SIFF kicks off in Seattle

May 17, 2012 @ 7:11 am (Updated: 8:23 am - 5/17/12 )

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The Seattle International Film Festival begins with the Opening Night Gala in Seattle on Thursday. Opening night features a film called "Your Sister's Sister," directed by Seattle's Lynn Shelton. (Image: Your Sister's Sister)

It's a big night for local film buffs, the Seattle International Film Festival kicks off Thursday at the glamorous digs of McCaw Hall.

Thursday is the fancy-schmancy side of the Festival, the Opening Night Gala at Seattle's McCaw Hall.

Everybody gets all dressed up and after the movie there's a party in the lobby with free drinks and fancy food and music.

There's added excitement this year because for the first time in its 38 year history, the Festival's Opening Night movie is from Seattle.

The film is called "Your Sister's Sister." Its director, Lynn Shelton, is from Seattle and it's filmed in the San Juan Islands. To top it off, it's a really good movie, one of those rare romantic comedies that feel real.

I hope to interview Lynn Thursday night, and let you hear from her directly on Friday's Seattle Morning News.

Speaking of Friday, that's when the Festival begins in earnest. Everybody puts away their fancy clothes and gets down to the serious business of film-going.

Dozen best bets for SIFF 2012

Here are the numbers:

For the next 25 days, we have a chance to see 273 feature films from 75 different countries at 8 Seattle theatres, plus a week's worth of films in Renton, Everett, and Kirkland.

In addition to all the movies, there are special tributes to Oscar-winner Sissy Spacek (Coalminer's Daughter, Carrie) who will do an onstage interview at the Uptown Theatre and an Evening with William Friedkin, the Oscar winning director of The Exorcist and The French Connection. He's bringing his latest film with him, a controversial movie that's been given an NC-17 rating for violence.

SIFF is the largest film festival in the country - with over 150,000 people attending each year.

Check out all that is going on at the SIFF website.

By TOM TANGNEY

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