SEATTLE, Washington — The Seattle International Film Festival begins its 45th season on Thursday, May 16. SIFF Artistic Director Beth Barret gave us a few highlights from this year's festival.
Barret said, "We have 414 films from 86 different countries this year coming to SIFF."
One of those foreign films is by the director of the indie hit, Bend It Like Beckham.
Set in Thatcher’s England, Blinded by the Light tells the story of a Pakistani immigrant who discovers the music of Bruce Springsteen.
"He really finds a great sense of relief and a great sense of accomplishment when he discovers this music. It's a terrific film. And we're so excited to have the director Gurinder Chadha and her young star here to present the film."
On June 2 Regina Hall comes to Seattle for a SIFF tribute.
"We'll be taking with her about her career, which has spanned almost 30 years."
There will also be a screening of her latest film, Support the Girls.
"It's going to be great to have her introduce it."
A last-minute addition to SIFF is Jim Jarmusch’s, The Dead Don't Die starring Bill Murray and Adam Driver and Chloë Sevigny.
"The zombies just want to do whatever it was they were doing before they died. It's a dry, quirky, funny with some really good zombie action."
Finally, closing night of SIFF 2019 brings a sentimental film about a dying grandmother with a surprising lead actress.
"The Farewell is an amazing film I saw it at Sundance. Awkwafina is spectacular in this. So far, we've seen her in comedic roles, very sidekick. And in this film, she plays Billi who's unable to control her emotions, she just loves her grandmother so much." said Barret. "The east-west divide is really real, but it's also really funny and poignant and an amazing story of family and the lies you tell each other but that ok."
All the films and ticket information can be found on SIFF's website. The festival runs from May 16 through June 19.
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