50th Seattle International Film Festival: Tributes for June Squibb, Jean Smart

261 films with 18 World, 26 North American, and 14 U.S. Premieres make up the lineup for the Festival’s 50th anniversary, screening at venues across Seattle, including SIFF’s newly opened SIFF Cinema Downtown

SIFF announced today the lineup of films included in the 50th Seattle International Film Festival, to be held May 9–19 at venues across Seattle and followed by a week of select virtual screenings on the SIFF Channel May 20–27. The Festival will screen 261 films representing 84 countries/regions, including 92 features, 47 documentaries, five archival features, two special tributes, two secret screenings, and 115 short films.

The Festival will open with Josh Margolin’s action comedy Thelma from Magnolia Pictures, which will screen at The Paramount Theatre during the Festival’s Opening Night on May 9. The film will be followed by a Q&A with Writer & Director Josh Margolin, lead actress June Squibb, and producers Zoë Worth and Chris Kaye. Following the Q&A, there will be an after-party onstage and outside on Ninth Ave.

Thelma, will be presented the award at a special Tribute Event on May 11 at SIFF Cinema Downtown with a conversation moderated by Variety’s Jenelle Riley. Prior to the event, there will be an Honoree Brunch with Squibb at Palace Kitchen.

SIFF will honor June Squibb with the 2024 Golden Space Needle Award for Outstanding Contribution to Cinema for the unforgettable work she’s presented throughout the span of her career. The Oscar-nominated actress and lead of the Festival’s Opening Night film, 

Closing the Festival is Greg Kwedar’s Sing Sing from A24, which will screen on May 18 at SIFF Cinema Downtown. Director and co-writer Greg Kwedar will be in attendance and participate in a Q&A after the screening along with members of the film’s ensemble cast, who will receive a Golden Space Needle Award for excellence in Ensemble Acting. A Closing Night party will follow at the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI).

In addition to the full lineup, SIFF announced today that Seattle native and Emmy, Golden Globe, SAG Award, and Critics Choice Award-winning actress Jean Smart will be awarded The Hollywood Reporter’s Trailblazer Award for her contributions to storytelling on film, television, and the stage. The event will feature a screening of an episode from the new season of the Max Original comedy series Hacks, followed by the Trailblazer trophy presentation and a conversation between Smart and THR Contributing Editor Stacey Wilson Hunt. 

Additional highlights showing throughout the Festival include Focus Features’ Sundance award-winner Dìdi (弟弟), a directorial debut from Oscar nominee Sean Wang (SIFF 2023 Grand Jury winner for Live Action short); Neon’s Babes written by and starring Ilana Glazer and directed by debut helmer Pamela Adlon; IFC’s stirring and emotional Ghostlight which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival; Harmony Korine’s latest boundary-pushing work AGGRO DR1FT; a new 4K restoration of Wim Wenders’ iconic Wings of Desire, in celebration of the 70th anniversary of German Films; and an exciting new slate of cINeDIGENOUS films, including the world premiere of Molokaʻi Bound, directed by Alika Tengan (Kanaka Maoli).

For information on all event and screening packages and tickets, please visit siff.net/fest.

Opening Night Gala

Thelma

Thursday, May 9, 7:00pm – Party to follow screening Film and Party: The Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine Street

Writer and director Josh Margolin makes his feature directorial debut with this action comedy exploring aging, family, and autonomy as 93-year-old Thelma Post sets out on a treacherous quest across the city to reclaim what was taken from her after being duped by a phone scammer pretending to be her grandson. Director/Writer/Editor Josh Margolin, Actress June Squibb, Actor Fred Hechinger, and Producers Zoë Worth and Chris Kaye will be in attendance for a Q&A.

(d: Josh Margolin, c: June Squibb, Fred Hechinger, Parker Posey, Clark Gregg, Richard Roundtree, USA 2024, 97 min)

Closing Night Gala

SING SING

Saturday, May 18, 6:00pm – Party to follow screening

Film: SIFF Cinema Downtown, 2100 4th Ave

Party: Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI), 860 N. Terry Ave.

Oscar nominees Colman Domingo (RUSTIN) and Paul Raci (SOUND OF METAL) lead this powerful ensemble, many of whom play themselves, in this inspirational true story about a troupe of incarcerated people who find healing through the redemptive power of theatre. Director/Writer/Producer Greg Kwedar and ensemble cast including Clarence Maclin, John ‘Divine G’ Whitfield, Sean San José, Sean ‘Dino’ Johnson, Jon Adrian ‘JJ’ Velazquez will be in attendance for a Q&A.

(d: Greg Kwedar c: Colman Domingo, Clarence Maclin, Paul Raci, Sean San José, Jon Adrian Velazquez, Sean Johnson, USA 2024, 107 min)

A Conversation with June Squibb

Seattle International Film Festival Tribute Recipient of 2024 Golden Space Needle Award for Outstanding Contribution to Cinema – moderated by Variety’s Jenelle Riley

Saturday, May 11, 2024

SIFF Cinema Downtown & Palace Kitchen

10:00am – Honoree Brunch with June Squibb at Palace Kitchen

12:30pm – Tribute event at SIFF Cinema Downtown

A Conversation with Jean Smart and The Hollywood Reporter Contributing Editor Stacey Wilson Hunt Hacks Screening & The Hollywood Reporter Trailblazer Award Presentation

Saturday, May 18 @ 2:30pm

SIFF Cinema Downtown 

OFFICIAL COMPETITION

Films in the Official Competition demonstrate some of the finest filmmaking this year from around the world. Spanning a variety of genres, these films advance themes of worldwide resonance, like friendship, coming of age in times of political turmoil, and the challenges inherent to romantic and familial relationships. The Official Competition jury, comprised of filmmakers, journalists, and industry professionals, selects the winning film, which will be announced at the Golden Space Needle Awards May 19 and awarded a cash prize of $5,000.

2024 Entries:

All Shall Be Well Critical Zone

Dìdi (弟弟)

Evil Does Not Exist Gloria!

Love Machina

NEW AMERICAN CINEMA COMPETITION

None of these films have a distributor (yet), but they all have a champion on SIFF’s programming team. New American Cinema fields the largest number of submissions out of any of SIFF’s competitions by far. With so many entries, only a fraction can make it to the finals, and this stiff competition means that each of the finalist films has the potential to change the landscape of American cinema–they’re that good. The New American Cinema Competition jury, comprised of filmmakers, journalists, and industry professionals, selects the winning film, which will be announced at the Golden Space Needle Awards May 19 and awarded a cash prize of $5,000.

2024 Entries:

The Black Sea

Bob Trevino Likes It Moloka’i Bound Mountains

RATS!

We Strangers

NEW DIRECTORS COMPETITION

To qualify for the New Directors Competition, films must be dramatic features, a director’s debut or second feature, and without US distribution at the time of SIFF selection. This competition celebrates new directors whose films have original scripts, employ innovative cinematography, and offer unique insights on people and places. The New Directors Competition jury, comprised of filmmakers, journalists, and industry professionals, selects the winning filmmaker, who will be announced at the Golden Space Needle Awards May 19 and awarded a cash prize of $5,000.

2024 Entries:

Àma Gloria

The Burdened

City of Wind Excursion

A Journey in Spring Solitude

Young Hearts

IBERO-AMERICAN COMPETITION

The Ibero-American Competition assesses outstanding films from Latin America and Spain for the strength of their storytelling and creativity of their cinematography. To be eligible, films must be without US distribution at the time of their selection. The Ibero-American Competition jury, comprised of filmmakers, journalists, and industry professionals, selects the winning film, which will be announced at the Golden Space Needle Awards May 19 and awarded a cash prize of $5,000.

2024 Entries:

Holy Mother

Igualada

The Major Tones

Memories of a Burning Body The Quiet Maid

Saturn Return

Sujo

Through Rocks and Clouds Valentina or the Serenity

DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION

Films competing in this competition broaden our horizons and invigorate our understanding of the planet and its inhabitants through careful research, deft argumentation, and stunning cinematography. Documentary art is fundamentally about audience persuasion: What is the Truth? Why should we care? How should we act? The best documentarians convince audiences that their argument is unequivocally the Truth, that it is worthy of widespread concern, and that their recommendations are the best suited to address the issue at hand.The Documentary Competition jury, comprised of filmmakers, journalists, and industry professionals, selects the winning filmmaker, who will be announced at the Golden Space Needle Awards May 19 and awarded a cash prize of $5,000.

2024 Entries:

Fragments of a Life Loved Grasshopper Republic Hollywoodgate

A New Kind of Wilderness Porcelain War

The Ride Ahead

So This Is Christmas So Unreal

Shorts Competition

SIFF’s Short Films Competition is divided into three categories: Live Action, Animation, and Documentary. Shorts are all about fitting a profound statement into a concise and beautiful package, and the films in each category of this competition earn their spot in the finals by telling a well developed, compelling story in 40 minutes or less. The Short Films Competition jury, comprised of filmmakers, journalists, and industry professionals, selects the winning films for each category, which will be announced at the Golden Space Needle Awards May 19 and awarded a cash prize of $2,500 each.

Golden Space Needle Awards

For the past 32 years, SIFF has celebrated its most popular films and filmmakers with the Golden Space Needle Audience Award. Each year, SIFF audiences cast their votes through post-screening ballots in the categories of Best Film, Best Documentary, Best Director, Best Performance, and Best Short Film.

The awards ceremony will take place at the Grand Hyatt Seattle on Sunday, May 19, 11:00am to 2:00pm. Select press seats are available; email press@siff.net to RSVP.

Programs

African Pictures

SIFF’s African Pictures program showcases the best filmmaking happening in and about Africa today, bringing shorts, features, documentaries, and fiction films to American audiences. Don’t miss this opportunity to delight in these innovative and inspiring works spanning Africa’s diverse regions and cultures.

Banel & Adama

The Battle for Laikipia

Disco Afrika: A Malagasy Story Grasshopper Republic

The Mother of All Lies

Rising Up at Night

Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat Voy! Voy! Voy!

Archival Films

Are you a history buff? A lover of pre-CGI practical effects or Old Hollywood glamor’s stacked lashes and Marcel waves? Well, we’ve got a stellar lineup of stunningly restored films from decades past that will transport you back to the time when films were actually shot on film and trailers were still at the end of the movie.

Hitchcock’s Pro-Nazi Film

July Rhapsody

The Lavender Hill Mob

SIFF & CFC Event – The NeverEnding Story Wings of Desire

Alternate Cinema

Forward-thinking, pattern-disrupting independent films for viewers with a passion for experimentation. Our Alternate Cinema program promises to open your mind with unconventional cinematography and fresh narratives.

Aggro Dr1ft

ALT Shorts: See and Be Seen (short film program) The Box Man

Asian Crossroads

Discover the most exciting films to come from Earth’s largest continent this year with SIFF’s Asian Crossroads program. Selected films represent a diverse collection of genres from across the regions and cultures of Central, East, and South Asia.

Agent of Happiness Agra

All Shall Be Well Black Box Diaries The Box Man

City of Wind Dragon Superman Evil Does Not Exist Girls Will Be Girls In Flames

In Our Day

Iron Mask

A Journey in Spring July Rhapsody Killing Romance The Missing

Pigsy

Tenement

Tiger Stripes

cINeDIGENOUS

SIFF acknowledges that we are on Indigenous land, the traditional territories of the Coast Salish people. This program centers the works of Indigenous filmmakers from across the globe, amplifying these oft-silenced voices whose words are essential to the wellbeing of our planet and all its peoples. cINeDIGENOUS is curated in partnership with Indigenous peoples and organizations that support Indigenous creatives, cultures, rights and activism globally.

The Battle for Laikipia

Bring Them Home

Fish War

Moloka’i Bound

Moving Poetry: Indigenous Stories (short film program) The New Boy

Red, White & Brass

Standing Above the Clouds Sugarcane

Through Rocks and Clouds The Tundra Within Me Valentina or the Serenity

Face the Music

Nine out of 10 SIFF programmers agree that regular exposure to music and film is essential to maintaining your personal equilibrium. (The remaining one was too busy streaming The Sound of Music to respond to our query.) So, we’ve developed Face the Music, our scientifically proven regimen of movies that revolve around music, to help you achieve the pinnacle of audio-visual health.

Gloria!

Grandpa Guru

Luther: Never Too Much

Música!

Resynator

Saturn Return

SIFF & CFC Event – The NeverEnding Story

Ibero-American Cinema

Ibero-American cinema is nurtured by diversity, unique histories, and a rich tradition of storytelling. Allow the powerful documentaries and works of fiction in this program to ignite your emotions and expand your imagination.

Close Your Eyes The Extortion Holy Mother Igualada

The Major Tones

Memories of a Burning Body

My Sextortion Diary

The Quiet Maid

Rioja: The Land of a Thousand Wines Saturn Return

Sujo

Through Rocks and Clouds

Un Amor

Valentina or the Serenity

New American Cinema

Going to the movies has been a favorite American pastime for over a century, and these American filmmakers are determined to keep their works at the cutting edge of film’s future. Each of these selected films represents a unique American voice, and together they reflect the diversity of the American experience.

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Babes

The Black Sea

Bob Trevino Likes It

Dìdi (弟弟)

Empire Waist Ghostlight

Good One

I Saw the TV Glow Janet Planet Moloka’i Bound Mountains

The Primevals RATS!

Sing Sing Stress Positions Thelma

Tim Travers and the Time Traveler’s Paradox The Uncertain Detective

We Strangers

Northwest Connections

To say that residents of Washington have a distinct culture from the rest of the US would be an understatement, and the films in this program highlight all that makes us unique. Grab your raincoat–skip the umbrella–and head on over to SIFF for these movies filmed or set in the PNW.

All We Carry

Fish War

Grandpa Guru

Rainier: A Beer Odyssey

Sono Lino

Sound Visions (short film program)

Tim Travers and the Time Traveler’s Paradox Ultimate Citizens

The Uncertain Detective

Wild, Terrifying, Fantastic

All aboard this ultimate WTF cruise to the strangest, most disconcerting, and silliest parts of this spooky, slimy planet we call Earth—and maybe even beyond.

Aggro Dr1ft

Dragon Superman

Eat Your Heart Out (WTF) (short film program) In A Violent Nature

I Saw the TV Glow

Killing Romance

Oddity

Once Upon a Nightmare… (short film program) The Primevals

RATS!

Red Rooms

Scala!!!

So Unreal

Tenement

D a.

Films4Families

This program of family-friendly films is for kids, their chaperones, and anyone with a sense of child-like wonder. Enjoy the bright colors, quirky sound effects, and sweet narratives of these fabulous children’s features and shorts from around the world. Perfect for starting your future film critic on their lifelong journey of film appreciation.

The Family Picture Show (short film program) Sirocco and the Kingdom of the Winds

Tony, Shelly and The Magic Light

WHY DINOSAURS?

FutureWave

Ride the wave of the future with these films curated for viewers ages 13 through 21 years old. Each flick in this program speaks in some way to the experiences unique to coming-of-age viewers as they burst from the controlled shelter of childhood to move independently through the exciting novelty and grit of the real world.

Bob Trevino Likes It

Dìdi (弟弟)

Empire Waist

FUTUREWAVE: Teenaged Terror (short film program) Pigsy

We Can Be Heroes Where Is Anne Frank WHY DINOSAURS? Young Hearts

4th World Media Lab

The 4th World Media Lab provides Indigenous media creators a progressive immersion into film learning and film exploration ranging from storytelling basics and pitching, to presentation and marketing, to distribution and industry networking via a cultural lens and collective care. The lab includes residencies at Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, Camden International Film Festival, and Seattle International Film Festival. The Seattle experience, in partnership with global indigenous organizations and industry experts, offers master classes, hands-on training, community gatherings, and global networking in the SIFF urban festival atmosphere.

4th World Media Lab 2024 Fellows

Victoria Cheyenne – Aymara, El Alto Bolivia / Tsétsêhéstâhese, Northern Cheyenne | Montana Keisha Erwin – Woodland Cree, Lac La Ronge Indian Band | Saskatchewan

Cass Gardiner – Anishinaabe Algonquin, Kebaowek First Nation | New Jersey

Nicolle L. Gonzales (Arthun) – Diné, Navajo Nation | New Mexico

Bruce Thomas Miller – Anishinaabe, Matachewan First Nation | Alberta

Sisa Quispe – Quechua Aymara | New York