Kirkland this year, seeing as I happen to live in Kirkland.
The theaters participating were as varied in areas (like Kirkland and West Seattle) as I’ve ever seen them, so I love that! A festival getting BIGGER and better is awesome.
This isn’t the place to review the actual movies, so I’ll refrain from that, but I really enjoyed pretty much every one I was able to get to, and still hope somehow I’ll find and get to see so many that I missed this year!
Do your part. Go to the shows, volunteer, whatever you can. You will thank me later, I swear.

Always order tickets ahead of time, and always show up early, because they are like airlines, they will oversell their ticket and kick you out when there isn’t enough seats.

I was listening to the radio tonight and they were talking about how this is to be the «summer of sequels.» So, should you choose to go, be prepared to see the same thing you have already seen. Again. The segment went on to discuss how the emphasis on the big summer blockbusters is not even on the stars anymore but on the special effects — because financing CGI is cheaper than financing an A-​list movie star. And it is, of course, all about making a buck.
And, I was thanking the film gods for bestowing upon us: SIFF.
This past weekend, I saw a Danish thriller, a kick-​ass documentary and a made-​in-​Seattle Korean film. Tomorrow, I see an archival film from Egypt. Later in the festival, I’ll be seeing a comedy from France and a drama from Poland. The list goes on.
We are so lucky to have this festival — to have this opportunity to see films from all over the world and films that are outside the mainstream. A lot of these films will never be seen in Seattle again and will never show up on DVD. A lot of these films are made without studio backing — so the directors and other creative folks can do what they want to do and not what they are being told to do. A lot of these films are actually original. It is very refreshing.
Yes, you will wait in line. (But, that is actually pretty fun. I almost always find myself chatting up other filmgoers.) And, yes, you will see some duds. (But, that is the part of the festival game.) But, overall, SIFF is a marvelous opportunity to expand your world and expand your mind. SIFF occupies a large amount of my time for three-​and-​a-​half weeks every year. And, I am a happier person for it.

Go Seattle!
Where else can you scope out dozens to hundreds of ‘undiscovered’ movies that you can’t see anywhere else? A lot of people have a sense of these films as being ‘underground’, or not mainstream. You’ll have to see to understand, but there better quality films at SIFF than probably three quarters of generally released movies. Beyond just films billed from other countries, and for foreign audiences, SIFF gives you a chance to watch things that cover topics producers wouldn’t dare to touch here in the States. It can be refreshing to see a take on issues or ideas you can never see in domestic big ticket films.
Additionally, SIFF is more than just a series of films (that’s what Hulu is for). It’s more of a community that comes together for a month every year, to celebrate cinema-​ness. From the galas and parties to the panels and discussions, you get to experience not only the movies themselves, but the stories behind the movies (and, in the case of galas, get to drink while watching; saves you a trip to Cinnebar, at the very least). I highly recommend all Seattlelites browse the SIFF website every year, and watch some of the previews. You will see films that appeal to you regardless of your preference or background.

Went while in town with my significant other who had never been to a film festival before nor a short film event. I thought the short film group would be the perfect starter to such things. If something is less then amazing you don’t have to watch it for 2 hours straight. We went and saw the disclosures short film night and LOVED IT. I would highly recommend attending.

Full disclosure: one of my oldest friends is the Managing Director, I’ve volunteered for SIFF, and I’ve been attending off and on since I was in Jr. High.
That also gives me the cred to say how remarkable it is that their talented but stretched-​thin staff manages to pull off the biggest film festival in North America with grace, style, and dignity every year.
They got Francis Ford Coppola and Spike Lee to make appearances this year! You think that’s easy?
I’m super excited about their new headquarters at the Seattle Center. These dedicated, hard-​working folks have been working out of a crumbling, dilapidated building for far too long. They deserve a nice space in which to create what they do best.
We mostly see documentaries and this year we hit a personal record of 7 docs and four feature films. Even though we skipped opening and closing nights, we still felt more a part of the festival than ever before.
So there’s my totally biased Hurray for SIFF!

They lose one star because of their no refund policy.
I bought tickets online, missed the movie because of stuff beyond my control, and they kept the money. no credit, NOTHIN.
Otherwise, I’m happy this festival’s here. I love the selection and the prices aren’t terrible (The Miami International Film Festival was more expensive) and I love all the threatres around Seattle.
I’m happy that the Admiral was represented this year, too. WEST SEATTLE REPREZENT

The biggest film festival in North America. Not only that, it’s aiming for the general public rather than the industry. Always good movies. THe programming people do a great job!
Disclosure: I do volunteer for SIFF during the festival.

We really enjoy SIFF each year. It’s fun to pick movies from the website and take your chances on foreign films you may not see otherwise.
Common complaints about SIFF are that it has too many movies and the selections should be narrowed down more. I am not sure how I feel about that. I kind of wish I could see more world premieres and I did think it was pretty strange a couple of years ago when Knocked Up, which wasn’t even that good, was in the festival. Also, we always buy tickets to a bunch of movies at the beginning and then peter out by the end, three or four weeks later.
At the same time, it’s kind of festive and fun to go each year. We’ve seen some really great movies we would have never seen otherwise. We’ve seen some really awful movies we would have never seen otherwise, too, but that’s kind of the fun and the risk-​taking of it. Definitely try to get your hands on the catalog — it’s a bargain and can help you fill up your Netflix queue for years to come.

Always excited to see something new and unexpected year after year.
Generous student discount (that still applies to me until I walk in June!)
Friendly & organized volunteer staff.
Wonderful showings and Landmark theaters around Seattle.
Yay!

In the past three days I’ve been seduced by a vampire, privy to burlesque lessons, diving under Antarctica’s icy landscape, kidnapped by a murderer in the Netherlands, and whale hunting with a very French, and very short Captain Ahab. Wild stuff, and that’s only the half of it.
Yup. It’s SIFF. SIFF rocks! This year’s festival offers excellent film selections, smooth operations, and well paced showings. We were lucky enough to get a pass through my husband’s biz and in the past 3 days we’ve seen eight movies at four different locations. Man, if you can, that’s the way to do it.
Pass holders have a separate line and a certain percentage of the theatre seats are reserved for pass holders only. Only once, at the Werner Herzog documentary, did we have to cross our fingers for seating– and that was a featured movie by a known director, on a weekend night at the Uptown.
The films have been fantastic! I admit to being surprised by this — and we owe a lot to the Stranger’s SIFF guide for pointing us the right direction.
At each venue the volunteers kept everything running smoothly and managed the masses of people with ease and smiles. Having the pass made it possible to stop off for beverages and quick snacks between each movie, including the times when we were going to cross town theatres.
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