INDUSTRY WEEK BEGINS AT SIFF 2014

SEATTLE -- June 4, 2014 -- It's Industry Week at the 40th Seattle International Film Festival, where film industry and national press come to see some of the most exciting premieres and events that take place during the final week of the Festival.

16 out of the Festival's 50 World, North American, and US premieres have been selected as part of Industry Week, along with 38 other films from the total 272 feature films being presented throughout the entirety of SIFF 2014. In addition, the Festival will include seven films from its African Pictures Program, highlighting films from across the continent, which is supported in part by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.

On Saturday, June 7, SIFF screens They Came Together, a romantic comedy send-up starring Amy Poehler and Paul Rudd. Director David Wain (Wet Hot American Summer, "The State") will be in attendance. Following the screening is the annual Industry Party, held at the W Hotel.

On Sunday, June 8, the Festival will hold its annual Golden Space Needle Awards Ceremony and Brunch at the Space Needle, where the winners of the SIFF 2014 Jury Awards and Golden Space Needle Audience Awards will be announced. That evening, the Festival will have its grand finale with its Closing Night Gala featuring the twisted romantic comedy The One I Love, with stars Elisabeth Moss and Mark Duplass, director Charlie McDowell, and Seattle-based producer Mel Eslyn in attendance. Following the screening, attendees will cap off the evening and the Festival with drinks and dancing at the Closing Night party at MOHAI.

FILM PREMIERES DURING INDUSTRY WEEK 2014

Wednesday, June 4

THE BREACH

Work-in-Progress Screening

(d: Mark Titus, USA 2014, 85 minutes)

The film centers on the fragile ecosystem of wild salmon, including a chronicle of Washington's Elwha River dam removal as well as a comprehensive look at Alaska's Pebble Mine mineral exploration project, which could arguably destroy one of the world's last unspoiled salmon runs.

Festival Screenings:

Wednesday, June 4 - 6:30 PM at SIFF Cinema Uptown

Saturday, June 7 - 1:00 PM at Pacific Place

Director Mark Titus scheduled to attend both screenings

HELICOPTER MOM

World Premiere

(d: Salomé Breziner c: Nia Vardalos, Jason Dolley, Mark Boone Junior, Kate Flannery, Scott Shilstone, Skyler Samuels, USA 2014, 82 minutes)

Maggie Cooper (Nia Vardalos, My Big Fat Greek Wedding) is a loving but overbearing mom, who hovers over her teenaged son, Lloyd. She thinks Lloyd may be gay, so she supports him by setting up dates with boys, and submitting an application for a gay student college scholarship. But Lloyd is not so sure, and his mom's meddling is making things worse.

Festival Screenings:

Wednesday, June 4 - 7:00 PM at Egyptian Theatre

Thursday, June 5 - 4:00 PM at Egyptian Theatre

Actor Jason Dolley, director Salomé Breziner, and producer Stephen Israel scheduled to attend both screenings; Actor Kate Flannery scheduled to attend June 4 screening

MACONDO

North American Premiere

(d: Sudabeh Mortezai c: Ramasan Minkailov, Aslan Elbiev, Kheda Gazieva, Rosa Minkailova, Iman Nasuhanova, Austria 2014, 98 minutes)

A sensitive and deeply humanist tone carries this portrait of a young boy in a refugee settlement in Vienna torn between childhood, adulthood, and the reality of his surroundings.

Festival Screenings:

Wednesday, June 4 - 8:30 PM at SIFF Cinema Uptown

Thursday, June 5 - 3:00 PM at SIFF Cinema Uptown

OIL & WATER

World Premiere

(d: Laurel Spellman Smith, Francine Strickwerda, USA 2014, 78 minutes)

Two teenagers, David and Hugo, meet by chance on a canoe ride in the Amazon. This documentary follows their lives as David begins a fair-trade certification system for oil production companies to help with the oil-waste problem in the Ecuadorian Amazon, while Hugo gets an American education that will allow him to return to his homelands as a leader.

Festival Screenings:

Tuesday, June 3 - 7:00 PM at Pacific Place

Wednesday, June 4 - 4:15 at Pacific Place

Directors Laura Spellman Smith and Francine Strickwerda scheduled to attend both screenings

Thursday, June 5

4 MINUTE MILE

World Premiere

(d: Charles-Olivier Michaud c: Kelly Blatz, Richard Jenkins, Kim Basinger, Cam Gigandet, Analeigh Tipton, USA 2014, 96 minutes)

Idealistic yet troubled, teen track runner Drew is constantly coming in second-on the tracks as well as at home. When his reclusive old neighbor (Richard Jenkins,The Visitor) offers to train him using tricks from his old coaching days, they form an unexpected bond.

Festival Screenings:

Thursday, June 5 - 7:00 PM at SIFF Cinema Uptown

Friday, June 6 - 4:30 PM at SIFF Cinema Uptown

Director Charles-Olivier Michaud and actor Kelly Blatz scheduled to attend both screenings

GARDEN LOVERS

North American Premiere

(d: Virpi Suutari, Finland 2014, 72 minutes)

An elderly married couple have an expansive garden in Finland. As we are given a tour of the grounds we also hear the touching memories and stories behind their beautiful romance. Set in verdant oases, Garden Lovers is a delicate display of life's quirky musings and the significance that gardens play in the grand scheme of being.

Festival Screenings:

Saturday, May 17 - 11:00 AM at Lincoln Square

Thursday, June 5 - 6:00 PM at SIFF Cinema Uptown

Sunday, June 8 - 4:15 PM at Pacific Place

SHAKE THE DUST

World Premiere

(d: Adam Sjöberg, USA 2014, 108 minutes)

Colombia, Cambodia, Uganda, Yemen. Breakdancing unites people worldwide in the common languages of movement, expression, and hip-hop. Rap superstar and producer Nas presents a broad look at a movement inspiring hope in global urban communities.

Festival Screenings:

Thursday, June 5 - 9:45 PM at Egyptian Theatre

Friday, June 6 - 4:00 PM at Egyptian Theatre

Director Adam Sjöberg scheduled to attend both screenings

Friday, June 6

THE AIRSTRIP

North American Premiere

(d: Heinz Emigholz, Germany 2014, 108 minutes)

The director of Loos Ornamental (SIFF 2008) returns with another look at modernist architecture, this time traveling from Europe through South America to the island where the US launched the atomic attack on Japan.

Festival Screenings:

Friday, June 6 - 8:30 PM at SIFF Cinema Uptown

Sunday, June 8 - 5:30 PM SIFF Cinema Uptown

GOLD

North American Premiere

(d: Niall Heery c: James Nesbitt, David Wilmot, Kerry Condon, Maisie Williams, Ireland 2014, 90 minutes)

Ray is a down-on-his-luck guy who, along with his dying father, seek out his estranged ex-girlfriend and their teenage daughter. He must decide what to do next when he finds out she's started a new family with his former P.E. teacher.

Festival Screenings:

Tuesday, May 20 - 9:30 PM at Lincoln Square

Friday, June 6 - 6:00 PM at SIFF Cinema Uptown

Saturday, June 7 - 12:00 PM at SIFF Cinema Uptown

Director Niall Heery scheduled to attend June 6 & 7 screenings

FUTURO BEACH

US Premiere

(d: Karim Aïnouz c: Wagner Moura, Clemens Schick, Jesuita Barbosa, Brazil/Germany 2014, 106 minutes)

Two breakneck motorcycle rides bookend a tactile gay romance, told over three chapters and in the contrasting locations of sexy Brazil and frigid Berlin. Karim Ainouz's latest feature is an astonishingly colorful and intimate look into the complexities of human relationships.

Festival Screenings: 

Friday, June 6 - 9:30 PM at SIFF Cinema Uptown

Saturday, June 7 - 11:00 AM at Egyptian Theatre

Saturday, June 7

BOUND: AFRICANS VS. AFRICAN AMERICANS

World Premiere

(d: Peres Owino, USA 2014, 90 minutes)

Controversial and illuminating, this documentary from Kenyan-born Peres Owino uses testimonials to expose the seldom-discussed ways that Africans and African Americans view each other, and looks at the cultures' shared history to foster mutual understanding.

Festival Screenings:

Saturday, June 7 - 5:30 PM at SIFF Cinema Uptown

Sunday, June 8 - 2:30 PM at SIFF Cinema Uptown

Director Peres Owino, producer Isaiah Washington, and co-producer Tene Carter scheduled to attend both screenings

LA MIA CLASSE

North American Premiere 

(d: Daniele Gaglianone c: Valerio Mastandrea, Bassirou Ballde, Mamon Bhuiyan, Gregorio Cabral, Jessica Canahuire Laura, Italy 2013, 93 minutes)

In order to attain work and residence permits in their adopted country, a group of Rome-based immigrants take an Italian language class and encounter shared grief, social integration, and humanity.

Festival Screenings:

Saturday, June 7 - 8:30 PM at SIFF Cinema Uptown

Sunday, June 8 - 4:30 PM at Harvard Exit

Director Daniele Gaglianone scheduled to attend both screenings 

LEADING LADY

World Premiere

(d: Henk Pretorius c: Gil Bellows, Katie McGrath, Bok van Blerk, Brumilda van Rensburg, Eduan van Jaarsveldt, South Africa 2014, 96 minutes)

From the director of Fanie Fourie's Lobola (SIFF 2013 Best Film), comes this uplifting tale of a struggling actress who enlists a South African sheep farmer in helping her prepare for a make-or-break film role.

Festival Screenings:

Saturday, June 7 - 7:00 PM at Harvard Exit

Sunday, June 8 - 1:30 PM at Harvard Exit

Director Henk Pretorius and producer Llewelynn Greeff scheduled to attend both screenings; Actor Gil Bellows scheduled to attend June 7 screening

WEST

US Premiere

(d: Christian Schwochow c: Jördis Triebel, Tristan Göbel, Alexander Scheer, Jacky Ido, Germany 2013, 98 minutes)

From the director of Cracks in the Shell (SIFF 2012) comes another spellbinding, harrowing tale of identity and empowerment. In 1975, Nelly and her son escape to West Germany for a new start, and question all they knew about the man in their lives.

Festival Screenings:

Wednesday, May 28 - 6:00 PM at Renton IKEA Performing Arts Center

Saturday, June 7 - 6:00 PM at SIFF Cinema Uptown

Sunday, June 8 - 11:30 AM at SIFF Cinema Uptown

Director Christian Schwochow scheduled to attend June 7 and 8 screenings

Sunday, June 8

FLY COLT FLY: LEGEND OF THE BAREFOOT BANDIT

US Premiere

(d: Adam Gray, Andrew Gray, Canada 2013, 82 minutes)

Animations and reenactments pepper this larger-than-life story of Camano Island teenage outlaw Colton Harris-Moore. He came to crime as a survivalist, and fascinated the public as a cop-eluding, airplane-stealing antihero.

Festival Screenings:

Thursday, May 29 - 6:30 PM at SIFF Cinema Uptown

Saturday, May 31 - 11:00 AM at Egyptian Theatre

Sunday, June 8 - 11:00 AM at SIFF Cinema Uptown

Directors Adam Gray and Andrew Gray attended May 29 and 31 screenings

A MASQUE OF MADNESS

US Premiere

(d: Norbert Pfaffenbichler c: Boris Karloff, Austria 2013, 80 minutes)

Frankenstein's monster interacts with other Boris Karloff creations in this kaleidoscopic tribute to the screen legend's magnificent voice and 50 years in the business.

Festival Screenings:

Tuesday, June 3 - 9:00 PM at SIFF Cinema Uptown

Sunday, June 8 - 8:00 PM at SIFF Cinema Uptown

About SIFF

Founded in 1976, SIFF creates experiences that bring people together to discover extraordinary films from around the world with the Seattle International Film Festival, SIFF Cinema, and SIFF Education. Recognized as one of the top film festivals in North America, the Seattle International Film Festival is the largest, most highly attended film festival in the United States, reaching more than 150,000 annually. The 25-day festival is renowned for its wide-ranging and eclectic programming, presenting over 450 features, short films, and documentaries from over 70 countries each year. SIFF Cinema exhibits premiere theatrical engagements, repertory, classic, and revival film showings 365 days a year on four screens at the SIFF Film Center and the historic SIFF Cinema Uptown, reaching more than 120,000 attendees annually. SIFF Education offers educational programs for all audiences serving more than 13,000 students and youth in the community with free programs each year. 

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