It’s a big time for film festivals in the region: In addition to the fast-approaching Seattle International Film Festival, there are plenty of events to take in a variety of cinema at. From those that spotlight young filmmakers to those that are more genre-focused and beyond, here is everything you’ll be able to see in the area over the next several months.
National Film Festival for Talented Youth
The Seattle-based National Film Festival for Talented Youth is winding down, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t still some good films to check out online. If you’re looking to get to know the next big filmmakers of tomorrow, this is the place to see them beginning their journey.
Online though May 5; all-access pass: $140 for 25 and older, $100 for 24 and under; nffty.org
Cascadia International Women’s Film Festival
Boasting a wide variety of women-directed features and shorts from around the world, this local festival is also keeping the party going by showing its programming online. This includes the documentary “Love Letters,” which tells the story of how Bellingham local Catharine R. Stimpson and Australian musicologist Elizabeth (Liz) Wood fought to overcome the odds to be together; the documentary “WaaPaKe (Tomorrow),” about grappling with the ongoing traumas from enduring residential schools; and a collection of different themed shorts packages.
Online through May 12; online festival pass: $60; cascadiafilmfest.org
Crypticon Seattle Film Festival
Shifting toward more genre fare, this festival has two rooms dedicated to showing features and shorts as part of the larger Crypticon horror convention. Where else can you laugh along with a horror comedy like “Mysterious Ways,” about two sibling youth pastors who accidentally unleash a demonic force into a member of their group, and then take in the chills of the supernatural horror “Winter Island,” where you follow a teenage brother having visions about a familial evil that took the life of his sister? Nowhere, that’s where.
In-person May 3-5; DoubleTree, 18740 International Blvd., Tukwila; weekend pass: $95, Friday pass: $30, Saturday pass: $45, Sunday pass: $30; crypticonseattle.com
Seattle International Film Festival
Of course, the 50th annual SIFF is the regional film festival that runs both the longest and has the widest variety of programming. For the opening, you can see icon June Squibb go on an adventurous heist in “Thelma”; for the closing, observe a career-best Colman Domingo in the compassionate prison drama “Sing Sing.” In between, there’s also plenty of genre fare, from bold art horror visions like the spectacular “I Saw the TV Glow” to more gruesome ones like “In a Violent Nature,” just as there are stunning family dramas from exciting first-time directors like “Good One” and “Janet Planet.”
In-person May 9-19, online May 20-27; variety of area theaters; individual tickets: $17.50, six-pack: $79.99 regular price, $67.75 for members; siff.net
TRANSlations: Seattle Trans Film Festival
After taking place earlier in May last year, the Seattle Trans Film Festival, known as TRANSlations, is taking place later in the summer this time around. The announcement of the full programming for the festival is set to come in early May.
In-person June 7-8, online June 6-9; Ark Lodge, 4816 Rainier Ave. S., Seattle, and The Beacon Cinema, 4405 Rainier Ave. S., Seattle; hybrid pass: $75, in-person pass: $60, virtual pass: $50; threedollarbillcinema.org
Science Fiction + Fantasy Short Film Festival
The annual partnership between SIFF and the Museum of Pop Culture, the 19th Science Fiction + Fantasy Short Film Festival takes place for two nights in June this year. The lineup includes an animated short about a magical underwater world, a story about snacking on doughnuts at the end of the world, a comedic riff on how the Grim Reaper himself came to be, an entire youth track of family-friendly films on Day 2 and much more.
June 1-2; SIFF Cinema Egyptian, 805 E. Pine St., Seattle, and SIFF Cinema Uptown, 511 Queen Anne Ave. N, Seattle; general tickets: $23.50, SIFF and MoPOP member tickets: $21.50; siff.net
West Sound Film Festival
The lineup has yet to be announced, but the West Sound Film Festival (formerly the Port Orchard Film Festival) is back for another year of movies in its corner of Bremerton. If you’re a local filmmaker looking to show your film on the big screen, you can still submit your film through May 12 for the regular deadline and May 25 for the late submission deadline.
Aug. 2-4; Roxy Theatre, 270 Fourth St., Bremerton, and SEEFilm Cinemas, 655 Fourth St., Bremerton; check site for prices and lineup to be announced; westsoundfilmfestival.com
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