The 34th Seattle International Film Festival
May 22 - June 15, 2008
The Largest Film Festival in the U.S. Kicks Off With Battle in Seattle
Bottle Shock Highlights Closing Night Gala
418 Films in 25 Days, With 101 Premieres and More Than 600 Screenings
SIFF is proud to announce the 34th Seattle International Film Festival, the largest and most highly attended event of its kind in the United States. Running a full 25 days, SIFF will present 191 narrative features, 57 documentary features, and 170 short films from 69 countries, including 43 World Premieres (16 features, 27 shorts), 38 North American Premieres (19 features, 19 shorts), and 19 US Premieres (10 features, 9 shorts). SIFF 2008 will unspool from May 22 through June 15 at multiple venues throughout the city. The full schedule will be available in The Seattle Times and online May 8 at www.siff.net.
"This year's SIFF is fiercely independent with wide-ranging opportunities for people to explore new ways to look at the world through cinema," says SIFF Artistic director Carl Spence. "Seventy percent of the films in the program are currently without US distribution, offering an array of options for new discoveries and extraordinary film experiences. It is also of note that almost half of the features in the program are from first or second time directors."
The Festival gets underway Thursday, May 22 at Seattle Center's Marion Oliver McCaw Hall with the Opening Night Gala presentation of Battle in Seattle, a gripping dramatization of events that rocked the world when Seattle was host to the World Trade Organization. The evening will be highlighted by a red carpet welcome for guests Charlize Theron, and Martin Henderson, stars of the film, and director Stuart Townsend. Battle in Seattle also stars Woody Harrelson, André Benjamin, Michelle Rodriguez, Ray Liotta, Connie Nielsen, Channing Tatum, Jennifer Carpenter, Isaach De Bankolé, Joshua Jackson, and Rade Sherbedzija. A gala party will follow with live entertainment and complimentary champagne cocktails and hors d'oeuvres.
The Festival will wrap with Bottle Shock, directed by Randall Miller, a cinematic love letter to California's wine country, starring Alan Rickman, Bill Pullman, Chris Pine, Freddy Rodriguez, Eliza Dushku, Rachael Taylor, and Dennis Farina. SIFF Closing Night gala will be held on Saturday, June 14, but the Festival will continue through Sunday. Bottle Shock will be presented at the Cinerama Theatre, followed by a gala celebration at the elegant Seattle Pan Pacific Hotel.
A stellar lineup of actors, directors, and film industry professionals will be honored guests over the course of this year's SIFF, including John Waters, co-presented by SIFF and Seattle Arts and Lectures at Benaroya Hall on Tuesday, June 3. The acclaimed director will also introduce a special screening of his cinematically rebellious classic, Cecil B. Demented at the Egyptian Theatre on June 3, preceded by an onstage interview with SIFF Artistic Director Carl Spence.
A Centerpiece Gala celebration on Friday, June 6 will feature The Great Buck Howard, directed by Sean McGinly, starring Colin Hanks, John Malkovich, Tom Hanks, Emily Blunt, Griffin Dunne, and Ricky Jay, followed by an exclusive post-screening reception with hors d'oeuvres, drinks, and entertainment. A special Gay-la extravaganza and post-screening party will be held on Thursday, May 29 for the romantic comedy, Kiss the Bride, directed by C. Jay Cox, and starring Tori Spelling, Philipp Karner, James O'Shea, Amber Benson, and Garrett M. Brown.
Other special presentations include the World Premiere of Jolene on Friday, June 13, directed by SIFF co-founder Dan Ireland, and starring Jessica Chastain, Dermot Mulroney, Chazz Palminteri, Denise Richards, Rupert Friend, Michael Vartan, Theresa Russell, and Frances Fisher. In conjunction with the screening of her new film American Teen, SIFF will present a panel with director Nanette Burstein and area high school students on Saturday, May 31 to discuss issues important in their lives.
Talking Pictures will host two luminaries of the Seattle arts scene to introduce and discuss classic films of their choosing. Stephanie Shine, Artistic Director of the Seattle Shakespeare Company presents Franco Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet on Tuesday, May 27, and original Flying Karamazov Brother Howard Patterson presents Jackie Chan's The Young Master on Sunday, June 8.
In partnership with the Seattle Symphony, SIFF will present Alexander Nevsky (1938) at Benaroya Hall with live accompaniment by the Seattle Symphony playing Sergei Prokofiev's original score, for four performances June 12 through June 15. In partnership with The Burke Museum and Seattle Theatre Group, SIFF will present famed photographer Edward S. Curtis' In The Land of the Headhunters (1914) as part of The Moore Theatre's centennial celebration on Tuesday, June 10. This newly restored print will be accompanied by a performance featuring descendents of the original Kwakwaka'wakw cast, and the original orchestral score.
The Emerging Masters series will honor the work of four directors poised for greater cinematic acclaim by presenting the director's newest film along with one of their earlier achievements. This year's honorees are David Mackenzie, with Mister Foe and Young Adam; Fatih Akin, with The Edge of Heaven and Head-On; Jeremy Podeswa, with Fugitive Pieces and The Five Senses; and Abdellatif Kechiche, with The Secret of the Grain and Games of Love and Chance.
SIFF will present a special live event as part of the Face the Music program on Friday, June 13 at the Triple Door. Sub Pop indie-rock band The Album Leaf will perform a new original score to F. W. Murnau's Sunrise (1927), still recognized as one of the greatest films ever made.
Other films in the special Archival program include preserved and newly-restored prints of Joseph von Sternberg's The Saga of Anatahan (1953), Rouben Mamoulian's Becky Sharp (1935), John Cassavetes' Faces (1968), Robert Hamer's It Always Rains on Sunday (1947), and Curtis Harrington's Night Tide (1961) starring Dennis Hopper.
Returning this year is the Planet Cinema program, presenting documentaries and features with environmental themes, including Good Food, directed by Melissa Young and Mark Dworkin, about sustainable farming in Washington, and Half Life, directed by Jennifer Phang, a narrative drama about global warming beyond the tipping point. The Northwest Connections program includes 11 films with roots in our region, including several Premieres.
SIFF FutureWave: Expanding Cinema Through Education offers youth and educators a direct link to the Festival with opportunities for young people to watch and make films. FutureWave programs include classroom visits by filmmakers, special student screenings, study guides, post-film discussions and digital technology workshops. The SuperFly filmmaking weekend and the FutureWave Shorts program present films created by young filmmakers under 18, and a professional development workshop for educators. The eight films in the FutureWave program exemplify thrilling global cinema selected specifically with youth in mind.
New to SIFF this year is SIFF ShortsFest Weekend, a Festival within the Festival at SIFF Cinema. ShortsFest Weekend takes place May 29 through June 1 with 14 shorts packages crossing genre and theme, all in 34 minutes or less.
Films4Families provides a chance for discovery through matinee experiences every Saturday and Sunday at 11:00am with imaginative programming for children and the young at heart. On Sunday, June 8, the French film Princess of the Sun will be presented with subtitles performed live by a professional voice artist. There will also be a special Family Picture Show program as part of ShortsFest Weekend.
Also new is the debut of SIFF Lounge at Moe Bar on Capitol Hill, the exclusive social networking hub for VIPs, filmmakers, invited guests, and the general public. SIFF Lounge opens May 23 for cocktails, post-film conversation, and a chance to enhance the film discovery experience. Full food and beverage service for guests 21 and over.
SIFF 2008 FEATURE FILM PREMIERES
World Premiere
*Accelerating America, directed by Timothy Hotchner (USA, 2008)
The Bluetooth Virgin, directed by Russell Brown (USA, 2008)
Butterfly Dreaming, Rufus Williams (USA, 2008)
*Creative Nature, directed by John Andres (USA, 2008)
The Dark Horse, directed by Cornelia Duryé Moore (USA, 2008)
The Disappeared, directed by Johnny Kevorkian (United Kingdom, 2008)
Em, directed by Tony Barbieri (USA, 2008)
Garden Party, directed by Jason Freeland (USA, 2008)
*Garrison Keillor: The Man on the Radio in the Red Tennis Shoes, directed by Peter Rosen (USA, 2008)
*Good Food, directed by Melissa Young, Mark Dworkin (USA, 2008)
*In Search of Kennedy, directed by Chuck Workman (USA, 2008)
Jolene, directed by Dan Ireland (USA, 2008)
Letting Go of God, directed by Julia Sweeney (USA, 2008)
Salawati, directed by Marc X. Grigoroff (Singapore, 2008)
Sweet Thing, directed by Joe Lia (USA, 2008)
Visioneers, directed by Jared Drake (USA, 2008)
*A Wink and a Smile, directed by Deirdre Timmons (USA, 2008)
North American Premiere
All Will Be Well, directed by Tomasz Wiszniewski (Poland, 2007)
*Cafe de Los Maestros, directed by Miguel Kohan (Argentina, 2008)
Captain Ahab, directed by Philippe Ramos (France, 2007)
Cherry Blossoms - Hanami, directed by Doris Dörrie (Germany, 2008)
*Faces, directed by Gmax (Netherlands, 2007)
*Fairytale of Kathmandu, directed by Neasa Ní Chianáin (United Kingdom, 2007)
Girl Sparks, directed by Ishii Yuya (Japan, 2007)
Go With Peace, Jamil, directed by Omar Shargawi (Denmark, 2008)
Hidden Face, directed by Bernard Campan (France, 2007)
Huddersfield, directed by Ivan Zivkovic (Serbia, 2007)
Leroy, directed Armin Völckers (Germany, 2007)
Love and Other Crimes, directed by Stefan Arsenijevic (Germany, 2007)
Magnus, directed by Kadri Kõusaar (Estonia, 2007)
Movie, or An Introduction To The Philosophy Of Auteur Film Making, directed by Ivo Trajkov (Czech Republic, 2007)
The Red Awn, directed by Cai Shangjun (China, 2007)
Sonetàula, directed by Salvatore Mereu (Italy, 2008)
Still Orangutans, directed by Gustavo Spolidoro (Brazil, 2007)
Summer Heat, directed by Monique van der Ven (Netherlands, 2008)
*This Way Up, directed by Georgi Lazarevski (France, 2007)
US Premiere
*Combalimon, directed by Raphaël Mathié (France, 2007)
Dream Boy, directed by James Bolton (USA, 2008)
Everything is Fine, directed by Yves-Christian Fournier (Canada, 2008)
*Hold Me Tight, Let Me Go, directed by Kim Longinotto (United Kingdom, 2007)
Milky Way, directed by Benedek Fliegauf (Hungary, 2007)
Perfect Match..., directed by Anne-Marie Étienne (France, 2007)
Seach'd: The Crimson Snowdrop, directed by Simon Miller (Scotland, 2007)
*Shadow of the Holy Book, directed by Arto Halonen (Finland, 2007)
Son of a Lion, directed by Benjamin Gilmour (Australia, 2007)
The Song of Sparrows, directed by Majid Majidi (Iran, 2008)
*Indicates documentary film
SIFF COMPETITIONS
Four SIFF competitions are judged by juries of filmmakers and industry professionals, with cash prizes of $5000 awarded to the winner of each feature competition.
New American Cinema
The 27 Club, directed by Erica Dunton (2008)
American Son, directed by Neil Abramson (2008)
The Bluetooth Virgin, directed by Russell Brown (2008) WORLD PREMIERE
Dream Boy, directed by James Bolton (2007) US PREMIERE
Em, directed by Tony Barbieri (2007) WORLD PREMIERE
My Effortless Brilliance, directed by Lynn Shelton (2008)
Mysteries of Pittsburgh, directed by Rawson Thurber (2007)
Visioneers, directed by Jared Drake (2008) WORLD PREMIERE
New Directors Showcase
Apollo 54, directed by Giordano Giulivi (Italy, 2007)
Captain Ahab, directed by Phillippe Ramos (France, 2007) NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
Cochochi, directed by Israel Cárdenas, Laura Amelia Guzmán (Mexico, 2007)
Everything is Fine, directed by Yves-Christian Fournier (Candada, 2007) US PREMIERE
Mermaid, directed by Anna Melikyan (Russia, 2007)
Postcards from Leningrad, directed by Mariana Rondón (Venezuela, 2007)
The Red Awn, directed by Cai Shangjun (China, 2007) NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
Seach'd: The Crimson Snowdrop, directed by Simon Miller (Scotland, 2007) US PREMIERE
Documentary Competition
Accelerating America, directed by Timothy Hotchner (USA, 2007)
Combalimon, directed by Raphaël Mathié (France, 2007) US PREMIERE
Derek, directed by Isaac Julien (United Kingdom, 2008)
Fairytale of Kathmandu, directed by Neasa Ní Chianáin (United Kingdom, 2007) NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
Hold Me Tight, Let Me Go, directed by Kim Longinotto (United Kingdom, 2007) US PREMIERE
In Search of Kennedy, directed by Chuck Workman (USA, 2008) WORLD PREMIERE
Shadow of the Holy Book, directed by Arto Halonen (Finland, 2007) US PREMIERE
Trouble the Water, directed by Tia Lessin, Carl Deal (USA, 2007)
Short Film Competition
In addition to titles paired with feature films, the short film competition will present 13 themed programs that will be screened as part of the new SIFF ShortsFest Weekend, May 29 through June 1. Juried awards will be given to short films in the categories of narrative, animation, and documentary.