SIFF Returns to Seattle This May With a Global Lineup

Seattle, WA

The Seattle International Film Festival returns May 7–17 for its 52nd edition, bringing screenings back to SIFF Cinemas and venues across the city for 11 days of independent, international, and documentary film. Long one of Seattle’s signature events, the festival continues to offer a lineup that appeals to everyone from serious filmgoers to casual audiences.

This year’s lineup includes films from more than 80 countries. This year’s edition opens with Boots Riley’s I Love Boosters, which will screen May 7 at the Paramount Theatre, followed by an afterparty at Cannonball Arts. SIFF has positioned the film as a bold way to open the festival, and it fits the kind of high-energy start that helps set the tone for the days that follow. The festival will close on May 17 with A24’s The Invite at SIFF Cinema Downtown, with Olivia Wilde scheduled to attend.

Part of what keeps SIFF accessible is that it can be approached in different ways. Some attendees plan the week carefully around passes and advance tickets, while others build their schedule more loosely around a few screenings and the surrounding neighborhood experience. Tickets are already on sale, with options ranging from passes and packages to individual screenings.