SIFF 2013 FLY FILMMAKING CHALLENGE CELEBRATES THE INTERSECTION OF WASHINGTON’S CREATIVE COMMUNITIES

Seattle, WA (May 23, 2013) – The Seattle International Film Festival in partnership with Washington Filmworks is pleased to present the 2013 Fly Filmmaking Challenge. This year’s program, being presented by KCTS 9 Reel NW with support from Alaska Airlines and Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card, celebrates the intersection of Washington’s creative communities and highlights a powerful creative coalition of the area’s leading government, arts, education, and broadcast organizations. The 2013 program features four narrative short films by Seattle-based filmmakers Ben Andrews, Amy Enser, Lulu Gargiulo, and Curtis Taylor.

Each year, narrative filmmakers are presented “flies in the ointment,” a series of creative hurdles to tackle during their race to the big screen. This year, the Seattle International Film Festival partnered with Artist Trust and asked each narrative filmmaker to choose the work of a 2012 Fellow as the inspiration behind their script. Inspired by the works of musicians Samantha Boshnack and Jovino Santos Neto and literary artists Derek Sheffield and Samuel Green, students from the Art Institute of Seattle, Seattle Central Community College, Seattle University, and Shoreline Community College produced documentary shorts about each artist that will also play before each narrative film.

This year’s Fly Filmmaking Challenge also highlights some of the most memorable filmmaking locations throughout Seattle’s iconic neighborhoods. Partnering with Only in Seattle, an effort of the City of Seattle Office of Economic Development, each narrative filmmaker chose at random the neighborhood in which to shoot their project. Working with a local screenwriter, the neighborhoods of Capitol Hill, Fremont, Georgetown and the International District were all incorporated as a character in the films. The program will also feature a behind-the-scenes photomontage produced by Krk Nordenstrom that highlights each production and the neighborhood in which the film was shot.

KCTS 9 returns again as the presenting sponsor of the Fly Filmmaking Challenge. As part of the station’s Emmy-winning Reel NW series, a program that airs independent films from or about the Pacific Northwest, the Fly Filmmaking program is another opportunity for the public broadcasting station to support our local filmmaking community. KCTS 9 will celebrate the Fly Filmmaking tradition by airing the 2012 program (featuring narrative films from Lacey Leavitt, Jeremy Mackie, Tracy Rector and Nathan Williams) on Friday, May 24 at 9:00 pm. Please check local listings for details.

KCTS 9 is also partnering with the Seattle International Film Festival to present the Reel NW Award, created to bring new recognition and new audiences to a deserving film and help strengthen the Pacific Northwest’s independent film community. The winning film will receive a $2,500 cash prize from KCTS 9 and an offer to be broadcast on KCTS 9’s Reel NW independent film series (contingent on meeting broadcast requirements).

“The Fly Filmmaking Challenge showcases the extraordinary talent pool available to filmmakers in Washington State,” says Artistic Director Carl Spence. “Not only are the productions filled with spirited artistic collaboration, but all of Seattle gets involved. From local businesses providing filmmaking gear and expert guidance to the welcoming neighborhood associations and locations that shine their unique character on the big screen.”

The 2013 Fly Filmmaking Challenge program will premiere on Monday, May 27 at 4pm at the Egyptian Theatre and will screen again on June 5 at 4:30 pm at SIFF Cinema Uptown. For more information or to purchase tickets please visit www.SIFF.net

About the Seattle International Film Festival (www.SIFF.net)
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 (May 16 – June 9, 2013) 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 250 features and 150 short films 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 100,000 attendees annually. SIFF Education offers educational programs for all audiences serving more than 11,000 students and youth in the community with free programs each year.

About Artist Trust (www.ArtistTrust.org)
Artist Trust is a not-for-profit organization whose sole mission is to support and encourage individual artists working in all disciplines in order to enrich community life throughout Washington State.

About KCTS 9 (www.KCTS9.org)
Headquartered in Seattle, KCTS 9 is the premier source for public media that informs, involves and inspires nearly 2.4 million viewers each week in Washington State and across Canada. KCTS 9’s weekly film series, Reel NW, aims to champion the work of a talented local independent filmmaking community by bringing the best features, documentaries and shorts to film-loving public television audiences. For more information and online programming, visit KCTS9.org.

About Washington Filmworks (www.WashingtonFilmworks.org)
Washington Filmworks is the non-profit 501 (c)(6) organization that manages the state film and production incentive programs. Its mission is to create economic development opportunities by building and enhancing the competitiveness, profile and sustainability of Washington’s film industry

About Only in Seattle (www.OnlyinSeattle.org)
Only in Seattle is a partnership between the office of Economic Development, Impact Capital and neighborhood business districts to foster districts that allow small businesses to grow and flourish, making a positive contribution to the city’s economic health, reflect the unique character of the neighborhoods where they are located and contribute to their vitality, and empower business owners to organize around a common vision and attract investment.

The SIFF Fly Filmmaking program is made possible with the generous support of our local filmmaking community including: Alaska Airlines, Artist Trust, Bad Animals, Brass Tacks, Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce, Capitol Hill zpizza, Complete Casting, Crown Hill Grocery Outlet, Eltana Wood-Fired Bagel Café, Fremont Chamber of Commerce, Georgetown Merchants Association, Georgetown Via Tribunali, Green Lake Tacos Guaymas, Green Leaf Vietnamese Restaurant, IATSE Local 488, KCTS 9 Reel NW, Lam’s Seafood Market, Marination Station, nfektious, Nuge Inc, Only in Seattle, Oppenheimer Cine Rental, Pacific Grip & Lighting, Pete’s Fremont Fire Pit, Phnom Penh Noodle House, RAWK!, Regan MacStravic, Rocket Pictures, SAG-AFTRA, Seasonal Goods Catering, Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation and Development Authority, Seattle Composers Alliance, Seattle Grip & Lighting Company, Seattle Office of Film and Music, Sony Electronics, Inc, Starbucks Coffee Company, Street Treats, Thai Curry Simple, The Mac Store, Trader Joe’s Ballard, Trader Joe’s Capitol Hill, Uptown Metropolitan Market, Video Equipment Rentals, Washington Filmworks

###