SIFF DocFest Closing Night: The Sanctity of Space Q&A

Last night, I saw the US Premiere of The Sanctity of Space – the Closing Night film of SIFF DocFest. And since it’s a held review, that’s all I can tell you about it. Just kidding, I can give you a synopsis. The movie is about three climbers: professional climbers Renan Ozturk and Freddie Wilkinson …

SIFF DocFest: The Hidden Life of Trees and Becoming Cousteau

The outside of the Egyptian Theatre Three of yesterday’s screenings at the Egyptian (out of four) had an environmental component to them, including the two movies under review here: The Hidden Life of Trees and Becoming Cousteau. While both films had smaller attendance than the modestly full Flee, the mood seemed more alive (perhaps the …

SIFF DocFest: A-ha: The Movie and Flee

A panorama of the inside of the Egyptian Theatre Like all movie theaters in the US, SIFF was hit hard when the pandemic arrived. SIFF Cinema Uptown, SIFF Cinema Egyptian, and SIFF Film Center closed on March 13, and while other local theaters and theater chains have since reopened (such as AMC, Regal, Majestic Bay, …

SIFF’S First Annual DocFest

From September 30-October 7, SIFF is celebrating the reopening of the Egyptian Theatre with 13 documentaries as part of its first-ever documentary festival (you can read the press release here). The festival has both an in-person and virtual component (with some restrictions based on geographical area for the latter), so with a couple of exceptions …

SIFF 2014: Centerpiece Film, Q & A, and Gala–Saturday, May 31

The film Boyhood may be Richard Linklater's best film.  It's certainly his most ambitious.  Shot over a 12-year period using the same principle actors, the film follows Mason, Jr. (Ellar Coltrane) from 1st through 12th grades.  A full review will have to wait until it's released in July.  For now, I will focus on the Q & …

SIFF 2014: The Fault in Our Stars and Q & A with Laura Dern (Friday, May 16)

My first official film of the festival was The Fault in Our Stars, followed by a Q & A with SIFF artistic director Carl Spence, actress Laura Dern, and executive producer Isaac Klausner.  I wish I had photos of the Q & A, but I received an email before I was about to see the …

SIFF 2014: Opening Night Gala (Thursday, May 15, McCaw Hall)

Two announcements were made during Opening Night that are very exciting: 1. SIFF has purchased the Uptown Theater with a generous donation from David and Linda Cornfield (the "Angels of the Uptown") and help from real estate development firm Point32.  Initially, SIFF only leased the building. 2. Remember my post on the demise of the Egyptian Theatre? …

SIFF: Week Three (June 5-11, 2011)

Sunday, June 5th Volunteer: Line Greeter     Neptune Theatre     10am-2pm I worked with the same house coordinator as yesterday, though I don't remember if I worked with any of the same volunteers. The first movie was a Ken Loach film called Route Irish, which deals with a contractor in Iraq whose friend …

SIFF: Week Two (May 29-June 4, 2011), Part Two

And here is the long delayed second half of my entry on Week Two. Wednesday, June 1st 10.     Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame (China 2010: 122 min)     Neptune Theatre     7 pm This was not a film that I would have seen on my own, but the main organizer …

SIFF: Week Two (May 29-June 4, 2011), Part One

I saw an insane amount of movies during Week Two, which is why I'm splitting this entry in half. Sunday, May 29th     Venue Volunteer: Line Person     Neptune Theatre    10am-2pm I worked with stressed out lady again, but she wasn't so stressed out this time. The first movie was called The …