SIFF press screenings: week three
The coming week's SIFF press screenings were announced late Friday, but I didn't get a chance to share them until now.
I'll probably try to see all of this week's collection, but some look more interesting than others. On Monday, Touch sounds amusing based on the description, and An African Election could be an interesting documentary. On Tuesday, On Tour sounds like fun, since SIFF has a good record with French comedies, and Perfect Sense sounds like an interesting premise; I've seen Paper Birds (at the SIFF supporters' preview). On Wednesday, Hit So Hard could be an interesting documentary. On Thursday, Saigon Electric sounds like fun, and The Whistleblower sounds like an interesting subject. I'll be curious to find how my initial interests align with what I end up liking after I see it.
Although I posted the first week's list without a cut because my usual practice for cuts is to use them only for things that are likely to foul up formatting, this is a lot to scroll past for people who aren't interesting in SIFF, so I've switched to putting them behind cuts. (I may remove them later, as I did with the week two list, after they've dropped off the first page of my journal.)
I copied and pasted this from the SIFF mailing, with extensive clean-up:
SIFF 2011 Press Screenings
Week of May 19, 2011 at Pacific Place
As a Passholder you have the privilege of being one of the first to see films that will be shown at this year's Festival. Press screenings begin promptly at 10 am, noon, and 2 pm (unless otherwise noted) at Pacific Place. Please note that there are no press screenings on Fridays.
Please remember that you are a special guest at these screenings and Press does have priority. Please do be courteous to them as they are there to work. Also, please do not forget that there is no late seating at press screenings and the doors will close five minutes prior to the screenings start time. Because the press are working we do not have exceptions to this rule.
Press screenings are first come, first served, and no outside food is allowed in the theater.
MONDAY, MAY 16
Touch
Press Screening: 10:00 AM
USA, 2011 (109 minutes)
Director: Minh Duc Nguyen
Cast: Porter Lynn, John Ruby, Melinda Bennett, Long Nguyen, Hiep Thi Le
Following his wife's demands for clean hands, a mechanic strikes up a relationship with a shy Vietnamese-American manicurist, who dispenses romantic wisdom while washing away the grease.
Director Minh Duc Nguyen scheduled to attend.
Festival Screenings
6:30 PM Sat, May 21 Renton IKEA Performing Arts Center 6:30 PM Mon, May 23 Admiral Theater
Man at Bath
Press Screening: NOON
France, 2010 (72 minutes)
Director: Christophe Honoré
Cast: François Sagat, Chiara Mastroianni, Rabah Zahi
When work separates two Parisian lovers, they do everything they can to prove to each other that they're no longer in love. A lyrical, stylized poem to homosexual desire.
Actor François Sagat scheduled to attend.
Festival Screenings
9:30 PM Wed, May 25 Egyptian Theatre 4:30 PM Thu, May 26 Egyptian Theatre
An African Election
Press Screening: 2:00 PM
Ghana/Switzerland/USA, 2010 (89 minutes)
Director: Jarreth Merz
A thrilling inside view of Ghana's 2008 presidential election, which examines the increasing agitation between its two leading political parties and the tenuous thread between peace and chaos.
Director Jarreth Merz scheduled to attend.
Festival Screenings
7:00 PM Thu, May 26 Harvard Exit 4:30 PM Fri, May 27 Harvard Exit
TUESDAY, MAY 17
On Tour
Press Screening: 10:00 AM
France, 2010 (111 minutes)
Director: Mathieu Amalric
Cast: Mathieu Amalric, Julie Atlas Muz, Miranda Colclasure, Suzanne Ramsey
Awards: Cannes FIlm Festival 2010 (Best Director)
Acclaimed actor/director Mathieu Amalric piles surprise on top of surprise, as the distracted manager of a bawdy American burlesque troupe that is running wild through France.
Performer Suzanne Ramsey (a.k.a. Kitten on the Keys) scheduled to attend June 9 and 11 screenings.
Festival Screenings
9:00 PM Sat, May 28 Admiral Theater 9:30 PM Thu, June 9 Neptune Theatre 3:30 PM Sat, June 11 Neptune Theatre
Perfect Sense
Press Screening: NOON
U.S. Distributor: IFC Films
United Kingdom/Germany/Sweden/Denmark, 2011 (88 minutes)
Director: David Mackenzie
Cast: Ewan McGregor, Eva Green, Ewen Bremner, Stephen Dillane, Connie Nielsen
In this romance/thriller, an encounter with a restaurant chef holds the promise of new love until people across the globe begin to suffer strange epidemic symptoms affecting the emotions and then the senses.
Festival Screenings
9:15 PM Sat, May 21 Egyptian Theatre 4:30 PM Wed, May 25 Egyptian Theatre
Paper Birds
Press Screening: 2:00 PM
Spain, 2010 (125 minutes)
Director: Emilio Aragón
Cast: Imanol Arias, Lluís Homar, Roger Princep, Carmen Machi
Awards: Montreal World Film Festival 2010 (Audience Award)
This touching tale of friendship amongst the members of a traveling entertainment troupe in post-Civil War Spain celebrates the lost art of vaudeville. Audience Award winner, Montreal Film Festival.
Director Emilio Aragón scheduled to attend.
Festival Screenings
8:30 PM Thu, May 26 Renton IKEA Performing Arts Center 6:30 PM Sat, May 28 Pacific Place Cinemas 12:30 PM Sun, May 29 Pacific Place Cinemas
WEDNESDAY, MAY 18
Nobody
Press Screening: 10:00 AM
Greece, 2010 (96 minutes)
Director: Christos Nikoleris
Cast: Georgina Liossi, Antinoos Albanis, Efi Stamouli, Nikolas Papagiannis, Giorgos Papageorgiou, Dimitris Kapenakos
An edgy Greek update of Romeo and Juliet with an Odyssey-like male lead trying to free himself from poverty and hold on to the love of his life against all odds.
Director Christos Nikoleris scheduled to attend May 27 and 29 screenings.
Festival Screenings
7:00 PM Fri, May 27 Pacific Place Cinemas 1:00 PM Sun, May 29 Everett Performing Arts Center 4:30 PM Tue, May 31 Pacific Place Cinemas
Hit So Hard
Press Screening: NOON
USA, 2011 (103 minutes)
Director: P David Ebersole
Featuring: Patty Schemel, Courtney Love, Kurt Cobain
Legendary hard-hitting drummer Patty Schemel shares the most intimate and outrageous moments in her tumultuous life with the rock band Hole in this revealing documentary.
Director P David Ebersole, subject Patti Schemel and producers Todd Hughes and Christina Soletti scheduled to attend.
Festival Screenings
9:00 PM Fri, May 27 Egyptian Theatre 4:00 PM Sun, May 29 Neptune Theatre
Update (Wednesday): SIFF changed the Wednesday 2 pm press screening from White Irish Drinkers to On the Ice. The announcement didn't explain the reason for the change, but such changes typically happen as a result of problems shipping the films, so that's my guess for what happened.
On the Ice
Press Screening: 2:00 PM
USA, 2011 (96 minutes)
Director: Andrew Okpeaha MacLean
Cast: Josiah Patkotak, Frank Qutuk Irelan, Teddy Kyle Smith, Adamina Kerr, Sierra Jade Sampson
A fatal accident tears apart a close-knit community of native villagers in this thrilling, powerful film set amidst the frozen ice fields of Barrow, Alaska.
Festival Screenings
9:30 PM Sat, June 4 Harvard Exit 11:00 AM Sun, June 5 Harvard Exit 9:00 PM Fri, June 20 Kirkland Performance Center
The planned screening of White Irish Drinkers was cancelled, and replaced with On the Ice, above.
White Irish Drinkers
Press Screening: 2:00 PM
Distributor: Screen Media Films
USA, 2010 (109 minutes)
Director: John Gray
Cast: Nick Thurston, Geoff Wigdor, Stephen Lang, Karen Allen, Peter Riegert
Set in 1975 Brooklyn, two teenage brothers concoct a daring heist timed to take place during the chaos surrounding an upcoming Rolling Stones concert.
Festival Screenings
9:30 PM Sat, May 28 Harvard Exit 4:00 PM Sun, May 29 Harvard Exit
Director John Gray scheduled to attend.
THURSDAY, MAY 19
Saigon Electric
Press Screening: 10:00 AM
Vietnam/USA, 2011 (108 minutes)
Director: Stephane Gauger
Cast: Van Trang, Quynh Hoa, Khoung Ngoc, Zen 04, Viet Max, Phan Tan Thi, Elly Nguyen
Two groups of Vietnamese youth face off with intensely competitive break-dancing battles while navigating love's ups and downs in this hip hop-infused romance.
Director Stephane Gauger scheduled to attend May 28 and 30 screenings.
Festival Screenings
7:15 PM Sat, May 28 Neptune Theatre 3:00 PM Mon, May 30 Pacific Place Cinemas 6:30 PM Wed, June 1 Everett Performing Arts Center
Every Song is About Me
Press Screening: NOON
Spain, 2010 (104 minutes)
Director: Jonas Trueba
Cast: Oriol Vila, Barbara Lennie, Ramon Fontsere, Bruno Bergonzini, Valeria Alonso
A wannabe poet sees his life turned upside down when his ideal relationship suddenly ends in this delightfully retro comedy with stunning Madrid scenery.
Director Jonas Trueba scheduled to attend May 29 and 30 screenings.
Festival Screenings
7:00 PM Sun, May 29 Pacific Place Cinemas NOON Mon, May 30 Pacific Place Cinemas 6:30 PM Mon, June 6 Admiral Theater
The Whistleblower
Press Screening: 2:00 PM
Distributor: Samuel Goldwyn Films
Canada/Germany, 2010 (118 minutes)
Director: Larysa Kondracki
Cast: Rachel Weisz, Vanessa Redgrave, Monica Bellucci, David Strathairn, Nikolaj Lie Kaas
Awards: Palm Springs Film Festival 2011 (Audience Award)
An American cop-turned-peacekeeper in Bosnia uncovers a human trafficking ring that includes U.N. workers in this unsparing conspiracy thriller. Based on a true story.
Director Larysa Kondracki scheduled to attend May 28 and 29 screenings.
Festival Screenings
6:45 PM Sat, May 28 Egyptian Theatre 1:00 PM Sun, May 29 Egyptian Theatre 6:30 PM Tue, May 31 Everett Performing Arts Center
The 37th Seattle International Film Festival is made possible in part by support from Xfinity, The Paul G Allen Family Foundation, Brotherton Cadillac Buick GMC, Alaska Airlines, Don Q Rums, The Wallace Foundation, Wong Doody, American Airlines, Modern Digital, POP, City Arts Magazine, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and Warren Miller Company.
I'll probably try to see all of this week's collection, but some look more interesting than others. On Monday, Touch sounds amusing based on the description, and An African Election could be an interesting documentary. On Tuesday, On Tour sounds like fun, since SIFF has a good record with French comedies, and Perfect Sense sounds like an interesting premise; I've seen Paper Birds (at the SIFF supporters' preview). On Wednesday, Hit So Hard could be an interesting documentary. On Thursday, Saigon Electric sounds like fun, and The Whistleblower sounds like an interesting subject. I'll be curious to find how my initial interests align with what I end up liking after I see it.
Although I posted the first week's list without a cut because my usual practice for cuts is to use them only for things that are likely to foul up formatting, this is a lot to scroll past for people who aren't interesting in SIFF, so I've switched to putting them behind cuts. (I may remove them later, as I did with the week two list, after they've dropped off the first page of my journal.)
I copied and pasted this from the SIFF mailing, with extensive clean-up:
SIFF 2011 Press Screenings
Week of May 19, 2011 at Pacific Place
As a Passholder you have the privilege of being one of the first to see films that will be shown at this year's Festival. Press screenings begin promptly at 10 am, noon, and 2 pm (unless otherwise noted) at Pacific Place. Please note that there are no press screenings on Fridays.
Please remember that you are a special guest at these screenings and Press does have priority. Please do be courteous to them as they are there to work. Also, please do not forget that there is no late seating at press screenings and the doors will close five minutes prior to the screenings start time. Because the press are working we do not have exceptions to this rule.
Press screenings are first come, first served, and no outside food is allowed in the theater.
MONDAY, MAY 16
Touch
Press Screening: 10:00 AM
USA, 2011 (109 minutes)
Director: Minh Duc Nguyen
Cast: Porter Lynn, John Ruby, Melinda Bennett, Long Nguyen, Hiep Thi Le
Following his wife's demands for clean hands, a mechanic strikes up a relationship with a shy Vietnamese-American manicurist, who dispenses romantic wisdom while washing away the grease.
Director Minh Duc Nguyen scheduled to attend.
Festival Screenings
6:30 PM Sat, May 21 Renton IKEA Performing Arts Center 6:30 PM Mon, May 23 Admiral Theater
Man at Bath
Press Screening: NOON
France, 2010 (72 minutes)
Director: Christophe Honoré
Cast: François Sagat, Chiara Mastroianni, Rabah Zahi
When work separates two Parisian lovers, they do everything they can to prove to each other that they're no longer in love. A lyrical, stylized poem to homosexual desire.
Actor François Sagat scheduled to attend.
Festival Screenings
9:30 PM Wed, May 25 Egyptian Theatre 4:30 PM Thu, May 26 Egyptian Theatre
An African Election
Press Screening: 2:00 PM
Ghana/Switzerland/USA, 2010 (89 minutes)
Director: Jarreth Merz
A thrilling inside view of Ghana's 2008 presidential election, which examines the increasing agitation between its two leading political parties and the tenuous thread between peace and chaos.
Director Jarreth Merz scheduled to attend.
Festival Screenings
7:00 PM Thu, May 26 Harvard Exit 4:30 PM Fri, May 27 Harvard Exit
TUESDAY, MAY 17
On Tour
Press Screening: 10:00 AM
France, 2010 (111 minutes)
Director: Mathieu Amalric
Cast: Mathieu Amalric, Julie Atlas Muz, Miranda Colclasure, Suzanne Ramsey
Awards: Cannes FIlm Festival 2010 (Best Director)
Acclaimed actor/director Mathieu Amalric piles surprise on top of surprise, as the distracted manager of a bawdy American burlesque troupe that is running wild through France.
Performer Suzanne Ramsey (a.k.a. Kitten on the Keys) scheduled to attend June 9 and 11 screenings.
Festival Screenings
9:00 PM Sat, May 28 Admiral Theater 9:30 PM Thu, June 9 Neptune Theatre 3:30 PM Sat, June 11 Neptune Theatre
Perfect Sense
Press Screening: NOON
U.S. Distributor: IFC Films
United Kingdom/Germany/Sweden/Denmark, 2011 (88 minutes)
Director: David Mackenzie
Cast: Ewan McGregor, Eva Green, Ewen Bremner, Stephen Dillane, Connie Nielsen
In this romance/thriller, an encounter with a restaurant chef holds the promise of new love until people across the globe begin to suffer strange epidemic symptoms affecting the emotions and then the senses.
Festival Screenings
9:15 PM Sat, May 21 Egyptian Theatre 4:30 PM Wed, May 25 Egyptian Theatre
Paper Birds
Press Screening: 2:00 PM
Spain, 2010 (125 minutes)
Director: Emilio Aragón
Cast: Imanol Arias, Lluís Homar, Roger Princep, Carmen Machi
Awards: Montreal World Film Festival 2010 (Audience Award)
This touching tale of friendship amongst the members of a traveling entertainment troupe in post-Civil War Spain celebrates the lost art of vaudeville. Audience Award winner, Montreal Film Festival.
Director Emilio Aragón scheduled to attend.
Festival Screenings
8:30 PM Thu, May 26 Renton IKEA Performing Arts Center 6:30 PM Sat, May 28 Pacific Place Cinemas 12:30 PM Sun, May 29 Pacific Place Cinemas
WEDNESDAY, MAY 18
Nobody
Press Screening: 10:00 AM
Greece, 2010 (96 minutes)
Director: Christos Nikoleris
Cast: Georgina Liossi, Antinoos Albanis, Efi Stamouli, Nikolas Papagiannis, Giorgos Papageorgiou, Dimitris Kapenakos
An edgy Greek update of Romeo and Juliet with an Odyssey-like male lead trying to free himself from poverty and hold on to the love of his life against all odds.
Director Christos Nikoleris scheduled to attend May 27 and 29 screenings.
Festival Screenings
7:00 PM Fri, May 27 Pacific Place Cinemas 1:00 PM Sun, May 29 Everett Performing Arts Center 4:30 PM Tue, May 31 Pacific Place Cinemas
Hit So Hard
Press Screening: NOON
USA, 2011 (103 minutes)
Director: P David Ebersole
Featuring: Patty Schemel, Courtney Love, Kurt Cobain
Legendary hard-hitting drummer Patty Schemel shares the most intimate and outrageous moments in her tumultuous life with the rock band Hole in this revealing documentary.
Director P David Ebersole, subject Patti Schemel and producers Todd Hughes and Christina Soletti scheduled to attend.
Festival Screenings
9:00 PM Fri, May 27 Egyptian Theatre 4:00 PM Sun, May 29 Neptune Theatre
Update (Wednesday): SIFF changed the Wednesday 2 pm press screening from White Irish Drinkers to On the Ice. The announcement didn't explain the reason for the change, but such changes typically happen as a result of problems shipping the films, so that's my guess for what happened.
On the Ice
Press Screening: 2:00 PM
USA, 2011 (96 minutes)
Director: Andrew Okpeaha MacLean
Cast: Josiah Patkotak, Frank Qutuk Irelan, Teddy Kyle Smith, Adamina Kerr, Sierra Jade Sampson
A fatal accident tears apart a close-knit community of native villagers in this thrilling, powerful film set amidst the frozen ice fields of Barrow, Alaska.
Festival Screenings
9:30 PM Sat, June 4 Harvard Exit 11:00 AM Sun, June 5 Harvard Exit 9:00 PM Fri, June 20 Kirkland Performance Center
The planned screening of White Irish Drinkers was cancelled, and replaced with On the Ice, above.
White Irish Drinkers
Press Screening: 2:00 PM
Distributor: Screen Media Films
USA, 2010 (109 minutes)
Director: John Gray
Cast: Nick Thurston, Geoff Wigdor, Stephen Lang, Karen Allen, Peter Riegert
Set in 1975 Brooklyn, two teenage brothers concoct a daring heist timed to take place during the chaos surrounding an upcoming Rolling Stones concert.
Festival Screenings
9:30 PM Sat, May 28 Harvard Exit 4:00 PM Sun, May 29 Harvard Exit
Director John Gray scheduled to attend.
THURSDAY, MAY 19
Saigon Electric
Press Screening: 10:00 AM
Vietnam/USA, 2011 (108 minutes)
Director: Stephane Gauger
Cast: Van Trang, Quynh Hoa, Khoung Ngoc, Zen 04, Viet Max, Phan Tan Thi, Elly Nguyen
Two groups of Vietnamese youth face off with intensely competitive break-dancing battles while navigating love's ups and downs in this hip hop-infused romance.
Director Stephane Gauger scheduled to attend May 28 and 30 screenings.
Festival Screenings
7:15 PM Sat, May 28 Neptune Theatre 3:00 PM Mon, May 30 Pacific Place Cinemas 6:30 PM Wed, June 1 Everett Performing Arts Center
Every Song is About Me
Press Screening: NOON
Spain, 2010 (104 minutes)
Director: Jonas Trueba
Cast: Oriol Vila, Barbara Lennie, Ramon Fontsere, Bruno Bergonzini, Valeria Alonso
A wannabe poet sees his life turned upside down when his ideal relationship suddenly ends in this delightfully retro comedy with stunning Madrid scenery.
Director Jonas Trueba scheduled to attend May 29 and 30 screenings.
Festival Screenings
7:00 PM Sun, May 29 Pacific Place Cinemas NOON Mon, May 30 Pacific Place Cinemas 6:30 PM Mon, June 6 Admiral Theater
The Whistleblower
Press Screening: 2:00 PM
Distributor: Samuel Goldwyn Films
Canada/Germany, 2010 (118 minutes)
Director: Larysa Kondracki
Cast: Rachel Weisz, Vanessa Redgrave, Monica Bellucci, David Strathairn, Nikolaj Lie Kaas
Awards: Palm Springs Film Festival 2011 (Audience Award)
An American cop-turned-peacekeeper in Bosnia uncovers a human trafficking ring that includes U.N. workers in this unsparing conspiracy thriller. Based on a true story.
Director Larysa Kondracki scheduled to attend May 28 and 29 screenings.
Festival Screenings
6:45 PM Sat, May 28 Egyptian Theatre 1:00 PM Sun, May 29 Egyptian Theatre 6:30 PM Tue, May 31 Everett Performing Arts Center
The 37th Seattle International Film Festival is made possible in part by support from Xfinity, The Paul G Allen Family Foundation, Brotherton Cadillac Buick GMC, Alaska Airlines, Don Q Rums, The Wallace Foundation, Wong Doody, American Airlines, Modern Digital, POP, City Arts Magazine, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and Warren Miller Company.