Seattle International Film Festival

Seattle International Film Festival Sets Lineup

Aaron Bogert — Wed, 02 May 2012 18:34:35 GMT

The Seattle International Film Festival announced its full lineup representing 75 countries with screenings of 273 feature films and 187 shorts.

Highlights include Disney/Pixar's latest animated film "Brave"; "As Luck Would Have It" starring Salma Hayek; "Robot and Frank" starring Frank Langella and Susan Sarandon; "Lola Versus" starring Greta Gerwig; Sarah Polley's "Take This Waltz"; Fernando Meirelles' "360"; and Wes Anderson's new film "Moonrise Kingdom."

The festival will also be hosting a number of galas for films such as Lyn Shelton's "Your Sister's Sister," which will be the Opening Night Gala film; Daniel Cohen's "The Chef" will the be Centerpiece Gala film; and Stephen Gyllenhaal's comedy "Grassroots" will the Closing Night Gala film.

Below is a lineup of the films announced thus far:

Galas

Your Sister's Sister, dir. Lynn Shelton

Grassroots, dir. Stephen Gyllenhaal

The Chef, dir. Daniel Cohen

Fat Kid Rules the World, dir. Matthew Lillard

Robot and Frank, dir. Jake Schreier

Lola Versus, dir. Daryl Wein

As Luck Would Have It, dir. Alex de la Iglesia

Starbuck, dir. Ken Scott

Gayby, dir. Jonathan Lisecki

The Details, dir. Jacob Aaron Estes

Special Presentations

Brave, dir. Brenda Chapman, Mark Andrews

Diaz - Don’t Clean Up This Blood, dir. Daniele Vicari

The Last Reef 3D, dirs. Luke Cresswell, Steve McNicholas

People Like Us, dir. Alex Kurtzman

Trishna, dir. Michael Winterbottom

Feature Premieres

419, dir. Ned Thorne – USA

American Addict, dir. Sasha Knezev – USA

The Beautiful Game, dir. Victor Buhler – USA

Camilla Dickinson, dir. Cornelia Duryée Moore – USA

City World, dir. Brent Chesanek – USA

Duck Beach to Eternity, dirs. Stephen Frandsen, Hadleigh Arnst, Laura Naylo – USA

Earthbound, dir. Alan Brennan – Ireland

Easton's Article, dir. Tim Connery – USA

The Empty Home, dir. Nurbek Egen – Kyrgyzstan/Russia

Free Throw, dir. Court Crandall – USA

Fugly!, dir. Alfredo de Villa – USA

Grassroots, dir. Stephen Gyllenhaal – USA

Joshua Tree, 1951: A Portrait of James Dean, dir. Matthew Mishory – USA

The Long Ride Home, dir. Tom Wright – USA

The Most Fun I’ve Ever Had With My Pants On, dir. Drew Denny – USA

Recalled, dir. Michael Connors – USA

The Revolutionary, dirs. Lucy Ostrander, Don Sellers, Irv Drasnin – USA

The Savoy King: Chick Webb and the Music That Changed America, dir. Jeff Kaufman-USA

Short Life, dir. Scott Levy – USA

Sin Bin, dir. Billy Federighi – USA

The Standbys, dir. Stephanie Riggs – USA

True Wolf, dir. Rob Whitehair – USA

Welcome To Doe Bay, dirs. Nesib Shamah, Dan Thornton – USA

White Camellias, dir. Russell Brown – USA

4 Days in May, dir. Achim von Borries – Germany

6 Points About Emma, dir. Roberto Pérez Toledo – Spain

170 Hz, dir. Joost van Ginkel – Netherlands

The Blindfold, dir. Garin Nugroho – Indonesia

Chapiteau-Show, dir. Sergey Loban – Russia

A Checkout Girl’s Big Adventures, dir. Pierre Rambaldi – France

The Chef, dir. Daniel Cohen – France

Coming Home, dir. Frédéric Videau – France

The Convoy, dir. Alexey Mizgirev – Russia

Diaz - Don’t Clean Up This Blood, dir. Daniele Vicari – Italy

Dragon Pearl, dir. Mario Andreacchio – Australia

The First on the List, dir. Roan Johnson – Italy

The Fourth State, dir. Dennis Gansel – Germany

Fuck My Wedding, dir. Nicolás López – Chile

The Glass Man, dir. Cristian Solimeno – United Kingdom

Joan and the Voices, dir. Mikayel Vatinyan – Armenia

Kill Me, dir. Emily Atef – Germany

Là-bas: A Criminal Education, dir. Guido Lombardi – Italy

The Last Man on Earth, dir. Gian Alfonso Pacinotti – Italy

Nosilatiaj.Beauty, dir. Daniela Seggiaro – Argentina

Otelo Burning, dir. Sara Blecher – South Africa

Prime Time Soap, dir. Odilon Rocha – Brazil

Remington and the Curse of the Zombadings, dir. Jade Castro – Philippines

Sharqiya, dir. Ami Livne – Israel

Silence: All Roads Lead to Music, dir. Haider Rashid – Italy

360, dir. Fernando Meirelles – United Kingdom

Coteau Rouge, dir. André Forcier – Canada (Québec)

Countdown, dir. Huh Jong-ho – South Korea

The Crown Jewels, dir. Ella Lemhagen – Sweden

Everything and Everyone, dir. Tracy D. Smith – Canada

Hail, dir. Amiel Courtin-Wilson – Australia

The Last Friday, dir. Yahya Alabdallah – Jordan

Legends of Valhalla: Thor, dirs. Gunnar Karlsson, Toby Genkel, Oskar Jonasson – Iceland

Lipstikka, dir. Jonathan Sagall – Israel

Lost in Paradise, dir. Ngoc Dang Vu – Vietnam

Lost Years, dir Kenda Gee, Tom Radford – Canada

The Mirror Never Lies, dir. Kamila Andini – Indonesia

Salt White, dir. Keti Machavariani – Georgia

Starry Starry Night, dir. Tom Shu-Yu Lin – Taiwan

Tey, dir. Alain Gomis – Senegal

Wickie and the Treasure of the Gods, dir. Christian Ditter – Germany

Seattle Int'l Film Festival: Complete 2012 Lineup Includes Anderson, Shelton, Winterbottom, Meireilles, Polley

Sophia Savage — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 21:20:22 GMT

The longest festival in the US, the Seattle International Film Festival boasts a record 24 world premieres for its 38th edition running May 17 - June 10, unspooling a total of 273 features and 187 shorts representing 75 countries. Among the films, 180 are currently without distribution.

For the first time, the fest will be able to use multiple screens in a single location with the acquisition of Seattle's historic Uptown Cinemas. Of this year's selection, fest artistic director Carl Spence says: "There are films for every kind of movie lover whether you are a cinephile or multiplex guru, running the gamut from food, politics, comedy, action, thriller, classic, auteur cinema and everything in-between.”

The lineup, listed below, includes a mix of familiar titles from the fest circuit including opener Lynn Shelton's "Your Sister's Sister" (with Emily Blunt, Rosemarie DeWitt, Mark Duplass), Wes Anderson's "Moonrise Kingdom" (Edward Norton, Tilda Swinton, Bruce Willis), Pixar's "Brave," Jake Schreier's "Robot and Frank" (Frank Langella, Susan Sarandon, James Marsden, Liv Tyler, and Peter Sarsgaard), Michael Winterbotton's "Trishna" (Freida Pinto), Josh Radnor's "Liberal Arts" (Elizabeth Olsen, Richard Jenkins, Allison Janney, and Zac Efron), Colin Trevorrow's "Safety Not Guaranteed" (Duplass, Aubrey Plaza), Sarah Polley's "Take this Waltz" (Michelle Williams, Seth Rogen, and Sarah Silverman), Fernando Meirelles' "360" (Rachel Weisz, Jude Law, Sir Anthony Hopkins, and Ben Foster) and Declan Donnellan's "Bel Ami" (Robert Pattinson, Kristin Scott Thomas, Uma Thurman and Christina Ricci).

The complete schedule will be available here on May 3.

GALAS

Your Sister's SIster (dir. Lynn Shelton, USA, Sundance Selects) - opening night

Grassroots (dir. Stepen Gyllenhaal, USA, MRB Productions) - closing night

The Chef (dir. Daniel Cohen, France, Cohen Media Group) - centerpiece gala

Fat Kid Rules the World (dir. Matthew Lillard, USA, Whitewater Films)
Robot and Frank (dir. Jake Schreier, USA, Samuel Goldwyn Films)
Lola Versus (dir. Daryl Wein, USA, Fox Searchlight Pictures)
As Luck Would Have It (dir. Alex de la Iglesia, Spain, 6 Sales)
Starbuck (dir. Ken Scott, Canada, Québec, eOne Films US)
Gayby (dir. Jonathan Lisecki, USA, Wolfe Releasing)
The Details (dir. Jacob Aaron Estes, USA, The Weinstein Company)

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS

This year’s Special Presentations spotlight some of the most original and interesting features in our line-up.

Brave (dir. Brenda Chapman, Mark Andrews, USA, Disney • Pixar)
Diaz - Don’t Clean Up This Blood (dir. Daniele Vicari, Italy, Fandango Portobello)
The Last Reef 3D (dirs. Luke Cresswell, Steve McNicholas, United Kingdom, Giant Screen Films)
People Like Us (dir. Alex Kurtzman, USA, Dreamworks SKG)
Trishna (dir. Michael Winterbottom, United Kingdom, Sundance Selects)

FEATURE PREMIERES

World (24):
419, dir. Ned Thorne – USA
American Addict, dir. Sasha Knezev – USA
The Beautiful Game, dir. Victor Buhler – USA
Camilla Dickinson, dir. Cornelia Duryée Moore – USA
City World, dir. Brent Chesanek – USA
Duck Beach to Eternity, dirs. Stephen Frandsen, Hadleigh Arnst, Laura Naylo – USA
Earthbound, dir. Alan Brennan – Ireland
Easton's Article, dir. Tim Connery – USA
The Empty Home, dir. Nurbek Egen – Kyrgyzstan/Russia
Free Throw, dir. Court Crandall – USA
Fugly!, dir. Alfredo de Villa – USA
Grassroots, dir. Stephen Gyllenhaal – USA
Joshua Tree, 1951: A Portrait of James Dean, dir. Matthew Mishory – USA
The Long Ride Home, dir. Tom Wright – USA
The Most Fun I’ve Ever Had With My Pants On, dir. Drew Denny – USA
Recalled, dir. Michael Connors – USA
The Revolutionary, dirs. Lucy Ostrander, Don Sellers, Irv Drasnin – USA
The Savoy King: Chick Webb and the Music That Changed America, dir. Jeff Kaufman-USA
Short Life, dir. Scott Levy – USA
Sin Bin, dir. Billy Federighi – USA
The Standbys, dir. Stephanie Riggs – USA
True Wolf, dir. Rob Whitehair – USA
Welcome To Doe Bay, dirs. Nesib Shamah, Dan Thornton – USA
White Camellias, dir. Russell Brown – USA

North American (25):
4 Days in May, dir. Achim von Borries – Germany
6 Points About Emma, dir. Roberto Pérez Toledo – Spain
170 Hz, dir. Joost van Ginkel – Netherlands
The Blindfold, dir. Garin Nugroho – Indonesia
Chapiteau-Show, dir. Sergey Loban – Russia
A Checkout Girl’s Big Adventures, dir. Pierre Rambaldi – France
The Chef, dir. Daniel Cohen – France
Coming Home, dir. Frédéric Videau – France
The Convoy, dir. Alexey Mizgirev – Russia
Diaz - Don’t Clean Up This Blood, dir. Daniele Vicari – Italy
Dragon Pearl, dir. Mario Andreacchio – Australia
The First on the List, dir. Roan Johnson – Italy
The Fourth State, dir. Dennis Gansel – Germany
Fuck My Wedding, dir. Nicolás López – Chile
The Glass Man, dir. Cristian Solimeno – United Kingdom
Joan and the Voices, dir. Mikayel Vatinyan – Armenia
Kill Me, dir. Emily Atef – Germany
Là-bas: A Criminal Education, dir. Guido Lombardi – Italy
The Last Man on Earth, dir. Gian Alfonso Pacinotti – Italy
Nosilatiaj.Beauty, dir. Daniela Seggiaro – Argentina
Otelo Burning, dir. Sara Blecher – South Africa
Prime Time Soap, dir. Odilon Rocha – Brazil
Remington and the Curse of the Zombadings, dir. Jade Castro – Philippines
Sharqiya, dir. Ami Livne – Israel
Silence: All Roads Lead to Music, dir. Haider Rashid – Italy

U.S. (16):
360, dir. Fernando Meirelles – United Kingdom
Coteau Rouge, dir. André Forcier – Canada (Québec)
Countdown, dir. Huh Jong-ho – South Korea
The Crown Jewels, dir. Ella Lemhagen – Sweden
Everything and Everyone, dir. Tracy D. Smith – Canada
Hail, dir. Amiel Courtin-Wilson – Australia
The Last Friday, dir. Yahya Alabdallah – Jordan
Legends of Valhalla: Thor, dirs. Gunnar Karlsson, Toby Genkel, Oskar Jonasson – Iceland
Lipstikka, dir. Jonathan Sagall – Israel
Lost in Paradise, dir. Ngoc Dang Vu – Vietnam
Lost Years, dir Kenda Gee, Tom Radford – Canada
The Mirror Never Lies, dir. Kamila Andini – Indonesia
Salt White, dir. Keti Machavariani – Georgia
Starry Starry Night, dir. Tom Shu-Yu Lin – Taiwan
Tey, dir. Alain Gomis – Senegal
Wickie and the Treasure of the Gods, dir. Christian Ditter – Germany

In addition to the above listed feature premieres, this year’s Festival will also include 56 short film premieres.

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.

2012 Entrees: 6 Points About Emma (dir. Roberto Pérez Toledo, Spain); 170 Hz (dir. Joost van Ginkel, Netherlands); Chapiteau-Show (dir. Sergey Loban, Russia); The Empty Home (dir. Nurbek Egen, Kyrgyzstan); The Invader (dir. Nicolas Provost, Belgium); L (dir. Babis Makridis, Greece); Là-bas: A Criminal Education (dir. Guido Lombardi, Italy); The Last Friday (dir. Yahya Alabdallah, Jordan); Lipstikka (dir. Jonathan Sagall, Israel); Mirage (dir. Jung-ho Yang, South Korea); Nosilatiaj.Beauty (dir. Daniela Seggiaro, Argentina); Otelo Burning (dir. Sara Blecher, South Africa)

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. The jury is comprised of three members from the International Federation of Film Critics. In addition, six of this year’s entries will also participate in SIFF’s Catalyst program, celebrating independent production.

2012 Entrees: 419^ (Ned Thorne); Easton's Article^ (Tim Connery); Eden (Megan Griffiths); Fugly! (Alfredo de Villa); Future Weather^ (Jenny Deller); I Am Not a Hipster^ (Destin Cretton); Joshua Tree, 1951: A Portrait of James Dean (Matthew Mishory); The Most Fun I’ve Ever Had With My Pants On (Drew Denny); Recalled^ (Michael Connors); Sin Bin (Billy Federighi); Welcome To Pine Hill^ (Keith Miller); White Camellias (Russell Brown)

^2012 Catalyst participant

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. Documentary Competition winners will receive a $2,500 cash prize.

2012 Entrees: American Addict (dir. Sasha Knezev, USA); The Beautiful Game (dir. Victor Buhler, USA); Duck Beach to Eternity (dirs. Stephen Frandsen, Hadleigh Arnst, Laura Naylor, USA); Five Star Existence (dir. Sonja Lindén, Finland); Free Throw (dir. Court Crandall, USA); Italy Love it or Leave It (dirs. Gustav Hofer, Luca Ragazzi, Italy); The Mexican Suitcase (dir. Trisha Ziff, Mexico); Rouge Parole (dir. Elyes Baccar, Tunisia); The Source (dirs. Jodi Wille, Maria Demopoulos, USA); The Standbys (dir. Stephanie Riggs, USA); We Are Legion: The Story of the Hacktivists (dir. Brian Knappenberger, USA); Winter Nomads (dir. Manuel von Stürler, Switzerland)

SIFF Shorts Competition

All short films shown at the Festival are eligible for both the Golden Space Needle Audience Award and Jury Award. Shorts Competition jurors will choose winners in the Narrative, Animation, and Documentary categories. Each jury winner will receive $1,000 and the Narrative and Animation winners may also qualify to enter their respective films in the Short Film category of the Academy Awards®.

CATALIST

New this year, SIFF Catalyst is a selection of six U.S. feature films celebrating the next wave of independent filmmaking, thriving thanks to the collaborative support of their peers and the financial support of hundreds of fans. In this new creative dynamic, the filmmaker exists as the catalyst of the creative process.

FUTUREWAVE & FILMS4FAMILIES

The FutureWave program invites teens to the cinema for nine great feature films that will excite and challenge youth, engaging them in the joy of discovery at the Festival. This year’s selections feature vampires, surfing, graffiti artists, young love, and so much more.

2012 Entrees: Fat Kid Rules The World (USA); The First Time (USA); Gimme The Loot (USA); My Sucky Teen Romance (USA); Otelo Burning (South Africa); Sin Bin (USA); Starry Starry Night (Hong Kong); We Are Legion: The Story of the Hacktivists (USA)

Films4Families is a celebration of the whole family coming together to share the movie-going experience. The 2012 lineup features some of the best children’s features and shorts from around the world, in both live action and animation. Seattle families will be among the first audiences to enjoy a select few of these creative treasures.

2012 Entrees: Brave (USA); Dragon Pearl (Australia); The Familiy Picture Show; The Great Bear (Denmark); Legends of Valhalla: Thor (Iceland); The Painting (France); War of the Buttons (France); Wickie and the Treasure of the Gods (Germany/Malta)

AWARDS

Golden Space Needle Awards Given in five categories (Best Film, Best Documentary, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Short Film) as voted by festival audiences. Awards are presented on Sunday, June 10, at the Space Needle.

WaveMaker Award for Excellence in Youth Filmmaking Sponsored in part by Adobe Youth Voices and presented to one filmmaker, 18 years old or younger, from the FutureWave program, whose talents celebrate the creative possibilities of film. All FutureWave films shown at the Festival are eligible for the Youth Filmmaking award. In addition to the award, TheFilmSchool will provide the winner with a scholarship to their Prodigy Camp, a week-long immersive overnight film camp for youth ages 12-18, held in late July.

PATHWAYS

Introduced in 2011, SIFF Pathways help moviegoers find the film and experience that suites their moods. Instead of using traditional categories, SIFF Pathways easily connect the audience with films by organizing them into areas that help answer the question, “What sort of film do I feel like seeing tonight?” Pathways include: Love Me, Do!, Make Me Laugh, Creative Streak, I Didn’t Know That!, Sci-Fi and Beyond, Show Me The World, Give Me Drama!, To the Extreme, Thrill Me!, and Face the Music.

Seattle International Film Festival Tribute Honorees: Spacek and Friedkin

Maggie Lange — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 18:00:54 GMT

The Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) will recognize Oscar-winning actress Sissy Spacek and director William Friedkin as 2012 Tribute honorees.

Sissy Spacek will receive SIFF’s Outstanding Achievement in Acting Award in recognition of a lauded career spanning four decades. This tribute comes just before her memoir, "My Extraordinary Ordinary Life" on book shelves May 1. Spacek's breakout role was in the 1973 drama "Badlands." She receive an Oscar nomination for her performance in 1976's horror "Carrie," and then an Oscar four years later playing Loretta Lynn in 1980's "Coal Miner's Daughter." Her sixth Oscar nom came for her portrayal of a grieving mother in "In the Bedroom." Most recently, Spacek co-starred in the 2012 Oscar nominated movie, "The Help."

SIFF will present William Friedkin with their Lifetime Achievement Award. Friedkin received an Academy Award for Best Director for "The French Connection." He is also credited with revolutionizing the horror genre with "The Exorcist" in 1973. Friedkin’s latest movie "Killer Joe" stars Matthew McConaughey and Emile Hirsch. It will screen at SIFF and then be released theatrically this summer.

The 38th annual SIFF runs May 17-June 10.

'Your Sister's Sister' To Open Seattle International Film Festival

Nigel M Smith — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:11:27 GMT

Lynn Shelton's romantic comedy "Your Sister's Sister," starring Emily Blunt, Mark Duplass and Rosemarie DeWitt, will open the 2012 Seattle International Film Festival (May 17 - June 10). This marks the first time the festival has kicked off with a locally produced film by a local filmmaker.

"I hope the city will come raise a glass to our incredibly talented crew and to the entire Seattle film community, without which this film would never have been made," Shelton said in a statement.

The film, which world premiere at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival, is currently screening at the Sundance Film Festival.

Seattle International Film Festival Plans to Reopen Historic Theater

Indiewire Staff — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 09:36:23 GMT

The Seattle International Film Festival has acquired the historic Uptown Theater in the Northwest city's Queen Anne neighborhood. The "theater will re-open to the public beginning October 20, 2011 in conjunction with the Grand Opening of the new SIFF Film Center at Seattle Center, ushering in a new era of film in the Northwest," the festival said in a statement.

"Originally opened in 1926, the Uptown Theater was one of Seattle’s oldest and most cherished cinemas until it closed last winter. SIFF will begin programming at the new SIFF Cinema at the Uptown in October of 2011 as part of the SIFF Cinema brand, making the transition this fall out of its current location at McCaw Hall. The newly opened theater will provide SIFF with increased seating capacity and three additional screens, allowing for more flexibility in its year-round programming."

Carl Spence, Artistic Director at SIFF, added: “We couldn’t have scripted a better opportunity for our organization than to have SIFF Cinema at the Uptown and the new SIFF Film Center in such close proximity and located in such a vibrant part of the city."

Full press release:

Seattle, WA, August 7, 2011 - SIFF is excited to announce the acquisition of the historic Uptown Theater in Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood. The historic neighborhood theater will re-open to the public beginning October 20, 2011 in conjunction with the Grand Opening of the new SIFF Film Center at Seattle Center, ushering in a new era of film in the Northwest. Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn stated, “SIFF is one of Seattle's true treasures not only for the work they do in film and education, but for being a leader in our community and saving the Uptown Movie Theatre. The leadership that SIFF is demonstrating should not only be recognized but applauded.”
Originally opened in 1926, the Uptown Theater was one of Seattle’s oldest and most cherished cinemas until it closed last winter. SIFF will begin programming at the new SIFF Cinema at the Uptown in October of 2011 as part of the SIFF Cinema brand, making the transition this fall out of its current location at McCaw Hall. The newly opened theater will provide SIFF with increased seating capacity and three additional screens, allowing for more flexibility in its year-round programming.
"On behalf of the Greater Queen Anne Chamber of Commerce, we are especially pleased to endorse the acquisition of the Uptown Theater by the Seattle International Film Festival,” said Ann Pearce, Chamber vice president. “We applaud their actions in preserving a valuable part of Seattle's Uptown neighborhood and creating more opportunities for Queen Anne community businesses. Another wonderful forum for unique entertainment will now be available for residents and tourists alike to enjoy for years to come!"
Adds Carl Spence, Artistic Director at SIFF, “We couldn’t have scripted a better opportunity for our organization than to have SIFF Cinema at the Uptown and the new SIFF Film Center in such close proximity and located in such a vibrant part of the city. Seattle Center and Queen Anne are the perfect locations for us to expand in and we’re excited to be opening our doors in time for Seattle Center’s ‘Next 50’ celebration next year.”
These new and exciting ventures will allow SIFF to expand their rich, year-round programming, establish first-class educational programs throughout the community, and ensure that SIFF and the programs they offer thrive for decades to come.
“We are thrilled to welcome SIFF as a new resident here, and we embrace its move to use the former Uptown Theater space as a SIFF screening venue. What a wonderful means to enlivening the neighborhood and further connecting Seattle Center to the Uptown area," said Seattle Center Director Robert Nellams.
Now in its 37th year, SIFF has evolved into an internationally recognized film institution, reaching over 200,000 individuals each year through the Seattle International Film Festival, SIFF Cinema and Futurewave Education. SIFF's mission is to create experiences that bring people together to discover extraordinary films from around the world. It is through the art of cinema that we foster a community that is more informed, aware, and alive. Learn more at www.siff.net.

Seattle Fest Announces Its Jury Prizes: "Hot Coffee," "To Be Heard," and "Gandu" Among the Winners

Eric Kohn — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 13:12:08 GMT

The Seattle International Film Festival completed its 37th year with an awards ceremony at the Space Needle this morning, where it announced the Competition and Golden Space Needle Audience Awards. Top winners included “Q” Kaushik Mukherjee's "Gandu," from India, which won the Grand Jury Prize for Best New Director. The film premiered earlier this year at the Slamdance Film Festival. Susan Saladoff's Sundance entry "Hot Coffee" won the Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary, while the high school poetry slam documentary "To Be Heard" and the fishing industry exposé "Sushi: The Global Catch" won special jury prizes. Spanish director Emilio Aragón won the Best Film Golden Space Needle Award for "Paper Birds," while the filmmakers and subjects of "To Be Heard" won a second prize for Best Documentary Golden Space Needle Award.

“I'm gratified that Seattle audiences continue to embrace the Festival’s wide-ranging selection of films from around the world proving that Seattle filmgoers see more films per capita than any other city in the nation,” said SIFF Artistic Director Carl Spence in prepared remarks. “For the second year in a row, we have surpassed one million dollars in ticket sales, making this another record-setting year.”

The complete list of winners and jury members can be found below.

SIFF 2011 COMPETITION AWARDS

SIFF 2011 Best New Director Grand Jury Prize
Gandu, directed by “Q” Kaushik Mukherjee (India, 2010)

The New Directors Competition jury was comprised of: Robert Abele, Film and TV Critic/Journalist; Peter Goldwyn, Samuel Goldwyn Films; and Sara Rose, Acquisitions Executive

SIFF 2011 Best Documentary Grand Jury Prize
Hot Coffee, directed by Susan Saladoff (USA, 2011)

Special Jury Prizes

To Be Heard, directed by Roland Legiardi-Laura, Amy Sultan, Deborah Shaffer and Edwin Martinez (USA, 2010)

Sushi: The Global Catch, directed by Mark Hall (USA, 2011)

The Documentary jury was comprised of: Krysanne Katsoolis, Cactus Three; Richard Lorber, Kino Lorber Inc.; and Katherine Tulich, Hollywood Foreign Press and International Federation of Film Critics.

SIFF 2011 FIPRESCI Prize for Best New American Film

FIPRESCI Prize
On the Ice, directed by Andrew Okpeaha MacLean (USA, 2011)

The FIPRESCI jury was comprised of members of the International Federation of Film Critics: Peter Keough, USA; Gideon Kouts, France; and Lucy Virgen, Mexico

SIFF 2011 GOLDEN SPACE NEEDLE AUDIENCE AWARDS

Best Film Golden Space Needle Award
Paper Birds, directed by Emilio Aragón (Spain, 2010)

First runner up: Tilt, directed by Viktor Chouchkov Jr. (Bulgaria, 2010)
Second runner up: Simple Simon, directed by Andreas Öhman (Sweden, 2010)
Third runner up: The Whistleblower, directed by Larysa Kondracki (Canada/Germany, 2010)
Fourth runner up: King of Devil’s Island, directed by Marius Holst (Norway, 2010)

Rounding out the top ten: My Afternoons With Margueritte, directed by Jean Becker (France, 2010); Spud, directed by Donovan Marsh (South Africa, 2010); Service Entrance (The Women of the Sixth Floor), directed by Philippe Le Guay (France, 2011); Almanya, directed by Yasemin Samdereli (Germany, 2011); Old Goats, directed by Taylor Guterson (USA, 2010).

Best Documentary Golden Space Needle Award
To Be Heard, directed by Roland Legiardi-Laura, Amy Sultan, Deborah Shaffer, Edwin Martinez (USA, 2010)

First runner up: Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey, directed by Constance Marks (USA, 2011)
Second runner up: Buck, directed by Cindy Meehl (USA, 2011)
Third runner up: How to Die in Oregon, directed by Peter D. Richardson (USA, 2011)
Fourth runner up: Hot Coffee, directed by Susan Saladoff (USA, 2011)

Rounding out the top ten: Holy Rollers: The True Story of Card Counting Christians, directed by Bryan Storkel (USA, 2011); The Interrupters, directed by Steve James (USA, 2011); Circus Dreams, directed by Signe Taylor (USA, 2011); 12 Angry Lebanese, directed by Zeina Daccache (Lebanon, 2010); A Lot Like You, directed by Eliaichi Kimaro (Tanzania/USA, 2011).

Best Director Golden Space Needle Award
Larysa Kondracki, The Whistleblower (Canada/Germany, 2010)

First runner up: Emilio Aragón, Paper Birds (Spain, 2010)
Second runner up: Mohammad Rasoulof, The White Meadows (Iran, 2009)
Third runner up: Yasemin Samderelli, Almanya (Germany, 2011)
Fourth runner up: Maryam Keshavarz, Circumstance (Iran, 2011)

Rounding out the top ten: Carlos Saura, Flamenco, Flamenco (Spain, 2010); Robbie Pickering, Natural Selection (USA, 2011); Megan Griffiths, The Off Hours (USA, 2011); Raul Ruiz, The Mysteries of Lisbon (Portugal, 2010); Mike Mills, Beginners (USA, 2010).

Best Actor Golden Space Needle Award
Bill Skarsgård, Simple Simon (Sweden, 2010)

First runner up: Matt Smith, Womb, (Germany/Hungary/France, 2010)
Second runner up: Imanol Arias, Paper Birds (Spain, 2010)
Third runner up: Matt O’Leary, Natural Selection (USA, 2011)
Fourth runner up: Ron Eldard, Roadie (USA, 2011)

Rounding out the top ten: Ewan McGregor, Beginners (USA, 2010); Peter Stormare, Small Town Murder Songs (Canada, 2010); Toni Servillo, A Quiet Life (Italy, 2010); Peter Mullan, Tyrannosaur (UK, 2011); Gerard Depardieu, My Afternoons with Margueritte (France, 2010).

Best Actress Golden Space Needle Award
Natasha Petrovic, As If I Am Not There (Ireland/Macedonia/Sweden, 2010)

First runner up: Bodil Jorgensen, Nothing’s All Bad (Denmark, 2010)
Second runner up: Rachel Weisz, The Whistleblower (Canada/Germany, 2010)
Third runner up: Rachael Harris, Natural Selection (USA, 2011)
Fourth runner up: Magaly Solier, Amador (Spain, 2011)

Rounding out the top ten: Eva Green, Perfect Sense (UK, 2011); Yahima Torres, Black Venus (France, 2010); Sara Forestier, The Names of Love (France, 2010); Katja Kukkola, Princess (Finland, 2010); Sandra Hüller, Above Us Only Sky (Germany, 2011).

Best Short Film Golden Space Needle Award
The Fantastic Flying Books Of Mr. Morris Lessmore, directed by William Joyce (USA, 2011)

First runner up: North Atlantic, directed by Bernardo Nascimento (Portugal, 2010)
Second runner up: Interview, director Sebastian Marka (Germany, 2010)
Third runner up: Amazonia, director Sam Chen (USA, 2010)
Fourth runner up: Cataplexy, director John Salcido (USA, 2010)

Lena Sharpe Award for Persistence of Vision, Presented by Women in Film/Seattle
This award is presented to the female director whose feature film receives the highest number of audience ballots.
Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey, directed by Constance Marks (USA, 2011)

SIFF 2011 FUTUREWAVE AND YOUTH JURY AWARDS

Youth Jury Award for Best FutureWave Feature
Detention, directed by Joseph Kahn (USA, 2011)

Youth Jury Award for Best Films4Families Feature
Circus Dreams, directed by Signe Taylor (USA, 2011)

WaveMaker Award for Excellence in Youth Filmmaking (Grand Jury Prize)

The Million Dollar Watch, directed by Joseph Yao (USA, 2010)

WaveMaker Special Jury Prize

Deaf Perspective, directed by Rogan Shannon (USA, 2011)

Joseph Yao (The Million Dollar Watch, USA, 2010) and Blair Scott (Reflection, USA, 2010) also received a scholarship to TheFilmSchool’s Prodigy Camp, a weeklong, immersive, overnight film camp for youth aged 12–18 held in late June.

FutureWave Shorts Audience Award

Deaf Perspective, directed by Rogan Shannon (USA, 2011)

First runner up: The Million Dollar Watch, directed by Joseph Yao (USA, 2010)
Second runner up: Reflection, directed by Blair Scott (USA, 2010)
Third runner up: Henry, directed by Amelia Elizalde (USA, 2011)
Fourth runner up: Noticed, directed by Reel Youth CampOut (Canada, 2010)

SIFF 2011 SHORT FILM JURY AWARDS

Grand Jury Prize for Best Narrative Short
Time Freak, directed by Andrew Bowler (USA, 2010)

Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary Short
Library of Dust, directed by Ondi Timoner and Robert James (USA, 2010)

Grand Jury Prize for Best Animated Short
The Eagleman Stag, directed by Mikey Please (USA, 2010)

Special Jury Prizes
Narrative – Howard From Ohio, directed by SJ Chiro (USA, 2011)

Our Ship, directed by Garon Campbell (South Africa, 2011)

Animation – New Digs, directed by Martin Sen (South Africa, 2010)

The Short Film jury was comprised of: Kellie Ann Benz, The Shorts Report; Bill Murray, Northwest Screenwriters Guild; Jason Plourde, Three Dollar Bill Cinema and Tom Skerritt, actor and founder, TheFilmSchool.

SIFF REVIEW | A Bromance With Old People: Taylor Guterson's "Old Goats"

Eric Kohn — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 09:32:16 GMT

In the first few minutes of Taylor Guterson's "Old Goats," writer-director Taylor Guterson's debut feature has the appearance of a documentary, mainly because the matching of the scenario and the tone are so unfamiliar in narrative cinema. With an upbeat soundtrack to set the mood, Guterson shows an elderly man discussing his sailing plans to a roomful to peers. Another man only slightly younger begins the narrate the story. The vibe is light and playful. Here's the disconnect: Scripted American movies usually require young faces to please the requisite financiers. "Old Goats" has none of those faces, but it still adopts the familiar mold of a contemporary bromance, which at first has an admittedly jarring effect. Nevertheless, Guterson has crafted an entirely solid, witty and poignant look at the impact of the aging process on three men in desperate search of self-improvement.

His leads live in a quiet part of the Seattle area, where they regularly gather for drinks at the local pub. Bob (Bob Burkholder) impresses his colleagues with dubious tales of adventures dating back to his service in World War II. David (David Vander Wal), the narrator and youngest of the trio, retired six months earlier and hasn't fully adjusted to his free time. Their awkward, soft-spoken pal Britt (Britton Crosley) has been prepping to leave town on the aforementioned majestic boat trip using the grimy yacht each he calls home. On the day he's scheduled to leave town, however, he gets cold feet and decides to stay put. While Bob urges Britt to adopt his hustler ways, David takes him under his wing as a retiree-in-arms, much to the chagrin of David's stern wife, who wants them to resettle in Palm Springs. When Britt expresses interest in finding romantic company, a comedy of errors ensues.

As these three men go about their business, "Old Goats" drifts from scene to scene with a gentle reverence for its leads. The actors are not professionals, and their yearning to keep their lives interesting feels genuine. While scripted, the movie has a directionless, occasionally messy design dominated by rambling monologues and off-the-cuff dialogue. Guterson adopts a restrained mood with flashes of deadpan humor. When David tries teaching Britt how to use the Internet, their banter takes on the form of a classic comedy routine. "Is the Internet in the computer?" Britt asks. "No, it's out there," David says, gesturing to the sky. "Oh," Britt responds. "You mean like God's out there?"

With its blend of good-natured jabs at life experience and the underlying human drama that drives it, "Old Goats" has plenty of appeal if viewed in terms of what it apparently aspires to be--Mike Leigh's "Another Year" on a microbudget. The script suffers from pacing problems and Gutterson's direction displays the unevenness of a first-timer figuring out what to do behind the camera, but that's secondary to the fundamental honesty of the story. Even the performances, which have an oddly stilted quality, occasionally transcend accusations of amateurishness and achieve a fascinating level of naturalism.

More than anything else, "Old Goats" stands out for its complete lack of younger characters (the narrator is in his mid-sixties). Virtually all modern American movies featuring elderly characters include other figures at earlier stages of their lives to provide a point of comparison. "Old Goats" places its protagonists front and center the whole way through. The final credits point out that the three lead actors' names are identical to those of their characters. That realization leaves open the possibility that "Old Goats" might be more of a documentary than implied by its fictional qualities.

HOW WILL IT PLAY? Too small and uncommercial for much of a release, "Old Goats" should enjoy a decent reception at regional festivals, while Guterson announces himself as a talent to watch.

criticWIRE grade: A-

"Old Goats" premiered last week at the Seattle International Film Festival.

Is the Secret to Better Short Films Inside Seattle's Fly Filmmaking Challenge?

Eric Kohn — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 12:00:15 GMT

The Seattle International Film Festival's Fly Filmmaking Challenge sounds like a well-meaning recipe for disaster: The festival selects a handful of local filmmakers and give them the tools to churn out short films in three days.

However, as this year's selection proved the challenge has more value than a gimmick. The three 10-minute shorts, which screened at SIFF earlier in the week, are actually pretty good. "These shorts were significantly better than a lot of the crap I've sat through," said an audience member during the Q&A following Tuesday's screening.

The program was designed to respond to a problem inherent to large cities and their diffuse communities: They can be difficult for filmmakers to find support to create new work. The Fly Filmmaking Challenge creates an opportunity by teaming with Washington Film Works (the office that coordinates the state's productions), selecting a handful of local filmmakers and giving them the tools to churn out short films in three days.

"The cool thing about it is the its ability to bring the community together, whether it's the crew or the filmmakers, writers and composers," said one of the selected filmmakers, Matthew J. Clark. "One thing we lack in Seattle is a good, solid, and strong film base for people to mingle on both the commercial and non-commercial sides. This allows us to develop that relationship and make it stronger."

The productions must resolve a series of constraints, called "flies in the ointment" challenges: Two of three days of shooting must take place at The Production Shop, a recently opened studio in neighboring Tukwila, Wash. The filmmakers must incorporate SIFF sponsor Burlington Coat Factory into their shorts. The crew can no more than 12 and each script must include a stock character, as picked out of a hat. The one challenge they don't face is budget: SIFF sponsors provide everything from film reels to editing stations.

Speaking before the screening, Washington Film Works executive director Amy Lillard said, "This has always been an opportunity for local filmmakers to get cameras into the hands of local filmmakers. But it's also a chance for audiences to see their work."

SIFF and Washington Film Works put a significant effort into selecting the participants. Other Seattle organizations, such as the Northwest Filmmakers Cooperative and 911 Media Arts, submit names for consideration. "We'll look at reels and we'll look at previous films," said Dustin Kaspar, SIFF's educational programs coordinator. "We're looking for diverse filmmakers. These are three very distinct artists."

So it would seem. In the touching and unexpectedly humorous "After All This," Clark follows a wisecracking young woman (Alycia Delmore, "Humpday") through her final days as she dies from cancer in a hospital room. (Clark drew the word "journalist" from a hat and gave the profession to Delmore's character's boyfriend.)

SJ Chiro's "The Epiphany," a transcendent blend of pop culture and personal psychology, adapts Jonathan Lethem's short story of the same name and deals with a lonely bachelor who imagines himself as a superhero. (Chiro drew the word "superhero.")

Tim Watkins' "Tilting at Windmills" begins as a farcical take on Don Quixote, with a modern-day homeless man wandering the Seattle streets looking for his damsel in distress before it takes a topical (and tragic) turn. Preceding the shorts was a satirical behind-the-scenes documentary produced by the youth filmmaking group Reel Grrls, "Little Peter Needs to Fly."

Kaspar emphasized the need to ensure the shorts' quality. "We want to give local filmmakers a space to create something that's not disposable," he said. "They have enough time to create something that will have festival play, and isn't so short that they can just toss it out."

When Chiro, an admitted superhero amateur, discovered her stock character, "I freaked out," she said. On a whim, she wrote to Lethem, who got back to her the next day and suggested his short story as a basis for her project.

Clark, meanwhile, went into the challenge with the idea for his short already in mind and simply inserted the requisite character into it. "I just figured I would make this story work one way or another," he said. His biggest challenge was creating the set. The story takes place entirely within the constraints of a hospital room, which he and his crew had to build from scratch. "We spent more time building it than shooting in it," he said.

This is the sort of quick thinking that the organizers want. "The filmmakers chosen are filmmakers we want to put into a pressure cooker, and just let instinct drive them," Kaspar said. "We want to let that creative process flourish."

That they do: The filmmakers retain ownership of their work and SIFF invites them to submit it to other festivals. All three filmmakers expressed interest in tweaking their results. "It's not like this has to be the final cut," Kaspar said.

37th Seattle International Film Festival Announces Galas, Tribute Events and Special Presentations

Brian Brooks — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 11:50:30 GMT

The 37th Seattle International Film Festival has announced its lineup of galas, tribute events and special presentations. The festival will open with a gala and screening of Justin Chadwick's "The First Grader," feature a centerpiece gala and viewing of Philippe Le Guay's "Service Entrance," and close with a gala and screening of Kevin Macdonald's "Life in a Day." It will also include tributes to Ewan McGregor and Warren Miller and a discussion with Al Pacino.

The festival takes place May 19-June 12 at venues throughout Seattle, Renton, Everett and Kirkland.

Below find information on the films and credits, courtesy of the festival.

Feature Premieres

World Premieres: "A Lot Like You" (USA), "August" (USA), "Do You See Colors When You Close Your Eyes?" (USA), "Holy Rollers: The True Story of Card Counting Christians" (USA), "Lys" (Germany), "Sushi: The Global Catch" (USA), "The Darkest Matter" (USA)

North America Premieres: "Above Us Only Sky" (Germany), "Absent" (Argentina), "Almanya" (Germany), "Angel of Evil" (Italy), "Backyard" (Iceland), "Bicycle", "Spoon", "Apple" (Spain), "Blinding" (Canada), "Bruce Lee, My Brother" (Hong Kong), "Every Song is About Me" (Spain), "Flying Fish" (Sri Lanka), "Heading West" (Netherlands), "Johan Primero" (Netherlands), "Killing Bono" (UK), "King of Devil’s Island" (Norway), "The Mountain" (Norway), "Nobody" (Greece), "Our Home" (Brazil), "Qarantina" (Iraq), "Red Eagle" (Thailand), "Revenge: A Love Story" (Hong Kong), "Rosario" (Philippines), "Sevdah for Karim" (Bosnia-Herzegovina), "Spud" (South Africa), "Third Star" (UK), "A Thousand Fools" (Spain), "Yellow Sea" (South Korea)

U.S. Premieres: "The Cashier Who Liked Gambling" (Italy), "Ex" (Hong Kong), "Fathers & Sons" (Canada), "Finisterrae" (Spain), "Funkytown" (Canada, Quebec), "The Intruder" (Thailand), "Late Autumn" (South Korea), "Norwegian Wood" (Japan), "Oliver Sherman" (Canada), "Por El Camino" (Brazil), "Princess" (Finland), "Rene Goes To Hollywood" (Georgia), "Red Eyes" (Chile), "Silent Sonata" (Slovenia), "Snow White" (France), "A Thousand Times Stronger" (Sweden), "Trigger" (Canada), "The Whisperer in Darkness" (USA), "We Are the Night" (Germany)

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Presents Asian Crossroads

New this year to SIFF, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences presents Asian Crossroads, which will spotlight 13 films highlighting a dazzling variety of exciting, hilarious and profound films emerging from Southeast Asia. The new program kicks-off with "Saigon Electric" (Dir. Stephane Gauger, Vietnam) on Saturday, May 28 at the Neptune Theatre followed by a celebratory party. Additional films include: "The Bengali Detective" (Dir. Phil Cox, India); "Bi, Don’t Be Afraid!" (Dir. Phan Dang Di, Vietnam); "Donor" (Dir. Mark Afable Meily, Philippines); "The Empire of Mid-South" (Dir. Jacques Perrin, Eric Deroo, France); "Eternity" (Dir. Sivaroj Kongsakul, Thailand); "Flying Fish" (Dir. Sanjeewa Pushpakumara, Sri Lanka); "Gandu" (Dir. Q [Kaushik Mukherjee], India); "Pinoy Sunday" (Dir. Wi Ding Ho, Taiwan); "Red Eagle" (Dir. Wisit Sasanatieng, Thailand); "Rosario" (Dir. Alberto Martinez, Philippines); "Sandcastle" (Dir. Boo Junfeng, Singapore); and "Touch" (Dir. Minh Duc Nguyen, USA).

Special Presentations & Parties

This year’s Festival will feature 5 special presentation screenings: "The Importance of Being Earnest" (Dir. Brian Bedford, United Kingdom); "Mysteries of Lisbon" (Dir. Raul Ruiz, Portugal); "Norwegian Wood" (Dir. Tran Anh Hung, Japan); "Tornado Alley" (Dir. Sean Casey, USA); and "The White Meadows" (Dir. Mohammad Rasoulof, Iran). Two additional films will be presented with after-parties. The New American Cinema Party will feature a screening of "The Future" (Dir. Miranda July, USA) on May 21 at the Pacific Place Cinemas. The Gay-la party will feature a screening of "August" (Dir. Eldar Rapaport, USA) on Thursday, June 9 at the Egyptian Theatre. "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me" (Dir. Jay Roach, USA), which had its US debut as the closing night film of SIFF in 1999 will be shown as a free outdoor evening screening at Juanita Beach Park on Saturday, May 28.

Competitions & Awards

New Directors Competition: Festival programmers select 10 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.

2011 Entrees: "Absent" (Dir. Marco Berger, Argentina); "Almanya" (Dir. Yasemin Samdereli, Germany); "Artificial Paradises" (Dir. Yulene Olaizola, Mexico); "Belle Epine" (Dir. Rebecca Zlotowski, France); "Cairo 678" (Dir. Mohamed Diab, Egypt); "Every Song is About Me" (Dir. Jonas Trueba, Spain); "Flying Fish" (Dir. Sanjeewa Pushpakumara, Sri Lanka); "Gandu" (Dir. Q [Kaushik Mukherjee], India); "The Most Important Thing in Life is Not Being Dead" (Dirs. Olivier Pictel, Pablo Martin Torrado, Mark Recuenco, Switzerland); "Por El Camino" (Dir. Charly Braun, Brazil)

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. Ten films will compete for the Grand Jury Prize.

2011 Entrees: "An African Election" (Dir. Jarreth Merz, Ghana); "Bicycle," "Spoon," "Apple" (Dir. Carles Bosch, Spain); "The Green Wave" (Dir. Ali Samadi Ahadi, Germany); "Hot Coffee" (Dir. Susan Saladoff, USA); "Marathon Boy" (Dir. Gemma Atwal, India); "PressPausePlay" (Dir. David Dworsky, Victor Köhler, Sweden); "Red Eyes" (Dir. Juan Pablo Sallato, Ismael Larrain, Juan Ignacio Sabatini, Chile); "Rothstein’s First Assignment" (Dir. Richard Knox Robinson, USA); "Sushi: The Global Catch" (Dir. Mark Hall, USA); "To Be Heard" (Dir. Amy Sultan, Roland Legiardi-Laura, Deborah Shaffer, Edwin Martinez, USA)

FIPRESCI Jury Award: Selected by the International Federation of Film Critics from 10 films from the New American Cinema section.

2011 Entrees: "August" (Dir. Eldar Rapaport, USA), "Black, White and Blues" (Dir. Mario Van Peebles, USA), "Codependent Lesbian Space Alien Seeks Same" (Dir. Madeleine Olnek, USA), "Gun Hill Road" (Dir. Rashaad Ernesto Green, USA), "Jess + Moss" (Dir. Clay Jeter, USA), "Letters From the Big Man" (Dir. Christopher Munch, USA), "Love" (Dir. William Eubank, USA), "Natural Selection" (Dir. Robbie Pickering, USA), "On the Ice" (Dir. Andrew Okpeaha MacLean, USA), "Roadie" (Dir. Michael Cuesta, USA)

Golden Space Needle Awards: Given in five categories (Best Film, Best Documentary, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Short Film) as voted by festival audiences. Awards are presented on Sunday, June 12 at the Space Needle.

SIFF Shorts Competition: All short films shown (including 44 premieres) at the Festival are eligible for both the Golden Space Needle Audience Award and Jury Awards. Shorts Competition jurors will choose winners in the Narrative, Animation, and Documentary categories. Jury award winners will be qualified to enter their respective short film category to the Academy AwardsÒ.

WaveMaker Award for Excellence in Youth Filmmaking: Sponsored in part by Adobe Youth Voices and presented to one filmmaker, 18 years old or younger, from the FutureWave program, whose talents celebrate the creative possibilities of film. All FutureWave films shown at the Festival are eligible for the award.

Pathways

New to this years’ Festival, SIFF has developed ten Pathways to help moviegoers find the film and experience that suites their moods. Instead of using traditional categories, SIFF Pathways easily connect the audience with films by organizing them into areas that help answer the question “what sort of film do I feel like seeing tonight?”

2011 Festival Pathways:

"Love Me, Do!" - Romance and love in all its forms, pleasures, and idiosyncrasies.
"Make Me Laugh" - Films that make you chuckle and tickle your funny bone.
"Thrill Me" - Suspense, thrills, and action. Films with a faster pace that might also surprise you when you least expect it.
"Creative Streak" - The exploration of artistic endeavors from all disciplines: literature, film, art, dance, and performance.
"Open My Eyes" - Revealing films and documentaries revolving around history, politics, and contemporary events from around the world.
"Sci-Fi and Beyond" - Science, technology, environment, the future—and beyond.
"Take Me Away" - Be prepared to be taken to another place – from exotic far-off lands to vibrant experiences outside of everyday life.
"Spellbinding Stories" - Mesmerizing dramas and documentaries that explore thought-provoking questions, realities, and topics.
"To the Extreme" - Explore the outer limits with films that go beyond the edge.
"Face the Music" - Films that intersect the world of music on all fronts: from biopics and concert films, to musicals and live events.

"Marwencol," "The Reverse" Lead Seattle Film Fest Winners

Peter Knegt — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 06:17:15 GMT

The 36th Seattle International Film Festival - the largest film festival in the United States - concluded Sunday with record-breaking box office numbers (a near 20% increase from last year), and the announcement of the Jury and Audience Award Winners.

"This was a monumental year for SIFF--record-shattering box office numbers, more than 300 special guests from around the world; more than 125 sold-out events; an incredible presentation of live events--including three musical presentations and a live documentary; fantastic filmmaker visits in schools (reaching more than 8,000 students); an expanded footprint that took us beyond Seattle borders; and some very cool first time happenings, including the first high school directed feature film (Nicholas Terry, age 17), the first Ugandan director to attend (Caroline Kamya, Imani), and the first 3D and IMAX films. Seattle definitely proved, once again, why it•s one of the best film cities in the world," said Carl Spence, SIFF Artistic Director, in a statement. "I've never been more proud to be part of a city that radiates such enthusiasm for film."

From May 20-June 13, the fest had presented 408 films over 25 days. Their multitude of awards include the Golden Space Needle Awards, which came from more than 83,000 ballots cast by SIFF audiences to determine the winner in six categories: Best Film, Best Documentary, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Short Film. Also presented were five juried Competition Awards: Best New Director, Best Documentary, Best Narrative Short, Best Documentary Short, and Best Animated Short; as well as the FIPRESCI Award for Best American Film. Winners in the juried Documentary and New Director competition will receive $2,500, the winner of Best Short in each of three categories will receive $1,000, and the winner of the FIPRESCI Award receives a Circle of Trust subscription courtesy of Oscilloscope Laboratories.

The complete list of winners:

SIFF 2010 Best New Director

Grand Jury Prize
The Reverse, directed by Borys Lankosz (Poland, 2009)
Jury Statement: "Borys Lankosz's The Reverse succeeds its substantial ambition to tell the story of love, family, and loyalty in a brutal post war Warsaw. Uniquely, first time director Lankosz manages to deliver a highly stylized vision without sacrificing character, story, or performance. We are happy and honored to give the New Director Award to this touching, thrilling, and deeply human film."

Special Jury Mentions
Turistas, directed by Alicia Scherson (Chile, 2009)
Jury Statement: "In addition we would like to give two special jury mentions. For her wry and surprising screenplay and her terrific casting, we want to note the achievement of Alicia Scherson for her film Turistas."

Gravity, directed by Maximilian Erlenwein (Germany, 2009)
Jury Statement: "We also want to recognize the stylistic and storytelling promise evidenced by Maximilian Erlenwein in his film Gravity."

The New Directors Competition jury was comprised of: Marcus Hu, Strand Releasing; Michael Kananack, NeoClassics Films; and Christian Vesper, IFC and The Sundance Channel.

SIFF 2010 Best Documentary

Grand Jury Prize
Marwencol, directed by Jeff Malmberg (USA, 2010)
Jury Statement: "For its ingenious, organic storytelling and respect for its subject, the documentary jury recognizes a complex and multi-layered portrait of a survivor and artist which comes to life thanks to an amazing level of trust between filmmaker and subject that allows director Jeff Malmberg to bring his audience deep into the fascinating and very private world that is Marwencol."

The Documentary jury was comprised of: Patrick Baroch, ITVS; Michael Lumpkin, International Documentary Association; and MJ Peckos, Dada Films / Mitropoulus Films.

SIFF 2010 Short Film Jury Awards

Grand Jury Prize for Best Narrative Short
Little Accidents, directed by Sara Colangelo (USA, 2009)
Jury Statement: "For its compelling sense of voyeurism, outstanding performances, and brilliant storytelling - the total package."

Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary Short
White Lines And The Fever: The Death Of DJ Junebug, directed by Travis Senger (USA, 2010)
Jury Statement: "For the way the story seamlessly reveals itself through the compassion of people who knew and loved DJ Junebug and the way the era of the birth of hip-hop was beautifully evoked."

Grand Jury Prize for Best Animated Short
The Wonder Hospital, directed by Beomsik Shim (USA, 2010)
Jury Statement: "Who knew that this would be the hardest category? We choose The Wonder Hospital for its experimental, adult-based animation style and it being about the way you twist the mirror, the story's depth."

Special Jury Mention for Short Animation
Cherry On The Cake, directed by Hyebin Lee (United Kingdom, 2009)
Jury Statement: "In support of excellence in family animation."

As a qualifying festival of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, short films that receive the Grand Jury Prize for Best Narrative short film and Best Animation short film awards at SIFF may qualify to enter the Short Films category of the Academy Awards for the concurrent season without the standard theatrical run, provided the film otherwise complies with the Academy rules. The Short Film jury was comprised of: SJ Chiro, Seattle based filmmaker; Chris Swenson, Seattle Office of Film + Music; and Karen Toering, Program Director, Langston Hughes African American Film Festival.

SIFF 2010 FIPRESCI Award for Best American Film

SIFF is very pleased to announce its continued partnership with FIPRESCI, the International Federation of Film Critics. FIPRESCI, in existence for more than 65 years, with members in over 60 countries, supports cinema as an art and as an outstanding and autonomous means of expression. SIFF is one of three festivals in the United States to host a FIPRESCI jury, and this year, FIPRESCI gave an award to Best American Film.

FIPRESCI Award
Night Catches Us, directed by Tanya Hamilton (USA, 2010)
Jury Statement: "For its profound exploration of a chapter of American history that is woefully under-explored, for its deft interaction between the personal and the political, for its exceptional acting, and for its masterful cinematography, the FIPRESCI Award goes to Tanya Hamilton's Night Catches Us."

Special Jury Mention
The jury would like to give a special mention for her excellent combination of comedic timing and emotional sincerity to Jenna Fischer in "A Little Help."

The FIPRESCI jury was comprised of members of the International Federation of Film Critics: Melissa Anderson, US; Luc Chaput, Canada; and Barbara Lorey, France.

SIFF 2010 Golden Space Needle Audience Awards

Best Film Golden Space Needle Award
The Hedgehog, directed by Mona Achache (France, 2009)

Runners-up (in order):
Mao's Last Dancer, directed by Bruce Beresford (Australia, 2009)
Micmacs, directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet (France, 2009)
Cell 211, directed by Daniel Monzon (Spain, 2009)
Hipsters, directed by Valery Todorovsky (Russia, 2009)

Best Documentary Golden Space Needle Award
Ginny Ruffner: A Not So Still Life, directed by Karen Stanton (USA 2010) and Waste Land, directed by Lucy Walker (United Kingdom, 2010) (tie)

Runners-up (In order):
The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls, directed by Leanne Pooley (New Zealand, 2009)
Wheedle's Groove, directed by Jennifer Maas (USA, 2009)
Brownstones to Red Dirt, directed by Dave LaMattina and Chad N. Walker (Sierra Leone, 2010)
Restrepo, directed by Sebastian Junger and Tim Hetherington (USA, 2010)

Best Director Golden Space Needle Award
Debra Granik for Winter's Bone (USA, 2010)

Best Actor Golden Space Needle Award
Luis Tosar, for Cell 211 (Spain, 2009)

Best Actress Golden Space Needle Award
Jennifer Lawrence for Winter's Bone (USA, 2010)

Best Short Film Golden Space Needle Award
Ormie, directed by Rob Silvestri (Canada, 2009)

Lena Sharpe Award for Persistence of Vision, Presented by Women in Film/Seattle
The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls, directed by Leanne Pooley (New Zealand, 2009)

SIFF 2010 FutureWave and Youth Jury Awards
The SIFF FutureWave jury was comprised of five high-school students that viewed nine FutureWave features to award to the prize to Best FutureWave feature. The Films4Families jury was comprised of five elementary and middle school students that viewed six Films4Families films to award the prize for Best Films4Families Feature. SIFF's WaveMaker Award for Excellence in Youth Filmmaking was awarded at the FutureWave Shorts program on June 5 at the Egyptian Theatre. More than 100 short films were submitted from young filmmakers aged 13-18, from Canada, USA, and the United Kingdom.

Youth Jury Award for Best FutureWave Feature
REGENERATION, directed by Philip Montgomery (USA, 2010)
Jury Statement: "For it's ability to stimulate thought for a variety of audiences, provide a sense of awareness, and inspire action in today's apathetic society."

Youth Jury Award for Best Films4Families Feature
From Time To Time, directed by Julian Fellowes (United Kingdom, 2009)
Jury Statement: "For it amazing story involving flashbacks, a great cast of characters, and authentic costumes and set design which made the film feel true to history."

WaveMaker Award for Excellence in Youth Filmmaking (Grand Jury Prize)
Remember, directed by Scott Calvert (Anacortes, WA)
Jury Statement: "If you want evidence that filmmaking is a collaborative process, this certainly is it. The judges chose Remember for the near flawless choreography of events (and interesting events at that), the uniqueness and imaginative visual statements made by the players, the galvanizing of the participants by a director with a vision and a plan, and the sheer joy of the film. Although not a traditional story, it told us a lot about the young people involved...and their school."

WaveMaker Special Jury Prizes
Celina's Story, directed by Celina Chadwick (Seattle, WA)
Jury Statement: "For an honest and convincing account of one girl•s life experience, we are awarding a new documentary filmmaker with a distinctive voice who we believe has a strong future."

Alisha, directed by Daniel Citron (Ruxton, MD) J
ury Statement: "For telling a gripping story, creating compelling images, knowing how to cast his lead, directing her to captivate the audience, and, for his tenacity and dedication to becoming a filmmaker."

FutureWave Shorts Audience Award
Remember, directed by Scott Calvert

FutureWave Online Audience Award powered by IndieFlix
Shawn Harris: Personal Trainer, directed by Tyler Silver and Simon Turkel

Highs, Edward Norton, Hef and Breakout Filmmakers at Huge Seattle Film Fest

Brian Brooks — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 08:55:13 GMT

One of the high points of my brief tasting of the Seattle International Film Festival this year (May 20 - June 13) was the tribute to the articulate Edward Norton. After scenes from "Primal Fear," "The Incredible Hulk," and "Fight Club" were screened, the moved star told the S.R.O crowd, "It's weird. When you work on a lot of films over the years, you put a lot of focus into each one, and try to channel something specific, and then when it's over, it kind of just moves through you."

"I think people who don't act," Norton continued, "don't totally understand the degree to which you kind of are just a conduit for something else that actually already exists out there. It finds its way through you and into this thing, and then you move on. The thing I like about watching [the films] and hearing people's reactions is that you begin to realize that you left it way, way behind, but it's living out there, forming its own relationship with other people, which is the whole point of it all."

"So if there's any reason to get into this racket in the first place, I think it has something to do with that C.S. Lewis line: 'We read to know we're not alone.' I think that's why we make movies for each other because we want other people to feel like someone else is examining the experiences that we all go through. So when I hear people react to these things, and realize that they have taken a place in people's lives long after they've left mine, that's a nice feeling. It makes me feel connected to everyone else through it. And that's great."

A low point was the screening immediately afterwards of Norton's latest vehicle, Tim Blake Nelson's "Leaves of Grass," a twin-brother, pot-vs.-philosophy, violent comedy with dashes of unintentional anti-Semitism. Don't take my word for it, please. I could only bear 35 minutes, and I haven't walked out of anything since "You, Me and Dupree."

But you have to expect at least a bad apple or two when a festival is screening 189 features, 54 docs, and 150 shorts from 67 countries. Happily, I found nothing else lacking merit to this degree. This has a lot to do with Carl Spence, SIFF Artistic Director, who has helped expand SIFF from just being a bang-up annual event into a cultural phenomenon that serves the entire Seattle community daily with its new center and outreach to high schools and local filmmakers.

Spence admitted, "There's certainly a diversity of types of films so there's bound to be something that may not appeal to you or to anyone else. But I think the films are phenomenal this year, and the audiences have been responding to them. We've had record attendance, more so than we have ever had before. By yesterday (June 4th), we actually surpassed the box office from last year, and we still have 9 days left to go." Some of Spence's favorites features: Mona Achache's "The Hedgehog," Fernando Trueba's "The Dancer and the Thief," the films that make up the "Ambiente: New Spanish Cinema" program, plus the 8 films from Africa that he worked hard to garner, especially the Uganda offering, Caroline Kamya's "Imani."

Spence was also proud of his Emerging Masters showcase that spotlights "powerful voices that rise above the background din." Along with this year's choice of Mohamed Al-Daradji, were Valery Todorovsky and Ana Kokkinos.

Russia's Todorovsky's deliciously engaging musical, "Hipsters," takes place in the Moscow of 1955. In a society where "a saxophone is [considered] a small step from a switchblade"; hanging a picture of Stalin opposite your toilet can earn you a prison sentence; and wearing lipstick and listening to jazz are acts labeled "kowtowing to Western ideology," a group of rebels decide to turn in their grays for yellows, reds, and blues plus a whole lot of copulating. Imagine Baz Luhrmann on borscht.

A scene from Ana Kokkinos 1998 feature, "Head On." Image courtesy of Seattle International Film Festival.

Australia's Ana Kokkinos was represented by "Head On" (1998), a hard-hitting drama chronicling a hunky closeted Greek 19-year-old's attempts to keep his immigrant family unaware of his drug and sexual addictions over a 24-hour-period. Alex Dimitriades is superb as a violent sexual force that doesn't know how to love.

Kokkinos' current release, "Blessed", is just as good. Divided into two, the first part concentrates on several disenfranchised youth of Melbourne who shoplift, wind up in a porn film, or dead. In the second half, their mothers are observed. Unforgiving in its shrewd relentlessness, the cast is flawless as is the direction.

So how does a director feel to be called an Emerging Master? "Deeply honored," Kokkinos noted, "because it's really honoring the work not only of myself as a filmmaker but all of my collaborators who've worked with me over the years. Independent filmmaking is a tough feat so when the work is recognized in this way... when the work is celebrated in this way... I can't tell you how deeply I feel. Also the festival has enabled me to come and share this with you. There is so much joy in being able to present work that makes us think and hopefully makes us feel certain things and then being able to share it."

Oscar-winning documentarian Brigitte Berman was also cheerful to be screening in Seattle her seamless, eye-opening entertainment about the civil rights activist "Hugh Hefner: Playboy, Activist and Rebel." Her reasoning: "I think the audiences' reactions to the film are most rewarding. I sit through the whole film every time because I always learn more. As a filmmaker, you need to know who the audience is and what the audience is really about, and it's very interesting. There are certain things in the film, for instance, talking about the House Committee on Un-American Activities. [The blacklisted harmonicist] Larry Adler is talking to Hef, and he makes a joke. He says, 'I am not now nor have I ever been a jazz musician.' Of course, most people don't get it. In New York, at the Museum of Modern Art, they got it. Huge laughter. So those are my little surprises always. What kind of audience am I in now?"

A still from Brigitte Berman's doc, "Hugh Hefner: Playboy, Activist and Rebel." Image courtesy of Seattle International Film Festival.

A highly appreciative one at her next screening.

Also earning praise was Alejandro Amenabar's "Agora," a humorless feminist toga epic that fascinates with its intelligence and its abhorrence of the birth of Judeo/Christian culture.

One Seattleite in a line for another feature recalled how impressed she was the day before with the hairy armpits of the star of Adan Aliaga's "Stigmata." "It's beautiful to watch but very, very, very dour." This Spanish adaptation of an Italian graphic novel follows Bruno, a giant of a man, played by real life Spanish shot-put champion Manuel Martinez. Bruno is an impoverished alcoholic waiter who raises caterpillars in a shoebox. One day his hands start bleeding and he gains healing powers, which do not make the customers at the bar he works at happy. Who wants to drink out of bloody glasses? Black-and-white except for some final shots of red, this is a film you won't mind viewing once.

Javier Rebollo's comic delicacy, "Woman Without Piano," tells of Rosa, an everyday housewife/electrologist, who, sick of marinading her taxi-driver spouse's beef, dons a stylish wig one night and leaves home. She doesn't get very far, but it doesn't matter since Carmen Machi's performance is understated comic genius.

Leanne Pooley's lively New Zealand doc focuses upon "The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls." These butch lesbian sibling farmers, who have a comedy singing act (acoustic country songs), are shown fighting for gay rights and surviving cancer over the decades, and they are endearing in their suits and fake moustaches. Sadly, their music is not for all.

Bruno Collet's 9-minute short, "The Little Dragon," however, is for everyone. This hilarious tale tells of a Bruce Lee doll that has been boxed up for 35 years. Now one night, while his bearded owner is sleeping, the toy breaks out and is soon battling robots and computers in a world far different than the one he last played in.

Bill Plympton's 4-minute "Santa, the Fascist Years," which is narrated by Matthew Modine, depicts the sad history of Mr. Claus when he tried to out-evil Mr. Hitler in 1939. Plympton's silliness is captivating for the "Bah, humbug!" cynics in all of us.

Meanwhile, in a mere 16 classy minutes, Pierre Stefanos' "Bedfellows" captures the possibilities of true gay romance in a world where cuddling is no longer acceptable. Yes, there is hope.

There's nothing sentimental though about Phillip Montgomery's "ReGeneration," an astounding exploration of the corrupt media that has shaped today's society into a mindless behemoth that knows more about Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton than it does the C.E.O.s who have made greed into a "positive" trait. This one has legs.

Portland's Matt McCormack's "Some Days Are Better Than Others" is sort of a neutered Todd Solondz comedy. No sperm shots, murders, or pedophilia. Just lonely people trying to reach out now and then to each other, plus numerous shots of the sun's rays reacting on soap bubbles.

Jacek Borcuch's "All That I Love" from Poland is a highly affable feature about a group of lads forming a punk rock band in 1981 as their country goes totalitarian. Unlikely heroes, they get to sing, and the lead loses his virginity on a beach. What better way is there to spend one's youth?

Also of note, Ivan Cherkelov's "Crayfish," a slight Bulgarian comic tragedy in which two poor pals do each other in by accident after being hired by warring crime lords.

Aluzio Abranches's "From Beginning to End" (Brazil) does for gay male incest what "Finding Nemo" did for lesbian-voiced fish. This highly erotic, graphically sexual love story is discomforting yet never less than fascinating. Definitely a possible moneymaker on the gay art house scene.

Former child wonder Sebastien Lifshitz's "Going South" is also worth viewing if you can enjoy a world populated by distraught people who all look like supermodels yet can act. Gay and straight, two strangers and a pair of siblings go on a car ride, have sex, and flashback on their past, which includes sticking a finger in a hole in dad's head where he shot himself.

Best of all is the truly hilarious, yet touching "I Killed My Mother" directed and written by Xavier Dolan. This just might be as close as we'll ever get to seeing "Catcher in the Rye" on the screen.

Seattle Sets 406 Films For Massive 36th Edition of Fest

Nigel M Smith — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 11:47:06 GMT

The 36th edition of the Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) promises to lay claim to holding the title as the largest and most highly attended event of its kind in the US. Running from May 20 through June 13, SIFF will present 256 features (both documentary and narrative) and 150 short films at 11 venues throughout Seattle.

Akin to the Nantucket Film Festival, "The Extra Man" from directing duo Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini ("American Splendor") will kick SIFF off. SIFF's Closing Night Gala will feature a screening of Aaron Schneider's drama "Get Low," starring Robert Duvall, Bill Murray and Sissy Spacek, following generally favorable reviews at Sundance and TIFF. In between these two high profile screenings, SIFF's Centerpiece Gala will feature Christian Carion's ("Joyeux Noel") new film "Farewell," which is drawing comparisons to "The Lives of Others."

This year's Juried Competition sections include the New Directors Showcase, Documentary, Shorts (Live Action, Animation, Documentary) and New American Cinema, exclusively juried by FIPRESCI, the International Federation of Film Critics. Outside of the competition 25 films will be making their world premieres including John Jeffcoat's "Amplified Seattle," Tim Cox's "Miss Nobody" and Marc Evans "Patagonia." Out of the 36 North American premieres Pang Ho-Cheung's "Love in a Puff" will screen, as well as Christopher Thompson's rocker comedy "Bus Palladium."

For their annual spotlight focus, SIFF will highlight films hailing from Spain in the series, Ambiente: New Spanish Cinema. Selections from the 18 features and nine shorts include Alejandro Amenabar's "Agora," Isaki Lacuesta's "The Damned" and Fernando Trubea's "The Dancer and the Thief," which served as Spain's official Academy Awards submission for Best Foreign Film.

Another program at this year's SIFF is Face the Music 2010, which features eight musical documentaries that span reggae and ska, to gospel and soul, along with two live musical events. In addition, another featured program, FutureWave: Expanding Cinema Through Education, will screen short and narrative films crated by youth from six countries.

For more of SIFF's lineup be sure to visit their website.