Film Talks

Film education for the movie-curious to the true cinema fanatics

Many of the films we screen at SIFF start a conversation, inspire an action, or pose a question. Our two-hour Film Talks span the world of cinema with expert instructors, covering everything from South Korean Cinema to the Safdie brothers' Uncut Gems and more. Want to dig even deeper into the films you love? Try one of our shot-by-shot Cinema Dissection events.

Cinema Dissection: Point Blank

September 28, 2025

SIFF Film Center

Join facilitator and SIFF Programmer Dan Doody for a scene-by-scene breakdown of John Boorman’s hardboiled classic neo-noir film, Point Blank.

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Cinema Dissection: Cinephiles' Spooky Choice

October 11, 2025

SIFF Film Center

Join facilitator and SIFF Programmer Dan Doody for a scene-by-scene breakdown of a spooky film selected by our die-hard film fans.

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Cinema Dissection: Inglourious Basterds

November 1, 2025

SIFF Film Center

War film, thriller, dark comedy, spaghetti western—Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds is all these things and more. Join local filmmaker and PBS producer Jeremy Cropf to explore how Tarantino uses cinema itself as a weapon in rewriting history and resisting fascism.

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Cinema Dissection: Double Indemnity

November 22, 2025

SIFF Film Center

Join facilitator and SIFF Programmer Dan Doody for a shot-by-shot investigation of the film’s ingenious narrative, its whip-smart dialogue, and how (not) to commit the perfect murder.

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Cinema Dissection: Pan’s Labyrinth

December 13, 2025

SIFF Film Center

Descend into the haunting world of Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth with filmmaker and PBS producer Jeremy Cropf—a dark fantasy rooted in resistance, where imagination becomes an act of rebellion against tyranny.

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ABOUT FILM TALKS

SIFF Film Talks are led by cinephiles from film studies professors to film festival programmers. Talks take place in person, usually in the evenings, at the SIFF Film Center. Many of them are also available to participate in via Zoom livestream.

ABOUT CINEMA DISSECTIONS

Inspired by Roger Ebert's annual Cinema Interruptus in Boulder, CO, attendees will participate in a scene-by-scene, and sometimes shot-by-shot, deconstruction of the featured film. While the facilitator will certainly share their thoughts, anyone in the audience may call out 'Stop' and either ask a question of the group or make an observation around a certain shot or moment in the film.

Each Cinema Dissection program is expected be six hours in length with two 15-minute intermissions. The film will not be screened in its entirety so participants are encouraged to view the featured film in advance of the program. Participants will be jumping straight in to the analysis from the beginning of the session. If you have additional questions about this program, please email us.