Festival Spotlight: Closing Night 2019

SEATTLE, WA — April 24, 2019 — The 45th annual Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) is delighted to feature Lulu Wang's drama The Farewell as its Closing Night Gala film, to take place on June 9, 2019 at SIFF Cinema Egyptian. Lulu Wang is scheduled to be in attendance. The Farewell marks the close of SIFF, the largest film festival in the United States, which runs from May 16 through June 9, 2019 and spans venues all across the region.

The Farewell is Lulu Wang's second feature, following her 2014 film Posthumous, and stars rapper and actress Awkwafina (Ocean's 8, Crazy Rich Asians), Tzi Ma (Arrival, Rush Hour), and Chen Hanwei (The Journey: Tumultuous Times, Ghost Child). The film made its world premiere in the 2019 Sundance Film Festival's U.S. Dramatic Competition section. The Farewell will open theatrically in Seattle on Friday, July 19.

Awkwafina, the flamboyant breakout star of Crazy Rich Asians, plays a woman traveling back home to China to assist in an elaborate ruse to keep a truth from her terminally ill grandmother.

"Director Wang's film, which is 'based on an actual lie,' is a tragicomic and understated depiction of the divide in a multicultural immigrant's own identity and the power of family bonds, and Awkwafina is terrific in the role," said SIFF Artistic Director Beth Barrett. "It's a real treat to have Lulu Wang in Seattle to celebrate the stories of SIFF 2019."

Purchase Closing Night Gala tickets to bid the 2019 Seattle International Film Festival farewell until next year. Closing Night Gala tickets include admission to both the film screening and party, two drink tickets, and hors d'oeuvres. Tickets are available at SIFF.net and in person at SIFF Cinema locations (Film Center, Uptown and Egyptian). 

SIFF will open on Thursday, May 16 with IFC Films' Sword of Trust with director Lynn Shelton and Marc Maron, star of the film, scheduled to attend. The complete Festival lineup will be announced on May 1, 2019. Individual ticket sales for SIFF members begins Wednesday, May 1, with general public ticket sales starting Thursday, May 2. Purchases can be made online or in person.

The 45th Seattle International Film Festival would like to thank our Closing Night sponsors: The Boeing Company, MOHAI, Kaspar's Special Events and Catering, The Walls Vineyard, Full Tilt Ice Cream, DRY Soda, Co., Tito's Handmade Vodka, Lagunitas Brewing Company, Diageo Americas, Inc.

SIFF would like to thank Ingeniux; Brotherton Cadillac Buick GMC in Renton; Encore; Hyatt Regency Seattle, the Official Hotel of the Festival; Amazon Prime Video; The Boeing Company; and Wongdoody for their support of the 2019 Seattle International Film Festival.

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 longest, most highly attended film festival in the United States, reaching more than 140,000 annually. The 25-day festival is renowned for its wide-ranging and eclectic programming, presenting over 400 features, short films, and documentaries from over 80 countries each year. SIFF Cinema exhibits premiere theatrical engagements, arthouse, international titles, and classic repertory film showings 365 days a year on five screens at the SIFF Cinema Uptown, SIFF Cinema Egyptian, and SIFF Film Center, reaching more than 175,000 attendees annually. SIFF Education offers educational programs for all audiences serving more than 8,000 students and youth in the community with free programs each year. 

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