For the first time in decades, the Seattle International Film Festival feels more like a sprint (or, I guess maybe a nice friendly 5K?) than a marathon and the finish line is already in sight. Yes, this weekend brings to a close the 2021 virtual festivities at SIFF. It’s Seattle’s first 70-degree weekend of the year, but nice weather has never been an obstacle to a dedicated moviegoer. After all, there’s no better sunscreen than a nice dark room.
In addition to all of the films available in the streaming library, SIFF has hosted a series of live events throughout the festival. The closing weekend’s calendar has a plenty of head talks, panels, and events to keep you occupied all weekend.
Although most of the Q&As have been archived and magically added to each film’s page on the impressive Watch SIFF platform, you can also get a chance to ask questions yourself for several films this weekend if you tune in right after the movie. Join filmmakers from Nudo Mixteco (Friday at 5pm), Too Late (Friday at 8:30, reviewed here), The Return: Life After ISIS (Saturday at 3:30 pm, reviewed here), Wisdom Tooth (Saturday at 5:00 pm), and There Is No Evil (Saturday at 8:30 pm). Programmers recommend watching the film in advance so that you can hop right into the zoom to pepper the filmmakers with your questions after the credits roll.
Closing weekend also includes some opportunities to experience conversations with filmmakers via Zoom. Friday night includes a panel on Activism in Short Filmmaking; and Saturday has roundtables on Bold Virtuosos (with the people behind Amy Tan: Unintended Memoir, Chuck Connelly: Into the Light, and Rita Moreno: Just A Girl Who Decided To Go For It ) and Breaking Traditions (with the directors of Bebia, à mon seul désir, Charter, God Exists, Her Name Is Petrunya, and Motherland).
And of course the grand finale arrives on Sunday night with the Closing Night Celebration and Film: a presentation of Catalan dreamed Rosa’s Wedding, director Icíar Bollaín’s story of a forty-five-year-old woman who stages a mysterious destination wedding, much to the surprise and confusion of her friends and family. And, unlike previous years when hearing about the awards firsthand meant scoring a VIP invitation and getting up in time for Sunday breakfast, this year’s awards will be presented live after the feature presentation. The film starts at 5pm on Sunday and the celebration goes until 9:30. Most SIFF passes and tickets turn to pumpkins at midnight; so you might even be able to squeeze in one last film after the digital party ends.
It’s no night at MOHAI, but if you scored tickets make sure to dress up, make yourself some hors d’oeuvres, and hop into the virtual SIFF lounge to close out the festival in style. Might as well give yourself unlimited drink tickets while you’re at it!
Keep up with us during the festival on Twitter (@thesunbreak) and follow all of our ongoing coverage via our SIFF 2021 page.