SIFF 25 Includes Lots Of LGBTQ+ Films Including Opening Night’s “Four Mothers”

It’s already time to talk about this year’s Seattle International Film Festival which will unreel for the 51st time from May 15th through the 25th at venues throughout the metro area. They’ve announced opening and closing films already and today, they’ve dropped the entire line up…245 films from 74 countries, so there’s something for everyone! And, if you bookmark their Film Finder you can use filters to search for films by genre, date, venue, country, etc.

Of course there’s an LGBTQ filter option and using it, you’ll discover a great selection of 17 films with LGBTQ+ plots, themes, characters including the opening night gala film, FOUR MOTHERS from Irish director Darren Thornton and co-written by Darren and his gay brother Colin Thornton. It’s about a gay novelist (James McArdle) who has to return home to care for his aging mother (Fionnula Flanagan). When a bunch of his gay friends in similar situations want to go to a big gay summer festival, they dump THEIR elderly mums on him to care for as well (thus the title, “Four Mothers”). It’s a sweet comedic charmer and a terrific film to open this year’s SIFF.

Other LGBTQ+ films include exciting new documentaries like SALLY about astronaut Sally Ride and her secret lesbian life and MONK IN PIECES about acclaimed composer and performer Meredith Monk and JEAN COCTEAU about the genius queer French writer and artist. There’s also ripped from the headlines story about the fight to protect trans kids in Tennessee in HEIGHTENED SECURITY.

There’s quirky comedies like FUCKTOYS from director/star Annapurna Sriram and the gentle dramedy of the Icelandic ODD FISH. Or, intergenerational family drama in IDYLLIC from the Netherlands.

The 51st Seattle International Film Festival lineup just went live! With 245 films from 74 countries around the globe, there’s an excursion for everyone, so peruse the filmic destinations cataloged in this year’s guidebook and get to planning your perfect trip. 

Tickets are now on sale to SIFF members. Access for the general public begins April 24 10:00am PT.