SIFF reveals first six titles to screen at the 2025 Seattle International Film Festival - VIDEO

SEATTLE – The 51st Seattle International Film Festival returns in person May 15-25 and virtually on the SIFF Channel May 26-June 1. Passes and ticket packages are on sale now at siff.net/passes. Individual tickets will go on sale to SIFF members on April 23, and to the general public on April 24.

Today SIFF shared the first six titles scheduled to screen at the Festival, including: Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Cloud; Sundance award winners DJ Ahmet and Seeds; Sally, a documentary following the first woman in space; Ferzan Özpetek’s metatheatrical crowd pleaser Diamonds; and the sequel to SIFF 2023 Golden Space Needle Best Film Winner, Dancing Queen in Hollywood. The full program, featuring more than 200 films, will be announced to the public on April 23.

Media accreditation for the 51th Seattle International Film Festival is now open. Press inquiries, appointments, and interview requests can be made at press@siff.net.

Cloud: Legendary filmmaker Kiyoshi Kurosawa (Pulse, Cure, Tokyo Sonata) ramps up the thrills in this genre-bending potboiler about a craven opportunist who finds success as an internet reseller, only for revenge-seeking vigilantes to come calling. (d: Kiyoshi Kurosawa c: Masaki Suda, Kotone Furukawa, Daiken Okudaira, Amane Okayama, Japan 2024, 123 min)

Dancing Queen in Hollywood: North American Premiere - In the sequel to SIFF 2023 Golden Space Needle Best Film winner Dancing Queen, young hip-hop-dancing Mina and her dance partner Markus head to Los Angeles in hopes of starring in a music video, only for her to get the chance to be in a major motion picture! (d: Aurora Gossé c: Liv Elvira Kippersund Larsson, Sturla Puran Harbitz, Viljar Knutsen Bjaadal, Norway 2025, 97 min)

Diamonds: In this lush, metatheatrical crowd pleaser that was a box office smash in its native Italy, SIFF favorite Ferzan Özpetek gathers 18 of his country’s greatest actresses to tell the story of a Rome-based tailoring shop that makes costumes for the big screen. (d: Ferzan Özpetek c: Luisa Ranieri, Jasmine Trinca, Stefano Accorsi, Kasia Smutniak, Italy 2024, 135 min)

DJ Ahmet: 15-year-old shepherd Ahmet rebels against his conservative North Macedonian farming village when he gets a taste of electronic dance music in this heartwarming dramedy, winner of the World Cinema’s Audience Award Prize at Sundance 2025. (d: Georgi M. Unkovski c: Arif Jakup, Agush Agushev, Aksel Mehmet, North Macedonia/Czech Republic/Serbia/Croatia 2025, 97 min)

Sally: Award-winning documentarian Cristina Costantini directs this peek into the personal life of Sally Ride, the first woman in space. But as Ride journeyed among the stars, she kept a nearly three-decade romance with author and tennis player Tam O’Shaughnessy a secret. (d: Cristina Costantini, USA 2025, 103 min)

Seeds: Filmmaker/cinematographer Brittany Shyne vividly and patiently captures multiple generations of Black farming families in Thomas County, Georgia, from social challenges to financial straits and their dedication to one another. Winner of the US Grand Jury Prize - Documentary at Sundance 2025. (d: Brittany Shyne, USA 2025, 122 min)

About SIFF: 

Beginning in 1976 with the annual Seattle International Film Festival, then expanding into year-round programming, SIFF is a 501c3 cultural arts organization dedicated to the creation of vibrant experiences and spaces that champion film discovery and arts education. SIFF envisions a thriving arts ecosystem where film discovery encourages a more empathetic, joyful, and connected world.

In its four theaters, SIFF offers year-round screenings, Film Talks and a series of spotlight festivals throughout the year. SIFF also serves the community through educational programs and SIFFsupports, a partnership program that hosts and provides technical support to a variety of special screenings and festivals.

For showtimes and event updates, visit siff.net.