SIFF Announces Full Film Line-Up For “SIFFTY” Which Runs May 9th Through May 19th

The Seattle International Film Festival, aka SIFF, has announced the entire line-up of films, programs and events for this year’s Festival going on live from May 9th through the 19th at venues all over the city including SIFF’s own cinemas at the Egyptian on Capitol Hill; the former Cinerama space now called ‘SIFF Downtown’; the Uptown cinemas and SIFF Center in the Uptown/Seattle Center neighborhood. Tickets and passes for everything on sale at siff.net/fest.

And, for LGBTQ+ cinema fans, as usual SIFF will have a number of films for our community including “I Saw The TV Glow” by out director Jane Schoenbrun. Check out all 20 LGBTQ+ films being screened at: https://www.siff.net/festival/film-finder-2024?pagesize=12&program=&genre=897&mood=&director=&country=

More on the festival.

SIFF announced today the lineup of films included in the 50th Seattle International Film Festival, to be held May 9–19 at venues across Seattle and followed by a week of select virtual screenings on the SIFF Channel May 20–27. The Festival will screen 261 films representing 84 countries/regions, including 92 features, 47 documentaries, five archival features, two special tributes, two secret screenings, and 115 short films.

In addition to the full lineup, SIFF announced today that Seattle native and Emmy®, Golden Globe®, SAG Award®, and Critics Choice Award-winning actress Jean Smart will be awarded The Hollywood Reporter’s Trailblazer Award for her contributions to storytelling on film, television, and the stage. The event will feature a screening of an episode from the new season of the Max Original comedy series Hacks, followed by the Trailblazer trophy presentation and a conversation between Smart and THR Contributing Editor Stacey Wilson Hunt.

The Festival will open with Josh Margolin’s action comedy Thelma from Magnolia Pictures, which will screen at The Paramount Theatre during the Festival’s Opening Night on May 9. The film will be followed by a Q&A with Writer & Director Josh Margolin, lead actress June Squibb, and producers Zoë Worth and Chris Kaye. Following the Q&A, there will be an after-party onstage and outside on Ninth Ave. 

SIFF will honor June Squibb with the 2024 Golden Space Needle Award for Outstanding Contribution to Cinema for the unforgettable work she’s presented throughout the span of her career. The Oscar-nominated actress and lead of the Festival’s Opening Night film, Thelma, will be presented the award at a special Tribute Event on May 11 at SIFF Cinema Downtown with a conversation moderated by Variety’s Jenelle Riley. Prior to the event, there will be an Honoree Brunch with Squibb at Palace Kitchen. 

Closing the Festival is Greg Kwedar’s Sing Sing from A24, which will screen on May 18 at SIFF Cinema Downtown. Director and co-writer Greg Kwedar will be in attendance and participate in a Q&A after the screening along with members of the film’s ensemble cast, who will receive a Golden Space Needle Award for excellence in Ensemble Acting. A Closing Night party will follow at the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI).

Additional highlights showing throughout the Festival include Focus Features’ Sundance award-winner Dìdi (弟弟), a directorial debut from Oscar® nominee Sean Wang (SIFF 2023 Grand Jury winner for Live Action short); Neon’s Babes written by and starring Ilana Glazer and directed by debut helmer Pamela Adlon; IFC’s stirring and emotional Ghostlight which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival; Harmony Korine’s latest boundary-pushing work AGGRO DR1FT; a new 4K restoration of Wim Wenders’ iconic Wings of Desire, in celebration of the 70th anniversary of German Films; and an exciting new slate of cINeDIGENOUS films, including the world premiere of Molokaʻi Bound, directed by Alika Tengan (Kanaka Maoli).

A variety of film and event passes are on sale now. Tickets for individual screenings go on sale to SIFF members on April 17 at 10AM and to the public April 18 and are $18.00 in person & $17.50 online ($15.00 in person and $14.50 online for SIFF Members). For information on all event and screening packages and tickets, please visit siff.net/fest.

The 50th Seattle International Film Festival will be screened at venues across the Seattle area, including SIFF’s newly opened SIFF Cinema Downtown, SIFF Cinema Uptown, SIFF Cinema Egyptian, SIFF Film Center, AMC Pacific Place 11, The Paramount Theatre, Majestic Bay Theatres, and Shoreline Community College Theater. The Festival will be followed by a week of select films streaming on the SIFF Channel from May 20-27.

Galas

Opening Night Gala
Thelma
Thursday, May 9, 7:00pm – Party to follow screening
Film and Party: The Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine Street

Writer and director Josh Margolin makes his feature directorial debut with this action comedy exploring aging, family, and autonomy as 93-year-old Thelma Post sets out on a treacherous quest across the city to reclaim what was taken from her after being duped by a phone scammer pretending to be her grandson. Director/Writer/Editor Josh Margolin, Actress June Squibb, Actor Fred Hechinger, and Producers Zoë Worth and Chris Kaye will be in attendance for a Q&A.

(d: Josh Margolin, c: June Squibb, Fred Hechinger, Parker Posey, Clark Gregg, Richard Roundtree, USA 2024, 97 min)

Closing Night Gala
SING SING
Saturday, May 18, 6:00pm – Party to follow screening
Film: SIFF Cinema Downtown, 2100 4th Ave
Party: Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI), 860 N. Terry Ave.

Oscar® nominees Colman Domingo (RUSTIN) and Paul Raci (SOUND OF METAL) lead this powerful ensemble, many of whom play themselves, in this inspirational true story about a troupe of incarcerated people who find healing through the redemptive power of theatre. Director/Writer/Producer Greg Kwedar and ensemble cast including Clarence Maclin, John ‘Divine G’ Whitfield, Sean San José, Sean ‘Dino’ Johnson, Jon Adrian ‘JJ’ Velazquez will be in attendance for a Q&A.

(d: Greg Kwedar c: Colman Domingo, Clarence Maclin, Paul Raci, Sean San José, Jon Adrian Velazquez, Sean Johnson, USA 2024, 107 min)

Tributes

A Conversation with June Squibb
Seattle International Film Festival Tribute Recipient of 2024 Golden Space Needle Award for Outstanding Contribution to Cinema – moderated by Variety’s Jenelle Riley
Saturday, May 11, 2024
SIFF Cinema Downtown & Palace Kitchen
10:00am – Honoree Brunch with June Squibb at Palace Kitchen
12:30pm – Tribute event at SIFF Cinema Downtown

A Conversation with Jean Smart and The Hollywood Reporter Contributing Editor Stacey Wilson Hunt 
Hacks Screening & The Hollywood Reporter Trailblazer Award Presentation
Saturday, May 18 @ 2:30pm
SIFF Cinema Downtown
 

2024 SIFF by the Numbers

261 Total Films
92 Features
47 Documentaries
115 Short Films
5 Archival Features
2 Secret Films

Premieres 
18 World Premieres
26 North American Premieres
14 U.S. Premieres

62% of films are from first- & second-time filmmakers
59% of films are without U.S. distribution
43% of filmmakers identify as female or nonbinary filmmakers  
35% of filmmaker identify as a BIPOC director
18% of filmmakers identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community