A complete guide to attending the 50th Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) in 2024

Note: The $664 film pass and $2,500 platinum plus passes are sold out.

Platinum pass

• Reserved seating section at the Opening Night Film.
• Your favorite seat at each theater reserved for you and up to three guests.
• Priority seating ahead of all pass holders and ticket holders.
• Your very own concierge handles all of your screening needs to ensure you have an extraordinary Festival experience.
• Access to all virtual screenings on the SIFF Channel.
• Invitation to a private Festival preview event.

Price: $1,619.99 for non-SIFF members; $1,319.99 for SIFF members
Where to buy: Click here

Secret Fest pass

• The screenings are a secret! The screenings are scheduled at SIFF Cinema Egyptian on May 12 and May 19 at 11:00 a.m. sharp.
• The pass is not available virtually. 

Price: $42.79 for non-SIFF members, $37.69 for SIFF members
Where to buy: Click here

Picking up your passes

Log in to goelevent.com and select "Account" from the drop-down menu at the top right. Choose your credentials to add the required information (name and photo) to your Festival pass. You can find step-by-step instructions with images here.

Passes may be picked up at the SIFF Film Center, but you cannot pick up passes at preview screenings. Hours of operation are posted below. 

• April 18–May 8: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. weekdays only
• May 9–19: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. daily

Opening Night Film and Gala

This package grants you entry to SIFF's Opening Night Gala film and party on May 9, three complimentary drink tickets, complimentary bites and music at the party.

What film is showing? "Thelma," directed by Josh Margolin
Price: $86.50 for non-SIFF members, $76.50 for SIFF members
Where to buy: Click here

Opening Night Red Carpet experience

This package allows you to walk the carpet starting at 5 p.m. on May 9, along with access to an exclusive pre-reception and complimentary beverages. After the screening, the experience includes your own VIP lounge at SIFF's after-party and a "swanky swag bag."

Note: SIFF parties are strictly for people over 21 years old. A valid photo ID (driver's license, passport, etc.) is required.

What film is showing? "Thelma," directed by Josh Margolin
Price: $351.50 for all
Where to buy: Click here

Closing Night Film & Gala

This package grants you entry to the Closing Night Gala film and party on May 19, complimentary drink tickets and hors d'oeuvres at the party.

What film is showing? "Sing Sing," directed by Greg Kwedar
Price: $86.50 for non-SIFF members, $76.50 for SIFF members
Where to buy: Click here

Closing Night party-only ticket

This package grants entry to the SIFF's party following the closing night film.

Price: $51.50 for non-SIFF members, $46.50 for SIFF members
Where to buy: Click here

There are several options to attend viewings of SIFF films across the city.

6-pack

SIFF's 6-pack package gives you six vouchers that can be redeemed for any regularly priced in-person or virtual film screening. Only two vouchers may be redeemed for each screening. The tickets are valid for up to 10 minutes until showtime. After that time, SIFF said it cannot guarantee seating in the screening.

Price: $75 for non-SIFF members, $63 for SIFF members
Where to buy: Click here
How to redeem: Log in to your account on siff.net or goelevent.com and select "Fulfill Package." On the film page, the Festival 6-Pack option ($0) will appear in the ticket menu. Add the number of tickets you would like (maximum of two per screening) and add to your cart. Then you can complete the order at checkout. 

There is a video tutorial on redeeming a ticket pack here and a written guide here.

SIFF said to redeem an individual voucher, add the ticket(s) to your cart and enter the voucher code in the extras box at checkout.

The festival said ticket packs and vouchers may be exchanged in person at any SIFF box office or over the phone at 206-464-5830.

Exclusions: Gala Screenings, Galas, or other specially priced or private events.

Individual tickets

Individual tickets for in-person and virtual screenings can be purchased online on each film’s detail page or at any SIFF Cinema box office. Tickets will be available at festival venues on the day of screenings but SIFF said quantities may be limited.

Price: $15 for each
Where to buy: Click here

Streaming

SIFF said streaming access will begin at 12 a.m. on May 20 and end at 11:59 p.m. PST on May 27. The list of films available to stream is here. 

How to watch

• Online at watch.siff.net
• SIFF TV app (Roku, AppleTV, FireTV, AndroidTV)
• Airplay from an Apple device to a Smart TV
• Cast from PC/Android to a Chromecast device

Once you purchase your ticket, SIFF said you should receive a confirmation email, followed by an access email with your voucher code. Access emails are sent once films become available to watch, beginning May 20. Go to watch.siff.net or the SIFF TV app and enter the voucher code. Once you start a film, you have up to 48 hours to complete the film.

For pass holders, SIFF said you can log in at watch.siff.net or on the SIFF TV app, using the same email and password you used to purchase your pass. You will be able to access all available films from May 20-27.

If you have any further questions on streaming SIFF films, here is a FAQ to help out.

Note: Most films are geo-blocked to viewers within the United States. Additional restrictions will be marked in the film's description.

This year's festival will feature several films generating buzz before their expected releases in 2024. 

"Sing Sing," directed by Greg Kwedar, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2023 and is shaping up to be one of the early contenders for next year's Oscars. The film is an "inspirational true story about a troupe of incarcerated people who find healing through the redemptive power of theatre." Featuring Oscar nominee Colman Domingo, "Sing Sing"  will be the closing film at the festival on May 18 at SIFF Cinema Downtown. 

"I Saw the TV Glow" directed by Jane Schoenbrun, is an indie horror film produced by A24. In the film, a teenager is introduced to a mysterious late-night TV show that upends his sense of reality. The anticipated film will screen on May 10 and 11 at SIFF Cinema Egyptian and SIFF Cinema Uptown. 

"Janet Planet" will be the feature-length debut for director Annie Baker. Produced by A24, the film features 11-year-old Lacy living with her single mother in rural Massachusetts. Over one summer, Lacy will "witness the fleeting moments of life." The film will screen on May 10 and 11 at SIFF Cinema Downtown and SIFF Cinema Egyptian.

Other notable films in this year's lineup include "Thelma," "In A Violent Nature," "Musica!" "Babes," and "In Our Day."

And if you are feeling overwhelmed with the number of film options this year, a team of SIFF programmers has curated their own personalized film recommendations to help you navigate the festival.

For a full list of the films offered at SIFF in 2024, click here. 

There will be 10 venues across Seattle that will host screenings for this year's SIFF. Click on each venue below for more information on screenings and how to get to each location.

• Paramount Theatre
• SIFF Lounge
• SIFF Cinema Downtown
• SIFF Cinema Egyptian
• SIFF Cinema Uptown
• SIFF Film Center
• Ark Lodge Cinemas
• AMC Pacific Place
• Majestic Bay
• Shoreline Community College
• MOHAI

Here are a few more recommendations from the SIFF team to enjoy this year's event properly. 

• Arrive early. Lines start forming up to an hour before the screening. SIFF said you must arrive at least 10 minutes before showtime to ensure a seat. Even ticket holders or pass holders arriving less than 10 minutes before showtime are considered late and may not be seated. 
• Find your line. Make sure to follow the sign and stand in the correct lines, which are separated into pass holders, ticket holders, or standby. If all advance tickets have been sold for a screening, standby tickets may be available to purchase. These tickets are sold only to those waiting in the standby lane at the time of the sale, according to SIFF. About 10 minutes before the film begins, the available seats are counted and sold on a first-come, first-served basis to the people in line.