Opening night of the return engagement of the Seattle International Film Festival in Renton is May 18.

The largest film festival in the nation last year debuted Renton as one of its three suburban venues, showing films at the IKEA Performing Arts Center at Renton High School.

This year the opening night gala is May 18, with a big party at the Renton Pavilion Event Center at the Piazza and a film that’s still under wraps.

Tickets for the opening festivities and the 18 films that will show through May 24 go on sale Thursday, May 3, at the SIFF’s website.

PeaceMaker Nation will return to provide the entertainment.

“We want to throw a great party on May 18,” said Suzanne Dale Estey, the city’s economic development director.

Planning for this year’s festival has been under way for months. The planning includes finding about 100 or more volunteers to help keep the festival running smoothly.

The arrival of the festival will become apparent May 8 with the SIFF-Renton Preview FilmWalk at 7 p.m. in downtown Renton. The stops are at the Whistle Stop Ale House on South Fourth Street, the Renton History Museum on Mill Avenue and The Berliner on Main Avenue

“This is a big deal for our community,” said Mayor Denis Law of the festival in thanking the members of the SIFF-Renton Host Committee for assisting in raising awareness about the festival.

Chairing the host committee once again are TV personality Meeghan Black of Renton and Renton car dealer Brad Brotherton.

Deborah Person, SIFF’s managing director, said last year’s festival in Renton “went really well. It was a great start.”

This year, she said, there’s “every indication it will be even better.”

This is the 38th year for the Seattle International Film Festival, which will show more about 500 films and shorts this year. Annually, about 150,000 people attend the screenings.

SIFF-Renton: May 18-24

The Seattle International Film Festival comes to Renton for the second year in May at the IKEA Performing Arts Center.

Tickets go on sale Thursday, May 3, at the SIFF website or by calling SIFF at 206-324-9996.

At least 100 volunteers are needed to help make sure the festival goes smoothly.  Volunteering for the festival is also done through the SIFF website.  A meeting for all volunteers is 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 16, at the IPAC, 400 S. Second St.

For more information about volunteering, email arts@rentonwa.gov, call 425-430-6589 or go to siff.net.