SIFF launches inaugural documentary festival as Egyptian Theater reopens

SEATTLE (September 8, 2021) – Tickets are on sale for SIFF’s first-ever DocFest, the organization’s inaugural celebration of documentary films. The festival will open on September 30 and run through October 7 alongside the reopening of the historic SIFF Cinema Egyptian which closed in March 2020 in response to the COVID pandemic.

The weeklong festival will amplify a wide range of voices, with more than two-thirds of the films directed by women and/or BIPOC filmmakers. The documentaries speak to universal experiences and themes: conservation and the environment, social justice, LGBTQ rights, as well as sports and entertainment.

“I am really excited to reopen the cinemas with a spotlight on documentary films,” says SIFF’s Artistic Director Beth Barrett. “True stories resonate with us in unique ways—getting a glimpse into another life, or another world can open your eyes and heart. After being closed for 15 months, experiencing the top of the mountain and the bottom of the ocean through stories is exhilarating!”

The opening film, A-ha: The Movie, the story of the 1980s Norwegian trio’s hit "Take On Me," and its impact on the synth-pop musical landscape, will screen September 30 at 7:00pm at SIFF Cinema Egyptian.

Additional films include Flee, the award-winning animated story of a child refugee from Afghanistan’s journey to Denmark, and The Rescue, which relates the 2018 dramatic rescue of a boys’ soccer team trapped deep inside a flooded cave in Thailand.

The festival will feature 13 titles with in-person introductions. All films will be screened at the SIFF Cinema Egyptian, located at 805 E Pine St in Seattle.

Eleven of the 13 films also will stream on the SIFF Channel, SIFF’s online streaming portal. Ticket holders can access the portal with a voucher code, while passholders can access the portal with email credentials. Most films are restricted to Washington viewers.

IN THEATERS
SIFF Cinema Egyptian: Sep 30–Oct 4, Oct 7
Proof of vaccination will be required.

STREAMING
SIFF Channel: Oct 4–7
Passholders will be able to view DocFest virtually on the SIFF Channel from 12:01am on Monday, October 4 to 11:59pm on Thursday, October 7.

To view the full list of DocFest programming, visit siff.net/docfest.

For more information, images, event access, or to schedule an interview, please contact Jaclyn Graham at (805) 952-5104.

Passes for the event are on sale for $75 for SIFF members and $100 for non-members. Tickets for individual in-person or virtual screenings are $9 for SIFF members and $14 for non-members.

PRESS ONLY:
Press links are available for most films and 10 tickets per in-person screening will be set aside for members of the press. To RSVP, email jaclyn@injoystudios.com.

About SIFF:
SIFF is beloved for its international film festival, one of the most diverse events of its kind, that takes place every spring. For nearly half a century, SIFF has delighted moviegoers with films from all genres and all regions of the world. In addition, SIFF offers year-round arthouse screenings, curated mini-festivals, cinema events, educational opportunities, and more. To get the latest, visit siff.net.