April 11, 2018• byMichael Strangeways

“Sorry To Bother You” is the debut film from musician Boots Riley and will be the Centerpiece Gala at SIFF 2018.

The Seattle International Film Festival (aka SIFF) has a year round presence with three area cinemas under their umbrella but their raison d’etre is their HUGE annual film festival, one of the biggest in the world, that happens every May/June and screens hundreds of feature and short films, including many LGBTQ ones.

SIFF has started releasing info and line-up for this year’s fest which runs May 17 through June 10th including the just announced Centerpiece Gala and Closing Night Gala films.

The Centerpiece film (screening on June 2nd at the Egyptian) is Sorry To Bother You and it’s the debut film from musician Boots Riley that examines racial dynamics in the workplace (but it’s funny!) and stars up and coming actors, Lakeith Stanfield, Tessa Thompson, and Armie Hammer.

The Closing Night Gala film is Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot a local-ish film from out gay Portland Oregon filmmaker Gus Van Sant and it’s a Portland based tale starring Joaquin Phoenix, Jonah Hill, Rooney Mara and Jack Black with several famous local musicians with Northwest connections in smaller roles including Carrie Brownstein, Kim Deal and Beth Ditto. It screens Sunday, June 10th at the Egyptian.

Passes are currently on sale for SIFF 2018 but individual tickets don’t happen until May 2nd when the entire line up is announced.

AND, you only have TWO days to get early bird pricing on passes! Until April 13th!!! Don’t dawdle!

More poo on the two films announced for Galas:

Seattle International Film Festival Announces 2018
Closing Night & Centerpiece Films and Galas

Early Bird discounts available for two more days – ends April 13, 2018!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – The Seattle International Film Festival is excited to shine its Festival Spotlight on, drumroll please, Centerpiece and Closing Night films and galas. Purchase a Gala Pack and see the film screenings and attend the soirees for Opening Night, Centerpiece, and Closing Night. But hurry and buy now! Early Bird discounts on Festival Passes and Ticket Packs, including Gala Packs, are all up to 30% off for SIFF Members for only two more days — last day of Early Bird is Friday, April 13, 2018.

Our 2018 Centerpiece film Sorry to Bother You pulls no punches in its portrayal of racial dynamics in the workplace, and is an utterly original and wildly creative new voice on the film scene from debut director and musician Boots Riley. Closing Night sees the return of Seattle favorite Gus Van Sant with his latest film Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far On Foot, a bitingly sharp yet tender portrait of Portland-based cartoonist John Callahan, starring Joaquin Phoenix.

“We are constantly looking for dynamic, diverse stories, and we certainly found them with these two unforgettable films,” said SIFF Artistic Director Beth Barrett. “With these two Galas we’re thrilled to spotlight both an established filmmaker and a bold new voice, each with vision and strong storytelling powers.”

The Gala Pack includes tickets to the screenings, admission to the parties, two drink tickets, and hor d’oeuvres. Details about Opening Night are still in the works, so stay tuned because you won’t want to miss all these celebrations.

Centerpiece Film & Gala

Saturday, June 2
Sorry to Bother You | Director Boots Riley
Screening at SIFF Cinema Egyptian | Centerpiece Party at DAR Rainier Chapter House

Lakeith Stanfield, Tessa Thompson, and Armie Hammer star in the exhilarating directorial debut of musician Boots Riley, a biting and bonkers satire that follows a black telemarketer who discovers an unknown skill which gives him magical selling powers that shoot him up the corporate ladder. An Annapurna Pictures release.

Closing Night Film & Gala
Sunday, June 10, 2018
Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot | Director Gus Van Sant
Screening at SIFF Cinema Egyptian | Closing Party at MOHAI

Joaquin Phoenix gives a transformative performance in Gus Van Sant’s sensitive and caustically funny portrait of Portland cartoonist John Callahan who, after a car accident leaves him confined to a wheelchair, uses his sardonic humor and brutal honesty to battle with a lifetime of addiction. The outstanding supporting cast includes Jonah Hill, Rooney Mara, Jack Black, and musician Beth Ditto in her impressive film debut. An Amazon Studios release.

Stay in the know with all things SIFF 2018 with Festival Spotlight, a countdown to the annual Seattle International Film Festival that runs Thursday, May 17 through Sunday, June 10, 2018.

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About the Author: Michael Strangeways

As the Editorial Director/Co-Owner, Michael Strangeways writes, edits and does about a million other jobs for Seattle Gay Scene, Puget Sound's most visited LGBTQ news, arts and entertainment website now celebrating its 14th year as a media outlet. A semi-proud Midwesterner by birth, he's lived in Seattle since 2000. He's also a film producer who would like you to check out the Jinkx Monsoon documentary, "Drag Becomes Him" now available on Amazon.com. In his spare time, he gets slightly obsessive about his love for old movies, challenging theater, "otters", vodka, chocolate, "I,Claudius", Lizzie Borden, real books made out of paper, disaster films, show tunes, Weimar era Germany, flea markets, pop surrealistic art, the sex lives of Hollywood actors both living and dead, kitties, chicken fried steak, haute couture and David Bowie. But, not necessarily in that order.