The 49th annual Seattle International Film Festival returns in person May 11–21, 2023 taking Seattle moviegoers on a cinematic odyssey at venues across the city, followed by a week of select films streaming on the SIFF Channel May 22–28.

There are plenty of amazing films to dig into (264 to be exact!), including selections with their roots in the Pacific Northwest film community. Plus SIFF’s Closing Night also features a film set in a video store! 

Here are the details on all the NW Connections films, as well as I Like Movies: 

Megan Griffith’s latest feature, Year of the Fox, will make its World Premiere at SIFF on May 13th, 6:45pm at SIFF Cinema Egyptian, with a second screening on May 14th. Fox follows Ivy, a biracial teenager navigating Aspen’s elite party scene amidst her adoptive parents’ bitter divorce. As she watches her wealthy community provide cover for predatory behavior, Ivy struggles to find her own path without losing herself in this compelling exploration of the complexities of power, privilege, and personal agency.

Director Megan Griffiths, Writer/Producer Eliza Flug, Producer Lacey Leavitt, Actors Balthazar Getty and Sarah Jeffery, plus numerous extended cast and crew members scheduled to attend. Get tickets here.

You may know Alan Chong Lau as one of the produce workers at Uwajimaya, but did you know he also specializes in fine art and poetry? See a new side of Seattle in Alan @ Work, an illuminating doc shot over ten years about one of our greatest and most prolific citizens. Director Doug Ing is scheduled to attend. Screens May 14th and 16th in person; will also be streaming on the SIFF Channel. Get tickets here. 

From local filmmaker Sudeshna Sen comes Anu, a touching coming-of-age story about a South Asian-American 12-year-old who believes her recently passed grandfather may be coming back as the holy reincarnation of Siddhartha. Director/Producer Sudeshna Sen scheduled to attend. Screens May 14th and 15th in person; will also be streaming on the SIFF Channel. Get tickets here. 

Come one, come all, and step into the tent for the wild history of Jim Rose and his Circus Sideshow in Circus of the Scars: The Insider Odyssey of the Jim Rose Circus Sideshow—sword-swallowing! lizard men! death-defying stunts!—from their early days performing in Seattle dive bars to high-profile international tours and their eventful fallout. Director/Editor Cory Wees, Matt ‘The Tube’ Crowley, Tim Cridland aka Torture King, and Producer Jan Gregor scheduled to attend. Screens May 19th and 21st in person; will also be streaming on the SIFF Channel. Get tickets here. 

In the Spokane-shot drama Dreamin’ Wild, from director Bill Pohlad, (Love & Mercy), Oscar® winner Casey Affleck plays Donnie Emerson, half of the musical duo the Emerson Brothers, who finds fame and purpose decades after he thought his career was over. Screens May 20th & 21st. Get tickets here.  

Renowned local multimedia transgender artist Clyde Petersen steps behind the camera for this incendiary doc Even Hell Has Its Heroes Still, on the Seattle-based Earth, “the slowest metal band on the planet,” crafting an ode to a time that grunge ruled the Pacific Northwest…and the world. Director Clyde Petersen, plus cast and crew scheduled to attend. Screens May 17th and 18th. Get tickets here. 

Let’s get ready to…tell puns? Yes! Punderneath It All lets you step into the ring, or onto the stage, and learn about the wide world of pun slams and tournaments from some of America’s top competitors, including stand-up comedians, political activists, and anthropologists. Director Abby Hagan scheduled to attend. Screens May 16th and 17th in person; will also be streaming on the SIFF Channel. Get tickets here.  

Shorts package Sound Visions features short films that capture the adventurous spirit of our talented filmmaking community, from pickleball players past their prime to sermonizing sex toys. Various filmmakers expected to attend. Screening May 18th in person; will also be streaming on the SIFF Channel. Get tickets here. 

Make sure you visit Scarecrow’s local filmmakers section to discover more films by PNW filmmakers!  

SIFF’s Closing Night Film on Sunday, May 21st is PERFECT for physical media fans! I Like Movies, Directed by Chandler Levack, is about a 17-year-old film aficionado with his sights set on NYU who picks up a gig at a local video store where he learns what it takes to grow up – and that maybe not everybody wants to hear him bloviate about Paul Thomas Anderson movies all day. 

After the film screens at SIFF CInema Egyptian (5:00pm), close out the festival with a party at MOHAI (7:30pm)! Get tickets here.