Tuesdays at the Harvy — Anniversary Post

Of all the posts I've written for the Seattle International Film Festival, this is the one I'm most proud of. So long, Harvard Exit! At the end of last year, the Varsity Theatre became the latest Landmark Theatre to close (it reopened earlier this year under the same management as the Admiral Theatre in West …

One Day, Six Films — Thursday, May 21, 2015 — Anniversary Post

I didn't receive a press pass for the 2015 festival, though I applied for one. Since I covered most of the festivals without one, that didn't stop me from covering the 2015 festival, where I saw a record-number of films (48). I also set a record for the most films seen in one day (with …

SIFF HAPPENED: Closing Thoughts on the 41st Annual Seattle International Film Festival

22 days of press screenings.  25 days of festival proper.  In those 5 1/2 weeks, I saw 48 films, including 25 press screenings, 5 archival films, 3 world premiers, and 7 North American premiers; worked 4 days out of the week at the Uptown and one day at the Harvard Exit (except on the second Sunday of …

The Restored Apu Trilogy

At the beginning of each film in the Apu Trilogy, text describes how a 1993 fire destroyed the original negatives (two reels from the last film survived, but were in such bad condition that they couldn't be used), and how duplicate negatives and superior print sources were used for this 4K restoration. All three films …

Tuesdays at the Harvy

At the end of last year, the Varsity Theatre became the latest Landmark Theatre to close (it reopened earlier this year under the same management as the Admiral Theatre in West Seattle).  In January, the Harvard Exit followed suit.  Unlike past theaters to close (The Uptown, the Neptune, the Metro, the Egyptian, the Varsity), this …

One Day, Six Films — Thursday, May 21, 2015

At Ebertfest, I once saw four films in one day.  During the fourth film, time vanished, reality regressed to dreams, and I left the theater unsure where I was.  During SIFF this year, I saw five films last Wednesday (and am planning on seeing five today).  The next day, I did one better.  Somehow, the films remained …

Educators, Artists, Activists, and Cambodia

This year, most of the documentaries I saw revolved around four themes: educators, artists, protesters, and Cambodia.  Educator movies made me cheer for teachers; artist movies inspired me to write the truth, particularly when inconvenient; activist films reminded me how tough it is to be one; and Cambodian films filled in details for me of what Cambodia was before …

First Saturday Party Highlights–May 16, 2015

You'll notice I'm breaking one of my rules with this one.  The venue looked awesome, so it's too bad I didn't get a photo of it.  You walk inside and everything is white or glass, with two small connected rooms to the right: the first one with food on a table near the back (and walls …

Opening Night Happenings — Thursday, May 14, 2015

1. Arrived at 1:30 for 2 pm press screening.  Told it would be delayed by roughly 45 minutes (it ended up starting 40 minutes late), as the previous screening had issues.  Initially supposed to show Breathe Umphefumlo, but it didn't arrive on time, so screening swapped with Liza, The Fox-Fairy, but then the film arrived, …

Recommendations from the Press Screenings

Before the festival proper kicks off tomorrow night, here are some films you should look for: Must-See Romeo Is Bleeding (Jason Zeldes, 93 mins, USA 2015) There is a scene late in Romeo Is Bleeding which sums up the essence of the film: in the middle of a cheering audience, a diminutive, young-looking woman stands …