Series & Events

SIFF cinema Fall 2008

Films4Families: Saturday Morning at the Movies

Every other Saturday at 10 am
SIFF Cinema invites film lovers of all ages to discover and share the finest in family cinema. Join us every other Saturday to experience these classic titles as they were meant to be seen—on the big screen! more
Still Life

September 26–October 2
Director Jia Zhang-ke’s empathetic portrait of those left behind by a modernizing society is a breathtakingly poetic hybrid of documentary and fiction. more
Festa Italiana's Italian Film Festival

September 27–28
Festa Italiana celebrates one of Italy’s most beloved actors, the recently departed Alberto Sordi, with two of his classic Italian comedies. Screenings are free! more
Political (non)Science

October 3–7
With the general election a mere month away, take a break from the dubious sound bites on TV! Our series is a reminder that just when you think that the rhetoric could not be more brazen, the strategies more questionable--there was probably a precedent! more
Northwest Tea Festival

October 4–5
The first annual Northwest Tea Festival celebrates the multifaceted world of tea, covering all aspects, from the cultural to the historical and the sensory to the scientific. The film presentations will be complemented by panel discussions. more
Happy-Go-Lucky

Wednesday, October 8
Special benefit screening with Director Mike Leigh expected to attend! Seattle Premiere!
Five-time Oscar-nominated director Mike Leigh (Vera Drake, Secrets & Lies, Topsy Turvy, Life is Sweet) is known for his improvisational directing style, commitment to social realism, and exploration of "real life". In this crowd pleaser, Leigh takes a turn with Happy-Go-Lucky, a modern day comedy set in London more
GO: The Schools for Schools Documentary

Thursday, October 9
Presented by Invisible Children and National Film Festival for Talented Youth (NFFTY)
Go is about 20 young American students who travel to Africa in the adventure of a lifetime, to help give thousands of students in war-torn Uganda the opportunity of a lifetime—a quality education. more
Such Stuff As Dreams Are Made On: Shakespeare on Film

October 10–15
Our program is a mere sampling of films that directly claim Shakespeare as a source. There are countless others that have been influenced by the great poet and dramatist whose work is everlastingly revelatory…and as this series proves, astoundingly versatile. more
Jazz on a Summer's Day

October 17–23
Documenting the Newport Jazz Festival, celebrated photographer Bert Stern recreated the look of his still photography into motion with a display of rich human observation, and some of the most remarkable scenes of live jazz ever brought the screen. Featuring legendary artists such as Louis Armstrong, Anita O’Day, Mahalia Jackson, Thelonious Monk, Chuck Berry, and Dinah Washington. more
Dark Nights

October 24–November 6
From the great monsters of the Universal soundstage to the atmospheric, psychological thrillers, Dark Nights is a tour through the 20th Century’s darkest, most terrifying screen images—movies that will live forever in the collective unconscious. more
Paris vu par

November 7–13
This extraordinary omnibus collection features six major French New Wave directors working at the top of their collective game to create a beautiful record of Paris in the ’60s. more
Zeitgeist: The Films of Our Times

November 14–25
We celebrate 20 years of extraordinary vision with our tribute to independent distributor Zeitgeist Films. Founded in 1988, Zeitgeist has consistently sought out and championed films that are both innovative and challenging—expressions of the best in world cinema. more
Louise Bourgeois: The Spider, the Mistress and the Tangerine

November 28–December 3
Louise Bourgeois is, as Jerry Gorovoy, her assistant of 30 years puts it, “the real McCoy.” Marion Cajori and Amei Wallach’s lovely documentary is a journey inside the life and imagination of this icon of modern art who is magnetic, mercurial, and emotionally raw onscreen. more
Special Benefit Screening

Thursday, December 4
Be one of the first to get a sneak peak at one of the holiday season's best Oscar-contending films. Last year we presented the Oscar-winning film No Country for Old Men. Buy tickets in advance as this event is sure to sell out! more
Wild Child

December 5–11
Inspired by an actual case in 18th Century France, Francois Truffaut’s poetic film tells the story of Victor, l’enfant sauvage—a child who was discovered living in the forest with wolves—and the doctor who adopted and tried to civilize him. more
Alexander Nevsky

December 12–18
In the 13th Century, when a horde of Teutonic knights sweeps in from the West, slaughtering all in their path, Prince Alexander Nevsky becomes a national hero after raising a ragtag army from the people of Novgorod to successfully repel the invaders. more
ITVS Community Cinema Seattle

October 4–December 6
Community Cinema presented by ITVS works to bring communities together and connect them with information, resources, and opportunities for education, engagement, and positive change. more