This weekend, SIFF is hosting their annual Women in Cinema mini-festival. It features films from all over the world, including movies from Norway, Argentina, the Philippines, Germany, and Denmark, as well as from Seattle. Lynn Shelton’s newest film Laggies is the opening night film on Thursday evening. This all runs from Thursday, September 18 through Sunday, September 21. Tickets and more information can be found here.
Here are the official descriptions and trailers of all of the feature films playing:
Thursday, September 18
Laggies (USA, dir: Lynn Shelton; 7pm at the Egyptian, 100 minutes)
SIFF sez: “Having spent her twenties comfortably inert, 28-year-old Megan (Keira Knightley) finds herself squarely in an adulthood crisis with no career prospects, no particular motivation to find one and no one to relate to, including her high school boyfriend. Director Lynn Shelton scheduled to attend.”
Friday, September 19
Transit (Philippines, dir: Hanna Espia, 4:30pm at SIFF Cinema Uptown, 93 minutes)
SIFF sez: “This affecting and very timely drama deals with the struggle of an extended Filipino family working in Israel but faced with the prospect of separation when a new law threatens their children with deportation.”
Inbetween Worlds (Germany, dir: Feo Aladag, 7pm at SIFF Cinema Uptown, 102 minutes)
SIFF sez: “German army commander Jesper forms a bond with his Afghani translator, Tarik, as they try to protect a village from the growing Taliban influence. Gorgeously shot on location in Afghanistan and loosely based on several real-life incidents,Inbetween Worlds honestly explores the tense plight of its characters on both sides of the fence.”
Rocks in My Pockets (USA, dir: Signe Baumane, 9:30pm at SIFF Cinema Uptown, 88 minutes)
SIFF sez: “Five fantastical animated tales based on the courageous women of Latvian filmmaker Signe Baumane’s family and their battles with madness.”
Saturday, September 20
Monk With a Camera (USA, dir: Tina Mascara and Guido Santi, 11:30am at SIFF Cinema Uptown, 90 minutes)
SIFF sez: “In this enthralling documentary portrait, Nicholas Vreeland, grandson of fashion icon Diana Vreeland, is headed for life as a high-powered photographer until he undergoes a personal transformation: next stop, life as a Tibetan Buddhist monk.”
Misconception: (USA, dir: Jessica Yu, 1:30pm at SIFF Cinema Uptown, 93 minutes)
SIFF sez: “For almost 50 years, the world’s population has grown at an alarming rate, raising fears about strains on the Earth’s resources. But how true are these claims? Producer Elise Pearlstein scheduled to attend.”
The Last Season (USA, dir: Sara Dosa, 4pm at SIFF Cinema Uptown, 78 minutes)
SIFF sez: “Amid the bustling world of Central Oregon’s wild mushroom hunting camps, two former soldiers discover the means to gradually heal their wounds of war, bonding over the search of the elusive and lucrative matsutake mushroom. Director Sara Dosa scheduled to attend.”
Kelly & Cal (USA, dir: Jen McGowan, 7:30pm at SIFF Cinema Uptown, 107 minutes)
SIFF sez: “Punk-rocker turned suburban housewife, Kelly (Juliette Lewis), is nostalgic for a life she can no longer have and intimidated by a future she is not sure she wants. Director Jen McGowan scheduled to attend.”
Someone You Love (Denmark, dir: Pernille Fischer Christensen, 9:30pm at SIFF Cinema Uptown, 100 minutes)
SIFF sez: “Thomas Jacob, a famous singer-songwriter, returns to Denmark after having lived abroad for years. After a confrontation with his estranged daughter, he is forced to look after his young grandson, and come to terms with his troubled past.”
Sunday, September 21
Stray Dog (USA, dir: Debra Granik, 4pm at SIFF Cinema Uptown, 105 minutes)
SIFF sez: “From the team behind SIFF favorite Winter’s Bone comes this stunning portrait of Ron ‘Stray Dog’ Hall: a soulful warrior in the US heartland of the US, balancing his struggles to stay afloat with his commitments to his fellow combat veterans, family, and neighbors. Producer Anne Rosellini scheduled to attend.”
Lock Charmer (Argentina, dir: Natalia Smirnoff, 6:30pm at SIFF Cinema Uptown, 77 minutes)
SIFF sez: “Upon learning that his girlfriend is pregnant, 33-year-old locksmith Sebastian begins to have strange visions about his clients.”
I Am Yours (Norway, dir: Iram Haq, 8:30pm at SIFF Cinema Uptown, 96 minutes)
SIFF sez: “A twentysomething single mother in Norway’s expatriate Pakistani community struggles with her dysfunctional relationships with her perpetually disapproving mother, her increasingly neglected child, and her not-committed to her boyfriend in this startlingly assured feature debut by Norwegian actor, singer and filmmaker Iram Haq.”