The 40th annual Seattle International Film Festival announced the complete lineup of films and events programming for the 2014 event, running May 15 – June 8, 2014. From the official press release:
Seattle International Film Festival, the largest and most highly attended festival in the United States, announced today the complete lineup of films and events for the 40th annual Festival (May 15 – June 8, 2014).
This year, SIFF will screen 440 films: 198 features (plus 4 secret films), 60 documentaries, 14 archival films, and 168 shorts, representing 83 countries. The films include 44 World premieres (20 features, 24 shorts), 30 North American premieres (22 features, 8 shorts), and 14 US premieres (8 features, 6 shorts). The Festival will open with the previously announced screening of Jimi: All Is By My Side, the Hendrix biopic starring Outkast’s André Benjamin from John Ridley, Oscar®-winning screenwriter of 12 Years a Slave, and close with Charlie McDowell’s twisted romantic comedy The One I Love, produced by Seattle’s Mel Eslyn and starring Elisabeth Moss and Mark Duplass. In addition, legendary producer and Seattle native Quincy Jones will be presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the screening of doc Keep on Keepin’ On. The 2014 Seattle International Film Festival is presented by SIFF, the non-profits arts organization that reaches more than 250,000 annually through SIFF Cinema, SIFF Education, and the annual flagship Festival.
“Film is more than entertainment. The life-changing nature of the collective experience of cinema and the stories moving pictures can tell are SIFF’s inspiration and mission every year as we put together the Festival,” says Carl Spence, SIFF’s Artistic Director. “This year, SIFF continues to be a festival of discovery, with more than 100 new directors making their debut. Richard Linklater was one of those filmmakers back in 1990 with the premiere of Slacker; it’s fitting to have him return for our anniversary with his masterwork Boyhood – unlike any other film I’ve seen. I am thrilled to share these films with the world and welcome the hundreds of talented guests expected to attend – from those you’ve heard of to the many who will be making their debut at the Festival.”
In addition to the gala screenings, this year’s premieres and special presentations feature a star-studded lineup including Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort, and Laura Dern in The Fault in Our Stars, Richard Linklater’s Boyhood with Patricia Arquette and Ethan Hawke; Quincy Jones and Herbie Hancock in Keep On Keepin’ On; Kim Basinger, Richard Jenkins and Cam Gigandet in 4 Minute Mile; Trent Reznor and Billy Corgan in Beautiful Noise; Nia Vardalos in Helicopter Mom; Vincent Kartheiser and Olivia Thirlby in Red Knot; Cate Blanchett, Rose Byrne, Miranda Otto, and Mia Wasikowska in The Turning; the voices of Cate Blanchett, Kristen Wiig, and Jay Baruchel in How To Train Your Dragon 2; Michael Pitt, Brit Marling, and Astrid Bergès-Frisbey in I Origins, and Paul Rudd and Amy Poehler in They Came Together.
Mary Bacarella, SIFF’s Managing Director, says, “This year’s Festival is an incredibly meaningful milestone for SIFF. We’re all so excited to bring this outstanding lineup of films, guests, forums, and events to our wonderfully supportive and enthusiastic audiences. We’ve created a program this year with moments that will fondly revisit our history and moments that will take us into the future of SIFF. I can’t wait for the fun to begin!”
Festival box office opens May 1 online at SIFF.net, by phone at 206.324.9996, and in person at various locations. View the full public program at here.
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GALAS
Opening Night Gala
JIMI: All Is By My Side
Director, writer and executive producer John Ridley scheduled to attendNovelist and Oscar®-winner John Ridley (12 Years a Slave) tracks Jimi Hendrix (Outkast’s André “3000” Benjamin) over the course of two years in mid-1960s London and his relationship with Vogue model Linda Keith, taking him from talented guitarist to irrefutable legend. (d: John Ridley c: André Benjamin, Hayley Atwell, Imogen Poots, Ruth Negga, Adrian Lester, United Kingdom/Ireland 2013, 118 min) Please click [here] for full press release.
Centerpiece Gala
Boyhood
Director Richard Linklater scheduled to attendRichard Linklater (Slacker, Before Sunrise trilogy) makes a triumphant return to his independent roots with this dazzling micro-epic, shot over the course of 12 years, that tracks the evolution of a single American family through the eyes of young Mason. (d: Richard Linklater c: Patricia Arquette, Ethan Hawke, Ellar Coltrane, Lorelei Linklater, USA 2014, 164 min)
Closing Night Gala
The One I Love
Actors Elisabeth Moss and Mark Duplass and director Charlie McDowell scheduled to attendOn the recommendation of their therapist, a married couple spends a weekend away at a vacation home, where their romantic rekindling takes a turn for the surreal. This sophisticated blend of relationship drama and “Twilight Zone” twists features outstanding performances from Mark Duplass (Safety Not Guaranteed) and Elisabeth Moss (“Mad Men”). (d: Charlie McDowell c: Elisabeth Moss, Mark Duplass, Ted Danson, USA 2014, 91 min)
FEATURE FILM PREMIERES
World (20)
4 Minute Mile (d: Charles-Olivier Michaud c: Kelly Blatz, Richard Jenkins, Kim Basinger, Cam Gigandet, Analeigh Tipton, USA 2014, 96 min)Another (d: Jason Bognacki c: Paulie Rojas, Nancy Wolfe, Maria Olsen, Michael St. Michaels, David Landry, Lillian Pennypacker, USA 2014, 80 min)
Awake: the Life of Yogananda (d: Paola di Florio, Lisa Leeman, USA 2014, 84 min)
Beautiful Noise (d: Eric Green f: Trent Reznor, Billy Corgan, Robert Smith, Wayne Coyne, USA 2014, 87 min)
Bound: Africans versus African Americans (d: Peres Owino, USA 2014, 90 min)
Desert Cathedral (d: Travis Gutiérrez Senger c: Lee Tergesen, Chaske Spencer, Petra Wright, Tony Doupe, Russell Hodgkinson, Aron Michael Thompson, USA 2014, 90 min)
Helicopter Mom (d: Salomé Breziner c: Nia Vardalos, Jason Dolley, Mark Boone Junior, Scott Shilstone, Skyler Samuels, USA 2014, 100 min)
Lady Be Good: Instrumental Women In Jazz (d: Kay D. Ray Narrated by: Patrice Rushen, USA 2014, 80 min)
Layover (d: Joshua Caldwell c: Nathalie Fay, Karl E. Landler, Bella Dayne, Hal Ozsan, USA 2014, 83 min)
Leading Lady (d: Henk Pretorius c: Gil Bellows, Katie McGrath, Brumilda van Rensburg, Bok van Blerk, Eduan van Jaarsveldt, South Africa 2014, 96 min)
My Last Year With the Nuns (d: Bret Fetzer c: Matt Smith, USA 2014, 77 min)
Obama Mama (d: Vivian Norris, USA/Poland/France 2014, 83 min)
Oil & Water (d: Laurel Spellman Smith, Francine Strickwerda, USA 2014, 78 min)
Razing the Bar (d: Ryan Worsley f: Brian Foss, Joetta Velasquez, Bill Bullock, Chris Chambers, Jake Stratton, Rachel Ratner, USA 2014, 83 min)
Red Knot (d: Scott Cohen c: Vincent Kartheiser, Olivia Thirlby, Billy Campbell, Lisa Harrow, Roger Payne, USA/Argentina/Antarctica 2014, 82 min)
Sam & Amira (d: Sean Mullin c: Martin Starr, Dina Shihabi, Paul Wesley, Laith Nakli, David Rasche, USA 2014, 92 min)
Shake the Dust (d: Adam Sjöberg, USA 2014, 108 min)
Song of the New Earth (d: Ward Serrill f: Tom Kenyon, USA 2014, 89 min)
Strictly Sacred: The Story of Girl Trouble (d: Isaac Olsen f: Kurt Kendall, Bill Henderson, Bon Henderson, Dale Phillips, Neko Case, USA 2014, 95 min)
You Must Be Joking (d: Jake Wilson c: Sas Goldberg, Jake Wilson, Margaret Colin, Hannibal Buress, James Wolk, USA 2014, 91 min)
North American (22)
The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared (d: Felix Herngren c: Robert Gustafsson, Iwar Wiklander, Mia Skäringer, Alan Ford, David Wiberg, Sweden 2013, 114 min)40 Days of Silence (d: Saodat Ismailova c: Rukhshona Sattarova, Barohat Shukurova, Saodat Rahimova, Farida Olimova, Uzbekistan/Tajikistan/Netherlands/Germany/France 2014, 88 min)
The Airstrip – Decampment of Modernism, Part III (d: Heinz Emigholz, Germany 2014, 108 min)
#ChicagoGirl – The Social Network Takes on a Dictator (d: Joe Piscatella, USA/Syria 2013, 74 min)
Fasten Your Seatbelts (d: Ferzan Ozpetek c: Kasia Smutniak, Francesco Arca, Filippo Scicchitano, Francesco Scianna, Carolina Crescentini, Italy 2014, 110 min)
Four Corners (d: Ian Gabriel c: Brendon Daniels, Irshaad Ally, Jezriel Skei, Lindiwe Matshikiza, Abduragman Adams, South Africa 2014, 119 min)
Free Range: Ballad on Approving of the World (d: Veiko Ounpuu c: Lauri Lagle, Jaanika Arum, Laura Peteson, Denis Lavant, Peeter Volkonski, Estonia 2014, 104 min)
Garden Lovers (d: Virpi Suutari, Finland 2014, 72 min)
Gold (d: Niall Heery c: James Nesbitt, David Wilmot, Kerry Condon, Maisie Williams, Ireland 2014, 90 min)
Hard to Be a God (d: Aleksei German c: Leonid Yarmolnik, Aleksandr Chutko, Yuriy Tsurilo, Evgeniy Gerchakov, Russia 2013, 170 min)
Healing (d: Craig Monahan c: Hugo Weaving, Don Hany, Xavier Samuel, Jane Menelaus, Laura Brent, Australia 2014, 119 min)
La Mia Classe (d: Daniele Gaglianone c: Valerio Mastandrea, Bassirou Ballde, Mamon Bhuiyan, Gregorio Cabral, Jessica Canahuire Laura, Italy 2013, 93 min)
Land of Storms (d: Àdám Császi c: András Süt?, Ádám Varga, Sebastian Urzendowsky, Enik? Börcsök, Ottó Lajos Horváth, Hungary/Germany 2014, 105 min)
Leninland (d: Askold Kurov, Russia/Germany/Netherlands 2013, 52 min)
Macondo (d: Sudabeh Mortezai c: Ramasan Minkailov, Aslan Elbiev, Kheda Gazieva, Rosa Minkailova, Iman Nasuhanova, Austria 2014, 98 min)
The Midnight After (d: Fruit Chan c: Wong You-nam, Simon Yam, Kara Hui, Janice Man, Suet Lam, Hong Kong/China 2014, 124 min)
Pierrot Lunaire (d: Bruce LaBruce c: Susanne Sachsse, Paulina Bachmann, Germany/Canada 2014, 51 min)
Shame (d: Yusup Razykov c: Maria Semenova, Elena Korobeynikova, Helga Filipova, Seseg Hapsasova, Russia 2013, 90 min)
The Sunfish (d: Søren Balle c: Henrik Birch, Susanne Storm, Lars Topp Thomsen, Jacob Hauberg Lohmann, Mikkel Vadsholt, Denmark 2014, 100 min)
Time Lapse (d: Bradley King c: Danielle Panabaker, Matt O’Leary, George Finn, Amin Joseph, Jason Spisak, USA 2014, 103 min)
The Turning (d: Marieka Walsh, Warwick Thornton, Jub Clerc, Robert Connolly, Anthony Lucas, Rhys Graham, Ashlee Page, Tony Ayres, Claire McCarthy, Stephen Page, Shaun Gladwell, Mia Wasikowska, Simon Stone, David Wenham, Jonathan auf der Heide, Justin Kurzel, Yaron Lifschitz, Ian Meadows c: Rose Byrne, Hugo Weaving, Cate Blanchett, Miranda Otto, Richard Roxburgh, Australia 2013, 180 min)
Two Raging Grannies (d: Håvard Bustnes, Norway/Denmark/Italy 2014, 78 min)
US (8)
Dangerous Acts Starring the Unstable Elements of Belarus (d: Madeleine Sackler, United Kingdom/USA/Belarus 2013, 76 min)Fly Colt Fly: The Legend of The Barefoot Bandit (d: Adam Gray, Andrew Gray, Canada 2013, 82 min)
From Neurons to Nirvana: The Great Medicines (d: Oliver Hockenhull, Canada/United Kingdom 2013, 108 min)
Futuro Beach (d: Karim Aïnouz c: Wagner Moura, Clemens Schick, Jesuita Barbosa, Brazil/Germany 2014, 106 min)
Land of the Bears 3D (d: Guillaume Vincent Narrated by: Marion Cotillard, France 2014, 90 min)
A Masque of Madness (d: Norbert Pfaffenbichler c: Boris Karloff, Austria 2013, 80 min)
Rhymes for Young Ghouls (d: Jeff Barnaby c: Kawennáhere Devery Jacobs, Glen Gould, Brandon Oakes, Mark Antony Krupa, Roseanne Supernault, Canada (Québec) 2013, 85 min)
West (d: Christian Schwochow c: Jördis Triebel, Tristan Göbel, Alexander Scheer, Jacky Ido, Germany 2013, 98 min)
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
The Fault In Our Stars
Playing as part of the Laura Dern Tribute PresentationOblivion may be inevitable, but love is more than a shout into the void for Hazel and Gus, in this twinkling adaptation of the bestselling John Green novel. (d: Josh Boone c: Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort, Laura Dern, Sam Trammell, Mike Birbiglia, Willem Dafoe, USA 2014, 107 min)
Keep On Keepin’ On
Playing as part of the Quincy Jones Lifetime Achievement Award Presentation
The Justin Kauflin Trio will perform at the Triple Door on June 5 – with introduction by Quincy JonesThis tribute to jazz legend Clark Terry, who taught Quincy Jones and Miles Davis, shows his passionate commitment to mentorship. Now in his 90s, Terry helps blind pianist Justin Kauflin (today a prodigious working artist) realize his dream. (d: Alan Hicks f: Clark Terry, Justin Kauflin, Quincy Jones, Gwen Terry, Herbie Hancock, USA 2014, 84 min)
How To Train Your Dragon 2
Five years after the events that brought awkward Viking teen Hiccup and injured dragon Toothless together, the two inseparable friends must fight for the peace and safety of their land when they encounter the mysterious Dragon Rider and a new army of dragons. (d: Dean DeBlois v: Cate Blanchett, Kristen Wiig, Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, USA 2014, 105 min)COMPETITIONS
New Directors Competition
Festival programmers select 12 films remarkable for their original concept, striking style and overall excellence. To be eligible, films must be a director’s first or second feature and without U.S. distribution at the time of their selection. Winners receive a $2,500 cash prize.2014 Entries:
10,000KM (d: Carlos Marques-Marcet, Spain/USA 2014)
40 Days of Silence (d: Saodat Ismailova, Uzbekistan/Tajikistan/Netherlands/Germany/France 2014, North American Premiere)
B For Boy (d: Chika Anadu, Nigeria 2013)
Eastern Boys (d: Robin Campillo, France 2013)
History of Fear (d: Benjamín Naishtat, Argentina/Uruguay/France/Germany 2013)
Life Feels Good (d: Maciej Pieprzyca, Poland 2013)
Macondo (d: Sudabeh Mortezai, Austria 2014, North American Premiere)
Me, Myself and Mum (d: Guillaume Gallienne, Belgium/France/Spain 2013)
Remote Control (d: Byamba Sakhya, Mongolia/Germany/USA 2013)
Rhymes for Young Ghouls (d: Jeff Barnaby, Canada (Québec) 2013, US Premiere)
Standing Aside, Watching (d: Yorgos Servetas, Greece 2013)
Viktoria (d: Maya Vitkova, Bulgaria/Romania 2014)New American Cinema Competition
Festival programmers select 12 films without U.S. distribution that are sure to delight audiences looking to explore the exciting vanguard of New American Cinema and compete for the FIPRESCI Award for Best New American Film. Jury is comprised of 3 members from the International Federation of Film Critics.2014 Entries:
Alex of Venice (d: Chris Messina, USA 2014)
Another (d: Jason Bognacki, USA 2014, World Premiere)
Five Star (d: Keith Miller, USA 2014)
Kinderwald (d: Lise Raven, USA 2013)
Layover (d: Joshua Caldwell, USA 2014, World Premiere)
Little Accidents (d: Sara Colangelo, USA 2014)
Medeas (d: Andrea Pallaoro, USA/Italy/Mexico 2013)
Red Knot (d: Scott Cohen, USA/Argentina/Antarctica 2014, World Premiere)
Sam & Amira (d: Sean Mullin, USA 2014, World Premiere)
The Sleepwalker (d: Mona Fastvold, USA/Norway 2014)
Time Lapse (d: Bradley King, USA 2014, North American Premiere)
X/Y (d: Ryan Piers Williams, USA 2014)Documentary Competition
Unscripted and uncut, the world is a resource of unexpected, informative, and altogether exciting storytelling. Documentary filmmakers have, for years, brought these untold stories to life and introduced us to a vast number of fascinating topics we may have never known existed—let alone known were so fascinating. Winners receive a $2,500 cash prize.2014 Entries:
Ballet 422 (d: Jody Lee Lipes, USA 2014)
#ChicagoGirl – The Social Network Takes on a Dictator (d: Joe Piscatella, USA/Syria 2013, North American Premiere)
Dangerous Acts Starring the Unstable Elements of Belarus (d: Madeleine Sackler, United Kingdom/USA/Belarus 2013, US Premiere)
Dior and I (d: Frédéric Tcheng, France 2014, 89 min)
Garden Lovers (d: Virpi Suutari, Finland 2014, US Premiere)
I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story (d: Dave LaMattina, USA 2014)
Leninland (d: Askold Kurov, Russia/Germany/Netherlands 2013, North American Premiere)
Marmato (d: Mark Grieco, Colombia/USA 2014)
Obama Mama (d: Vivian Norris, USA/Poland/France 2014, World Premiere)
Shake the Dust (d: Adam Sjöberg, USA 2014, World Premiere)
Song of the New Earth (d: Ward Serrill, USA 2014, World Premiere)
Two Raging Grannies (d: Håvard Bustnes, Norway/Denmark/Italy 2014, North American Premiere)Shorts Competition
All short films shown at the Festival are eligible for both the Golden Space Needle Audience Award and Jury Award. Jurors will choose winners in the Narrative, Animation, and Documentary categories. Each jury winner will receive $1,000 and winners in any of the three categories may also qualify to enter their respective films in the Short Film category of the Academy Awards®.Golden Space Needle Awards
For the past 29 years, SIFF has celebrated its most popular films and filmmakers with the Golden Space Needle Audience Award. Awards by Festival audiences are given in five categories: Best Film, Best Documentary, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Short Film40TH ANNIVERSARY SCREENINGS
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
The longest running theatrical release in history, which premiered at the 1976 Seattle International Film Festival, returns for a special interactive celebration that includes goodie bags, subtitled lyrics, and more. Don’t dream it, be it. (d: Jim Sharman c: Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick, Richard O’Brien, Meat Loaf, United Kingdom/USA 1975, 100 min)The Stunt Man
Director Richard Rush scheduled to attend
Peter O’Toole plays an erratic director who agrees to hire a runaway convict as a stunt man for his World War I epic. As the fugitive takes over the identity of the film’s previous stunt man, it becomes clear that no one’s intentions are what they seem. This bizarre, clever film that was nominated for multiple Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director, closed SIFF in 1980 and went on to a legendary 43-week run at the Guild 45th. (d: Richard Rush c: Peter O’Toole, Steve Railsbeck, Barbara Hershey, Allan Goorwitz, Alex Rocco, USA 1980, 131 min)The Whole Wide World
Director Dan Ireland scheduled to attend
The true story of the 1930s turbulent courtship between aspiring author Novalyne and “Conan the Barbarian” pulp fiction writer Robert E. Howard resonates in Dan Ireland’s classic romance. (d: Dan Ireland c: Vincent D’Onofrio, Renee Zellweger, USA 1996, 111 min). Preceded by the World Premiere of Dan Ireland’s short Hate From A Distance produced in honor of the 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act (July 2, 1964) abolishing segregation.TRIBUTE GUESTS
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Quincy Jones
Featuring Keep on Keepin’ On, The Pawnbroker, and An Evening with the Justin Kauflin TrioOur lives have been touched by the work of Seattle native Quincy Jones in countless ways—from his work on seminal albums like “Sinatra at the Sands,” “Miles & Quincy Live at Montreux,” and Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” to his 33 film scores including Sidney Lumet’s The Pawnbroker and Steven Spielberg’s The Color Purple, which he also co-produced, to his TV production, music management, and humanitarian work in the world and in the arts.
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN ACTING AWARDS
Laura Dern
Featuring The Fault in Our Stars and Wild at HeartComing from a family of major cinematic talent, Laura Dern has gone from girl next door (Blue Velvet) to paleontologist (Jurassic Park), from love-crazed bad girl (Wild at Heart) to woman reinvented (HBO’s “Enlightened”), and everywhere in between. An award-winning actress, producer, director, and activist, Dern’s unique blend of candor and magnetism, as well as her penchant for gutsy roles, has brought her to the forefront of American cinema and television.
Chiwetel Ejiofor
Featuring Half of a Yellow Sun, short Columbite Tantalite, and late-night screening of Serenity.From his first film role in Steven Spielberg’s Amistad at the age of 19 and his colorful performance in Kinky Boots to his extraordinary Oscar®-nominated portrayal of Solomon Northup in Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave, Chiwetel Ejiofor has infused his roles with an exquisite brand of introspective, quiet intensity. His performances are elegant and impassioned, stoic and strong, and infinitely memorable – a master of the craft.
SATURDAY FILMS & PARTIES
Dior and I
Party at PNK at Pacific Place
Director Fre?de?ric Tcheng scheduled to attendJ’adore Dior! This elegant glimpse into artistic director Raf Simons’ entry into the House of Christian Dior, and into the creation of his first haute couture collection, sparkles as an homage to the iconic house. (d: Fre?de?ric Tcheng f: Raf Simons, Anna Wintour, Sidney Toledano, Pieter Mulier, France 2014, 89 min)
I Origins
Party at Kaspar’sAn existential, metaphysical science fiction drama about a molecular biologist studying human eye evolution, his first-year lab partner, and his mysterious, free-spirited lover. A bold followup to the stunning 2012 film Another Earth. (d: Mike Cahill c: Michael Pitt, Brit Marling, Astrid Bergès-Frisbey, Steven Yeun, Archie Panjabi, USA 2014, 113 min)
They Came Together
Industry Party at W Hotel Seattle
Director David Wain scheduled to attendComedy titans Paul Rudd and Amy Poehler lampoon rom-com conventions in this snappy sendup of boy-meets-girl, also starring New York City. Overly sincere and saccharine clichés are spoofed with gut-busting gags and irreverent laughs. (d: David Wain c: Paul Rudd, Amy Poehler, Michael Shannon, Cobie Smulders, Melanie Lynskey, Christopher Meloni, Bill Hader, Ellie Kemper, Ed Helms, USA 2014, 83 min)
FACE THE MUSIC
Seattle is a music-obsessed city, so it’s only fitting that the Festival features films that showcase the many ways in which music affects our lives, ranging from biopics and documentaries to concert films and live events. This year’s Live Performance Event features Keep on Keepin’ On subject and Quincy Jones-signed artist Justin Kauflin live with his trio at the Triple Door.20,000 Days on Earth (d: Iain Forsyth, Jane Pollard f: Nick Cave, United Kingdom 2014, 95 min)
Alive Inside: A Story of Music & Memory (d: Michael Rossato-Bennett, USA 2014, 74 min)
Beautiful Noise (d: Eric Green f: Trent Reznor, Billy Corgan, Robert Smith, Wayne Coyne, USA 2014, 87 min)
Big in Japan (d: John Jeffcoat c: David Drury, Philip A. Peterson, Sean Lowry, Alex Vincent, Adam Powers, USA/Japan 2014, 100 min)
Electro Chaabi (d: Hind Meddeb, Egypt/France 2013, 77 min)
Finding Fela (d: Alex Gibney, USA 2014, 120 min)
God Help the Girl (d: Stuart Murdoch c: Emily Browning, Olly Alexander, Hannah Murray, Cora Bissett, Pierre Boulanger, United Kingdom 2014, 111 min)
Keep On Keepin’ On (d: Alan Hicks f: Clark Terry, Justin Kauflin, Quincy Jones, Gwen Terry, Herbie Hancock, USA 2014, 84 min)
Lady Be Good: Instrumental Women In Jazz (d: Kay D. Ray Narrated by: Patrice Rushen, USA 2014, 80 min)
Razing the Bar (d: Ryan Worsley f: Brian Foss, Joetta Velasquez, Bill Bullock, Chris Chambers, Jake Stratton, Rachel Ratner, USA 2014, 83 min)
Song of the New Earth (d: Ward Serrill f: Tom Kenyon, USA 2014, 89 min)
Strictly Sacred: The Story of Girl Trouble (d: Isaac Olsen f: Kurt Kendall, Bill Henderson, Bon Henderson, Dale Phillips, Neko Case, USA 2014, 95 min)
NORTHWEST CONNECTIONS
Seattleites see more films per capita than the residents of any other American city. This year’s lineup of films with their roots in the Pacific Northwest reveals a filmmaking region officially on the map. Every year, SIFF honors the many ways in which the Puget Sound region contributes to the world of cinema, whether it’s as an evocative location for outside filmmakers or inspiration for local filmmakers on the rise.4 Minute Mile (d: Charles-Olivier Michaud c: Kelly Blatz, Richard Jenkins, Kim Basinger, Cam Gigandet, Analeigh Tipton, USA 2014, 96 min)
BFE (d: Shawn Telford c: Wally Dalton, Kelsey Packwood, Aleksander Greenleaf, Ian Lerch, Abby Dylan, USA 2014, 98 min)
Big in Japan (d: John Jeffcoat c: David Drury, Philip A. Peterson, Sean Lowry, Alex Vincent, Adam Powers, USA/Japan 2014, 100 min)
The Breach (d: Mark Titus Narrated by: Kate O’Toole, USA 2014, 85 min)
Burkholder (d: Taylor Guterson c: Bob Burkholder, Britton Crosley, David VanderWal, Sean MacLean, James Molyball, USA 2014, 81 min)
DamNation (d: Ben Knight, Travis Rummel, USA 2014, 92 min)
Desert Cathedral (d: Travis Gutiérrez Senger c: Lee Tergesen, Chaske Spencer, Petra Wright, Tony Doupe, Russell Hodgkinson, Aron Michael Thompson, USA 2014, 90 min)
Fly Colt Fly: The Legend of The Barefoot Bandit (d: Adam Gray, Andrew Gray, Canada 2013, 82 min)
Lucky Them (d: Megan Griffiths c: Toni Collette, Thomas Haden Church, Oliver Platt, Ahna O’Reilly, USA 2013, 96 min)
My Last Year With the Nuns (d: Bret Fetzer c: Matt Smith, USA 2014, 77 min)
Oil & Water (d: Laurel Spellman Smith, Francine Strickwerda, USA 2014, 78 min)
Razing the Bar (d: Ryan Worsley f: Brian Foss, Joetta Velasquez, Bill Bullock, Chris Chambers, Jake Stratton, Rachel Ratner, USA 2014, 83 min)
Sold (d: Jeffrey Brown c: Niyar Saikia, Gillian Anderson, David Arquette, USA/India, Nepal, United Kingdom 2014, 97 min)
Song of the New Earth (d: Ward Serrill f: Tom Kenyon, USA 2014, 89 min)
Strictly Sacred: The Story of Girl Trouble (d: Isaac Olsen f: Kurt Kendall, Bill Henderson, Bon Henderson, Dale Phillips, Neko Case, USA 2014, 95 min)
Two Raging Grannies (d: Håvard Bustnes, Norway/Denmark, Italy 2014, 78 min)
AFRICAN PICTURES
Now in its second year, this program once again presents an impressive and diverse selection of films from and about Africa. Supported by a generous multi-year grant from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, African Pictures brings the best in cinema to audiences in Seattle and the broader Northwest. Featured selections include indigenous films, films by African filmmakers working outside the continent, and films on topics relating to Africa’s changing contemporary political and social landscape.African Metropolis (d: Marie Ka, Philippe Lacote, Ahmed Ghoneimy, Vincent Moloi, Folsakin Iwajomo, Jim Chuchu, Kenya/Ivory Coast/Egypt/Senegal/Nigeria/South Africa 2013, 92 min)
B For Boy (d: Chika Anadu c: Uche Nwadili, Nonso Odogwu, Ngozi Amarikwa, Frances Okeke, Iheoma Opara, Nigeria 2013, 118 min)
Bound: Africans versus African Americans (d: Peres Owino, USA 2014, 90 min)
Difret (d: Zeresenay Berhane Mehari c: Meron Getnet, Tizita Hagere, Ethiopia 2014, 99 min)
Electro Chaabi (d: Hind Meddeb, Egypt/France 2013, 77 min)
Finding Fela (d: Alex Gibney, USA 2014, 120 min)
Four Corners (d: Ian Gabriel c: Brendon Daniels, Irshaad Ally, Jezriel Skei, Lindiwe Matshikiza, Abduragman Adams, South Africa 2014, 119 min)
Half of a Yellow Sun (d: Biyi Bandele c: Thandie Newton, Chiwetel Ejiofor, John Boyega, Anika Noni Rose, Joseph Mawle, Nigeria/United Kingdom 2013, 106 min)
Leading Lady (d: Henk Pretorius c: Gil Bellows, Katie McGrath, Brumilda van Rensburg, Bok van Blerk, Eduan van Jaarsveldt, South Africa 2014, 96 min)
Rags and Tatters (d: Ahmad Abdalla c: Asser Yassin, Atef Yousef, Amr Abed, Yara Gubran, Mohamed Mamdouh, Egypt 2013, 87 min)
The Rooftops (d: Merzak Allouache c: Adila Bendimerad, Nassima Belmihoub, Ahcene Benzerari, Aïssa Chouat, Mourad Khen, Algeria/France 2013, 92 min)
Salvation Army (d: Abdellah Taïa c: Saïd Mrini, Karim Ait M’Hand, Amine Ennaji, Malika El Hamaoui, Frederic Landenberg, Morocco/France 2013, 82 min)
Under the Starry Sky (d: Dyana Gaye c: Marème Demba Ly, Ralph Amoussou, France/Senegal 2013, 86 min)
White Shadow (d: Noaz Deshe c: Hamisi Bazili, James Gayo, Glory Mbayuwayu, Salum Abdallah, Germany/Italy/Tanzania 2013, 115 min)
SHORTSFEST
With 168 shorts this year, SIFF’s annual celebration of short film remains one of the hot tickets at the Festival. Taking place during Memorial Day weekend, this mini-fest is packed with talented, up-and-coming filmmakers from around the world. Take advantage of the opportunity to experience the best short films from the past year – many will also play before feature films throughout the Festival.MOODS
“What sort of film do I feel like seeing tonight?” With our handy Moods groupings, we’ve made it easy for everyone to find the type of cinematic experience you’re in the mood for. Instead of using traditional categories, which require a bit of work to figure out, we’ve aimed to connect films with you – the audience – by organizing them into 10 areas that match your mood.LOVE…
The Coast of Passion
Romance and love in all its forms, pleasures, and idiosyncrasies.MAKE ME LAUGH
The Bay of Merriment
Films that make you chuckle and tickle your funny bone.OPEN MY EYES
Plains of Truth
Revealing films and documentaries revolving around history, politics, and contemporary events from around the world.THRILL ME
The Adrenaline Forest
Suspense, thrills, and action. Films with a faster pace that might also surprise you when you least expect it!PROVOKE ME
Thought Trails
Mesmerizing dramas and documentaries that explore thought-provoking questions, realities, and topics.SHOW ME THE WORLD
Unknown Territory
Prepare to be taken to another place—from exotic, far-off lands to vibrant experiences outside of everyday life.SCI-FI AND FACT
Ocean of Knowledge
Science, technology, environment, the future, and beyond!TO THE EXTREME
Cape of Outer Limits
Explore the outer limits with films that go beyond the edge.CREATIVE STREAK
Originality Oasis
The exploration of artistic endeavors from all disciplines: literature, film, art, dance, and performance.FACE THE MUSIC
The Melodic Sea
Films that intersect the world of music on all fronts: from biopics and concert films, to musicals and live events.FLY FILMMAKING CHALLENGE
This year, SIFF challenged five local production companies to create a love letter to Seattle in a compilation affectionately titled, “Seattle, I Love You.” Production companies featured are B47 Studios, Digital Kitchen, ForeignAmerican Pictures, We Are Royale, and World Famous.SIFF EDUCATION
SIFF offers three programs during Festival: FutureWave & Films4Families, Forums, and SuperFly.FUTUREWAVE AND FILM4FAMILIES
SIFF has programs curated to make the Festival more accessible to younger audiences. FutureWave features are a great place for our cinema-savvy teen audience to find their love of world cinema and Films4Families is the perfect way for younger children (and the young at heart) to have a fabulous experience at SIFF. Both programs also have Youth Juries comprised of youth from their age bracket to watch all the films and present the Youth Jury Award in their respective categories.FORUMS & PANELS
Where audiences and filmmakers come together to learn about and experience making movies. Unless otherwise noted, Festival forums and panels are held at SIFF Film Center.
- The Editor’s Toolkit
- Inside LAIKA Animation
- The Changing Face of Documentary Filmmaking
- The Alchemy of Film Scoring
- Get Animated: Animation Workshop for Kids (ages 8-14)
- How To Make a Living Creating Media
- Short Filmmakers Happy Hour & Panel: Making the Most of Any Festival
- Crash Cinema @ Folklife
- Digital Storytelling in the Classroom: The Hammersmith App and Other New Teaching Tools
- SIFF Catalyst Panels – a full day of public panels & dynamic, thought-provoking discussions around the dual themes of co-creation and community in the new digital space.
- Produce Smarter: How to Finance Your Short Film Without Using Your Credit Card
Keynote by Emily Best (Seed&Spark)- Catalyst Filmmaker Panel
- Successful Genre Filmmaking
- Catalyst Happy Hour
- The Emergence of Native Filmmaking
- TheFilmSchool: How to Correctly Pitch Your Project
- Filmmaking Across the African Diaspora
- TheFilmSchool: How to Prepare for the Investor Conversation
- The Future of Film Criticism
- TheFilmSchool: Protecting your IP & Negotiating the Deal
- The Future of Distribution
SUPERFLY 2014
For its ninth year, the SuperFly Filmmaking Experience, created by Longhouse Media and presented by SIFF, brings 50 youth from across the country to Seattle to participate in an immersion into filmmaking and tribal culture. The young filmmakers will produce five short documentary films in 36 hours at the Suquamish Tribal Community. The films will be completed just hours before their World Premiere at the SuperFly and Native Shorts Showcase on May 31 (4:00pm, Harvard Exit).
