SIFF Blog

Festival

Selling Quickly

May 7, 2024

A list updated daily of films and events selling quickly at the 49th annual Seattle International Film Festival (in person May 11-21, 2023, followed by a week of select films streaming May 22–28).

Archives, Festival

Looking Back: The SIFF Archives Are Now Available Online

May 1, 2024

The SIFF Archives are the culmination of nearly two years of compiling, digitizing, and organizing materials from SIFF’s past. You’ll find interactive flipbooks of each Festival’s catalog, photo and video assets, full lists of the feature films that we played each year, and other highlights. Learning about the history of Seattle’s film scene has never been easier, and it’s all publicly available—for researchers and the casually interested alike.

Festival, News

50th Seattle International Film Festival Merch is Here!

April 30, 2024

Our Festival Merch has hit the SIFF Shop! Celebrate in style with a fabulous and festive tee, hat, hoodie, and more. Order online, or get your merch in-person on Opening Night or at our Lounge or Downtown shop locations.

Cinema, Festival

Five Roles that Made SIFF Fall in Love with June Squibb

April 26, 2024

We’re opening this year’s Festival with the comedy–action flick Thelma because watching Squibb do her own stunts at 93 years old in her first leading film role is a complete joy to watch. Love June Squibb as much as we do? Meet the wonderful, utterly hilarious actor behind these amazing cinematic moments at a special Honoree Brunch at Palace Kitchen May 11!

Cinema, Festival

Choose Your SIFFTY 6-Pack Party Theme!

April 25, 2024

Hoping to catch a wide range of movies this year but only have your eye on a couple so far? Bought a 6-Pack but not sure which of SIFFTY’s 144 features to use it on? No matter what kind of partier you are, we’ve got you covered with these suggested 6-Pack party themes.

Events, Festival

SIFFTY Passport

April 24, 2024

Three cheers for SIFFTY years! If you loved exploring the movieverse last year with your handy dandy Captain’s Log, then hold onto your party hat because we’ve brought back the fun this year in the form of the SIFFTY Passport.

News

Impact Report 2023

April 22, 2024

We are thrilled to share SIFF’s 2023 Impact Report, reflecting some of the incredible work and diverse activities you helped us and our film community achieve.

Events, Festival

Celebrate SIFF’s Golden Anniversary with 16 Golden Tickets

April 22, 2024

Get ready to party! It’s our golden anniversary, and to kick things off right, SIFF is working with 16 local businesses and organizations to hide a limited number of Golden Tickets all around Seattle.

Festival

Special Guests for SIFF 2024

April 17, 2024

A list of guests scheduled to attend the 50th Seattle International Film Festival.

Festival, Video

50th Seattle International Film Festival Trailer

April 17, 2024

The official trailer for the 50th Seattle International Film Festival, in theaters May 9–19 and streaming on the SIFF Channel May 20–27.

Cinema, Festival, News

2024 cINeDIGENOUS Program Highlights

April 12, 2024

A sneak preview of some of the films featured in the cINeDIGENOUS program at the 50th Seattle International Film Festival.

Cinema, Festival

SIFFRAFF's Most Surprising Cinema Moments

April 8, 2024

This year’s Seattle International Film Festival ushers in 50 Years of Surprising Cinema for SIFF, a milestone achievement for all the film lovers who have come together over the past half century to delight in films that shock, awe, and inspire. We here at the SIFF office thought it would be fun to kick off the SIFFTY season by sharing some of our most surprising cinema moments with you.

April at SIFF

April 1, 2024

With the new month we welcome a new lineup of films, series, events, and more! See what's happening this April at SIFF Cinemas.

Cinema, Festival

Individuals and Immortality: Tilda Swinton

March 25, 2024

A 1993 interview with Tilda Swinton about her role in the film Orlando. Interview by Andy Spletzer, a former film critic and current programmer for the Seattle International Film Festival.

Cinema, Events

A Monster of One’s Own

March 21, 2024

Lifelong Godzilla fan Justin Robert Vinall recently introduced a 70th anniversary screening of Godzilla as part of the March Monster Madness series. Justin recalls the movie-going experiences that cemented his place as a Godzilla super-fan, as well as where the film has come in the 70 years since its release.

Events, Festival, Industry

Justine Barda’s Best of Berlinale 2024

March 20, 2024

Berlinale wrapped its 74th annual festival last month, culminating another spectacular 11-day showcase of artistic, forward-thinking, and political films. Justine Barda, one of our Senior Programmers, was there to enjoy some exciting new releases and experience the jubilant atmosphere of this fixture of Berlin culture.

Cinema, Events

SIFF Tiny Mic Interview: Ben Gibbard

March 14, 2024

A SIFF Tiny Mic Interview with SIFF Board Member and luminary Seattle musician Ben Gibbard (Death Cab for Cutie, The Postal Service) as part of our new Talking Pictures series.

Festival

Festival First Look: Six Films to Celebrate SIFFTY

March 12, 2024

Six films to celebrate SIFFTY. An early lineup preview release.

Cinema, News

An Update to Our In-Person Ticket Pricing

March 6, 2024

As of Friday, March 1, SIFF has introduced a $2.00 service fee per ticket to all in-person purchases.

Cinema, Events

March at SIFF

February 29, 2024

With the new month we welcome a new lineup of films, series, events, and more! See what's happening this March at SIFF Cinemas.

Festival

SIFF 2024 Social Media Toolkit

February 22, 2024

The 50th Seattle International Film Festival social media toolkit will help you celebrate 50 years of surprising cinema at the Seattle International Film Festival, from May 9 to 19, 2024.

Cinema

February at SIFF

February 1, 2024

With the new month we welcome a new lineup of films, series, events, and more! See what's happening this February at SIFF Cinemas.

Festival

My Festival Journey

January 15, 2024

Hear from Megan Leonard on her film festival journey—from starting as a programming intern at SIFF in 2010, to having her film premiering at Sundance this month.

Cinema, Events

Mean Girls: Events and Giveaways

January 8, 2024

Join SIFF for exciting Mean Girls events and a giveaway - from Mean Girls-inspired Top Pot doughnuts to the groolest movie event with Armoire, and more!

Cinema

January at SIFF

January 4, 2024

With the new month we welcome a new lineup of films, series, events, and more! See what's happening this January at SIFF Cinemas.

Photo Gallery

SIFF Education Year-in-Review: 2023

December 20, 2023

A look back at this year of SIFF Education, from Film Talks to Filmmaking Camps and more!

Cinema, Events, Video

SIFF Cinema Downtown Grand Opening

December 18, 2023

Enjoy these highlights from the opening of SIFF Cinema Downtown. Video created by our friends at Seattle Video Productions.

Cinema, Video

SIFF Tiny Mic Interview: Fantasy A

December 14, 2023

A SIFF Tiny Mic Interview with Seattle rapper Fantasy A for the Seattle Film Critics Society screening of Fantasy A Gets A Mattress.

Cinema, Events

Win a Golden Ticket at Wonka

December 13, 2023

You’ll be leaping out of bed like Grandpa Joe with this news! Five (5) patrons attending Wonka at SIFF Cinema Downtown will have the chance to win a Golden Ticket, redeeming a year of free chocolate popcorn at Downtown AND a Film Pass to the 2024 Seattle International Film Festival. Golden Tickets are on the backs of five (5) random SIFF chocolate bars. 

A Film Frame of Mind with Megan Garbayo-López and Kelbi Maldonado

December 5, 2023

Presented by C89.5 in partnership with 4Culture, Coping 101’s Artist Mental Health Stories amplify voices from King County’s cultural sector to empower individual artists, uplift the creative community and destigmatize mental health from a teen’s perspective.

Cinema, SIFF Suggests

SIFFRAFF Selects: Unconventional for the Holidays

December 4, 2023

What makes a holiday film a holiday film? We found that, while not every movie is perfect for seasonal enjoyment, any movie can be considered a holiday favorite according to personal criteria. SIFFRAFF selected their favorite unconventional festive films, based on plot, vibes, feelings, or good ol' tradition.

December at SIFF

December 1, 2023

With the new month we welcome a new lineup of films, series, events, and more! See what's happening this December at SIFF Cinemas.