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SIFF 2015 will celebrate at the Egyptian with film (and Kevin Bacon), hold a few last picture shows at the Harvard Exit

With its investment to revive Capitol Hill’s Egyptian Theatre at its core and a special “24-day celebratory wake” for the dearly departed Harvard Exit, the Seattle International Film Festival has announced its 2015 lineup.

“This year’s Festival is bigger and more international than ever, with a record 92 countries represented,” SIFF artistic director Carl Spence said in the announcement detailing the 41st edition of the film festival.

Last year’s fest was highlighted by the news SIFF was signing a 10-year deal to take over E Pine’s Egyptian. This year starting May 14th, the festival will include the final screenings at the Harvard Exit theater before the venue is ripped out as part of a redevelopment of the historically protected building at Roy and Broadway.

SIFF 2015 by the numbers:  450 films / 92 countries / 193 feature films / 70 documentary features / 19 archival films / 164 short films / 4 secret films / 49 World Premieres (23 features, 26 shorts) / 51 North American Premieres (33 features, 18 shorts) / 18 US Premieres (7 features, 11 shorts)

Northwest Connections
Seattleites see more films per capita than the residents of any other American city. This year’s lineup of films with their roots in the Pacific Northwest reveals a filmmaking region officially on the map. Every year, SIFF honors the many ways in which the Puget Sound region contributes to the world of cinema, whether it’s as an evocative location for outside filmmakers or inspiration for local filmmakers on the rise.

Ronald McFondle, Eddie Van Glam, The Banana star in Bodyslam: Revenge of the Banana

Ronald McFondle, Eddie Van Glam, The Banana star in Bodyslam: Revenge of the Banana

  • Beach Town (d: Erik Hammen c: Sarah Winsor, Ahren Buhmann, Riley Neldam, Kenna Kettrick, William Poole, USA 2015, 72 min, World Premiere)
  • Bodyslam: Revenge of the Banana (d: Ryan Harvie, John Paul Hortsmann c: Ronald McFondle, Eddie Van Glam, The Banana, USA 2015, 86 min)
  • The Hollow One (d: Nathan Hendrickson c: Kate Alden, Jesse James, Chelsea Farthing, Tony Doupé, Tonya Skoog, USA 2015, 97 min, World Premiere)
  • Paper Tigers (d: James Redford, USA 2015, 102 min, World Premiere)
  • Personal Gold: An Underdog Story (d: Tamara Christopherson s: Jennie Reed, Dotsie Bausch, Sarah Hammer, USA/Spain, United Kingdom 2015, 89 min)
  • Pilchuck, A Dance with Fire (d: John Forsen v: Jeff Bridges, USA 2015, 68 min)
  • The Primary Instinct (d: David Chen f: Stephen Tobolowsky, USA 2015, 73 min, World Premiere)
  • Uncertain (d: Ewan McNichol, Anna Sandilands, USA 2015, 82 min)
  • Valley of the Sasquatch (d: John Portanova c: Miles Joris-Peyrafitte, D’Angelo Midili, Jason Vail, David Saucedo, Bill Oberst Jr., USA 2015, 92 min)
  • West of Redemption (d: Cornelia Duryee Moore c: Billy Zane, Kevin Alejandro, Mariana Klaveno, USA 2015, 90 min, World Premiere)

In addition to cinematic works large and small and from around the globe and around the Puget Sound, the festival will give Seattle celebrity spotters the opportunity to, perhaps, view A-listers Kevin Bacon and Jason Schwartzman in the wild. Bacon will be honored for career achievement (in 2014, SIFF honored CHS’s girlfriend Laura Dern) and Schwartzman will be featured in an “evening with” event in conjunction with a screening of his new film 7 Chinese Brothers.  To kick off the festival, the 2015 SIFF Opening Night gala will include a screening of Spy attended by director and writer Paul Feig.

The full announcement on SIFF 2015 is below. Tickets and passes are now on sale at siff.net

SIFF ANNOUNCES FULL LINEUP FOR
41st SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Kevin Bacon to Receive Career Achievement in Acting Award
Jason Schwartzman in “The Overnight” to Close Festival
23 World, 33 North American, and 7 US Feature Premieres
Films in competition announced

SEATTLE — April 29, 2015 — The Seattle International Film Festival, the largest and most highly attended festival in the United States, announced today the complete lineup of films, guests, and events for the 41st annual Festival (May 14 – June 7, 2015).

This year, SIFF will screen 450 films representing 92 countries: 193 features (plus 4 secret films), 70 documentaries, 19 archival films, and 164 shorts. The films include 49 World premieres (23 features, 26 shorts), 51 North American premieres (33 features, 18 shorts), and 18 US premieres (7 features, 11 shorts). The Festival is bookended by two hilarious comedies: 20th Century Fox’s Spy, a critics’ favorite from the team behind Bridesmaids, director Paul Feig and star Melissa McCarthy, and The Orchard’s The Overnight, the “grown-up play date” tale from up-and-coming director Patrick Brice that stars Jason Schwartzman, Taylor Schilling, Judith Godrèche, and Adam Scott.

In addition, SIFF 2015 Tribute Guest and prolific actor Kevin Bacon will be presented with the Festival’s Career Achievement in Acting Award and interviewed on stage in conjunction with Focus World’s Cop Car. Screenings of classics Footloose and Diner will also be held in celebration of his body of work. An Evening with Jason Schwartzman will feature an on-stage interview and a screening of Bob Byington’s 7 Chinese Brothers, in which he stars with his real-life French bulldog, Arrow.

SIFF 2015 will also present popular recurring programs of films like African Pictures (made possible by a grant from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences), Face the Music, Northwest Connections, and Catalyst – as well as launching a new section, Culinary Cinema, which will include special dinner pairings in partnership with local restaurants.

“This year’s Festival is bigger and more international than ever, with a record 92 countries represented,” notes Carl Spence, SIFF Artistic Director. “Adding to our diverse international line-up is our new program, Culinary Cinema, which features 11 fantastic films. And I’m particularly excited to welcome Kevin Bacon as this year’s Tribute Guest – SIFF will now be only one-degree of separation away!” Adds Mary Bacarella, SIFF Managing Director, “I’m thrilled with the selection this year – once again, it’s a ‘something-for-everyone’ festival. We can’t wait to enjoy another 25 days of SIFF with our incredible Seattle audience.”

This year’s gala, premiere, and special presentation films feature a star-studded line-up including Max Landis’ directorial debut Me Him Her with Luke Bracey, Dustin Milligan, Emily Meade, Scott Bakula and Geena Davis; Chris Evans in Before We Go; Julie Benz in Circle; Jesse Eisenberg and Jason Segal in the Centerpiece Gala film End of the Tour; Jason Lee in Good Ol’ Boy; Pixar’s Inside Out directed by Pete Docter; John Cusack and Elizabeth Banks in Love & Mercy; Nick Offerman and Connie Britton in Me and Earl and the Dying Girl; Ian McKellan and Laura Linney in Mr. Holmes; Jemaine Clement and Regina Hall in People, Places, Things; Hunter Parrish and Tim Daly in A Rising Tide; Stephen Fry and Hugh Jackman in That Sugar Film; and Billy Zane and Kevin Alejandro in West of Redemption.

The 2015 Seattle International Film Festival is presented by SIFF, the non-profit arts organization that reaches more than 300,000 annually through SIFF Cinema, SIFF Education, and the annual flagship Festival.

The box office opens April 30 online at SIFF.net, by phone at 206.324.9996, and in person at any SIFF venue box office. View the full public program on April 30 here.

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9 Comments
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Mimi
Mimi
8 years ago

Jason Schwartzman! Be still my heart.

Capitol Hill Resident
Capitol Hill Resident
8 years ago
Reply to  Mimi

Oh god.

Mimi
Mimi
8 years ago

A little celebrity crush never hurt anyone.

Capitol Hill Resident
Capitol Hill Resident
8 years ago
Reply to  Mimi

It was in response to what appears to be ‘The Postal Service’ song title reference ; )

Mim
Mim
8 years ago

Huh? Be still my heart is something my Grandma always said.

Capitol Hill Resident
Capitol Hill Resident
8 years ago

And that too.

Ryan Packer
8 years ago

Everything is better with Bacon.

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[…] the city’s biggest force in film seems rejuvenated and as vital as ever on Capitol Hill with its 41st annual festival kicking off here and around Seattle this week, there are no guarantees of sustainability for smaller champions of film arts. The best the […]

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[…] before redevelopment. Here are a few of the people we found in line this weekend. CHS roster of SIFF 2015 Capitol Hill highlights is […]