SIFF Announces Opening Film For Festival 49: “Past Lives” From Writer/Director Celine Song

April 10, 2023• byMichael Strangeways

Celine Song's PAST LIVES will open the 49th Seattle International Film Festival this May.

A24 is the hot film production company of the moment and one of their most promising new films will open the 49th Seattle International Film Festival on Thursday, May 11th at the Paramount Theatre in downtown Seattle. It’s PAST LIVES, the highly regarded film from Korean Canadian writer/director Celine Song that debuted at this year’s Sundance Film Festival to rave reviews.

More on the film and ticket options for SIFF 49’s opening gala:

49th annual Seattle International Film Festival
to open with A24’s PAST LIVES from Celine Song

The film will be followed by a Q&A with Writer/Director Celine Song & Opening Night Gala
at the Paramount Theatre

SEATTLE – SIFF announced today that the 49th Seattle International Film Festival will open with Celine Song’s heartrending modern romance Past Lives from A24. SIFF’s Opening Night screening will take place Thursday, May 11 at The Paramount Theatre followed by a party inside the theatre and outdoors on Ninth Avenue.

The film, which premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, follows Nora (Greta Lee) and Hae Sung (Teo Yoo), two deeply connected childhood friends who are torn apart after Nora’s family emigrates from South Korea to Canada. Two decades later, they are reunited in New York for one fateful week as they confront notions of destiny, love, and the choices that make a life.

“At this year’s festival, SIFF is celebrating the joy of discovering new worlds through cinema,” said SIFF Artistic Director Beth Barrett. “We’re honored to start that journey with Celine Song’s achingly beautiful debut feature film Past Lives, which embraces the connections that happen at specific times, for specific reasons, and can help us understand the people we are, and who we will become.”

Writer and director Celine Song will be in attendance and participate in a Q&A after the screening. Song’s play “Endlings” received its world premiere in 2019 at American Repertory Theater and had its New York premiere in 2020 at New York Theatre Workshop. She has been a finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize and a semifinalist for the American Playwriting Foundation’s Relentless Award. Past Lives is her debut feature film.

Following the screening and Q&A, SIFF will hold a party at the Paramount Theatre and on Ninth Avenue with an outdoor beer garden; food trucks from Wood Shop BBQ, Where Ya At Matt, Tutta Bella, and Full Tilt Ice Cream; live music from C89.5 DJs; and libations from The Walls, Georgetown Brewing, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Jiant Hard Kombucha and Pathfinder Non-Alcoholic Spirits.

Tickets for Opening Night Film & Gala are available online at siff.net and in person at SIFF Cinema box offices and are $75 for SIFF members and $85 for the general public. Opening Night access ranges from the festive, see-it-all Film & Gala Package to the exclusive Red Carpet Experience featuring a walk down the red carpet into a pre-film reception, a swag bag, reserved seating at the film screening, and VIP bar and lounge at the famous after-party.

The Paramount Theatre
Opening Night Gala Film & Party
May 11, 2023

5:00 pm – Private VIP Reception for Red Carpet Experience ticket purchasers
6:00 pm – Doors open for General Admission ticket holders
7:00 pm – SIFF Welcome & Opening Night film Past Lives begins

Following the film: On-stage Q&A followed by a party in the Paramount Theatre and outdoors on Ninth Avenue.

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.