The Seattle International Film Festival runs May 18-24 at the Renton IKEA Performing Arts Center at Renton High School, 400 S. Second St., Renton.
Tickets are now on sale at siff.net for the screenings in Renton and for the open-night gala at the Renton Pavilion Event Center on May 18. The event center is at the Piazza in downtown Renton across Second Avenue from Renton High School.
The best-attended and longest-running film festival is now in its 38th year in Seattle; besides Renton, its suburban venues are Kirkland and Everett.
Tickets for screenings at all venues are available at siff.net. Tickets also will be available at the box office before screenings.
FRIDAY, MAY 18
7 p.m. — RENTON OPENING NIGHT GALA
Fat Kid Rules The World Actor-turned-director Matthew Lillard creates a hilarious and touching coming-of-age tale of two societal outcasts and their awkward journey to create a punk rock band. Filmed in Seattle. Winner, Best Narrative Feature Audience Award, SXSW 2012. Director: Matthew Lillard, Cast: Jacob Wysocki, Lili Simmons, Matt O’Leary, Billy Campbell, Dylan Arnold, USA, 2012 (98 minutes)
SATURDAY, MAY 19
11 a.m. —Only Yesterday Previously unreleased in the U.S., this gem from Studio Ghibli animator Isao Takahata delves into the emotional experiences of young girls through the touching and meditative story of a 20-something remembering her childhood. Director: Isao Takahata; Cast: Miki Imai, Toshirô Yanagiba, Youko Honna, Japan 1991 (118 minutes)
1:45 p.m. — Simon and the Oaks
An epic drama based on Marianne Fredriksson’s best-selling novel. Working class Simon befriends Isak, the son of a wealthy Jewish bookseller who has fled Nazi persecution. Their families connect in unexpected ways as war rages across Europe. Director: Lisa Ohlin; Cast: Bill Skarsgard, Helen Sjöholm, Stefan Gödicke, Jonatan Wächter, Jan Josef Liefers, Karl Linnertorp, Sweden/Norway/Germany 2011 (122 minutes)
4:30 p.m. — Countdown (U.S. premiere)
A pulse-pounding thriller driven by a plot of twisting allegiances, COUNTDOWN is the story of a debt collector with 10 days to live fighting to keep his liver-donor savior safe. Director: Huh Jong-ho; Cast: Jeong Jae-young, Jeon Do-youn, South Korea 2011 (120 minutes)
7:15 p.m. — LUV
A shy, 11-year-old boy is captivated by the sudden appearance of his charming ex-con uncle, Vincent (Common), but discovers, over the course of a single day, that growing up involves some harsh lessons. Director: Sheldon Candis, Cast: Common, Michael Rainey Jr., Dennis Haysbert, Danny Glover, Charles S. Dutton, Lonette McKee, Michael Kenneth Williams, USA 2012 (94 minutes)
9:30 p.m. —Dragon
A detective comes across a paper-maker who may or may not be a renegade mass murderer this exhilarating revival of the martial arts genre matching the brilliance of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Winner, Best Composer, Cinematographer, Production Designer, Asian Film Awards 2012; and Best Cinematography, Original Score, Hong Kong Film Awards 2012. Director: Peter Ho-Sun Chan; Cast: Donnie Yen, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Wei Tang, Jimmy Yu Wang, Hong Kong 2011 (98 minutes)
SUNDAY, MAY 20
1 p.m. —The Painting
Studio paintings magically come to life as the Alldunns, the Halfies, and the Sketchies band together to learn what the Painter had in mind for his creations. In French, with English subtitles. Nominated, Cesar 2012 (Best Animated Feature). Director: Jean-François Laguionie; Voices: Jessica Monceau, Adrien Larmande, Thierry Jahn, Julien Bouanich, Céline ronte, Thomas Sagols, France 2012 (76 minutes)
3 p.m. — Finding North
Expertly making the case that hunger in the United States has serious economic, social and cultural implications for the nation, Finding North tackles a seemingly straightforward, solvable problem. Directors: Lori Silverbush, Kristi Jacobson, USA 2012 (84 minutes)
6 p.m. — Robot and Frank
Set in the not-so-distant future, this charming buddy comedy follows the unlikely friendship between a curmudgeonly ex-cat burglar and his caretaker robot as they seek to mend familial relations while planning one final heist. Director: Jake Schreier; Cast: Frank Langella, Susan Sarandon, James Marsden, Liv Tyler, Peter Sarsgaard (voice), USA 2012 (90 minutes)
8:30 p.m. — Remington and the Curse of the Zombadings (North American premiere)
Oh no, he didn’t! Remington shouldn’t have insulted that drag queen—now a spell turning him gay comes to fruition as he courts his first (female) love in this satirical sendup of homophobia and zombie horror. Winner, Best Actor in Comedy, Philippines’ Golden Screen Awards 2012. Director: Jade Castro; Cast: Martin Escudero, Lauren Young, Kerbie Zamorra, Janice de Belen, Roderick Paulate, Eugene Domingo, Philippines 2011 (96 minutes)
MONDAY, MAY 21
6 p.m. —Queen of Versailles
Photographer and documentarian Lauren Greenfield’s provocative film shows the deferred dream of billionaires Jackie and David, whose 90,000-square-foot project is halted by economic upheaval. Winner, Documentary Directing Award, Sundance Film Festival. Director: Lauren Greenfield, USA 2012 (100 minutes)
8:30 p.m. — Overheard 2
In a delirious blend of THE BOILER ROOM and SPEED, a shifty stockbroker, a surveillance operative, and a police inspector become entangled in a three-man cat-and-mouse that could destroy Hong Kong’s financial markets. Directors: Alan Mak, Felix Chong; Cast: Lau Ching-wan, Louis Koo, Daniel Wu, Zhang Jingchu, Alex Fong, Michael Wong, Hong Kong, 2011 (121 minutes)
TUESDAY, MAY 22
6 p.m. — A Cube of Sugar
An extended family gathers for the youngest daughter’s wedding, but not all goes as planned. A glowing pastel canvas and sensual score are dreamy counterpoints to the anxieties and celebrations of three generations. Director: Reza Mirkarimi; Cast: Negar Javaherian, Saeed Pooorsmaimi, Reza Kianian, Iran 2011 (110 minutes)
8:30 p.m. —The Woman in the Septic Tank
In this wry send-up of artistic pretension, two indie filmmakers raise provocative questions about the creative process by constructing the perfect film festival hit using every cliché in the book. Nominee, Vancouver International Film Festival 2011(Dragons and Tigers Award); nominee, Asian Film Awards 2012 (Best Actress, Screenwriter). Director: Marlon Rivera; Cast: Eugene Domingo, JM de Guzman, Cai Cortez, Philippines 2011 (87 minutes)
WEDNESDAY, MAY 23
6 p.m. — The Orator
The first-ever feature entirely shot in Samoa is the story of Saili, a taro farmer and little person, who must find the courage and strength to speak truth to powerful adversaries when they threaten his family and way of life. Official Oscar® Submission 2011 (Foreign Language Film); Venice Film Festival 2011 (Special Mention). Director: Tusi Tamasese; Cast: Fa’afiaula Sagote, Tausili Pushparaj, New Zealand/Samoa 2011 (110 minutes)
8:30 p.m. — 38 Witnesses
Inspired by the 1964 murder of Kitty Genovese in New York, Lucas Belvaux weaves a grim tale of social responsibility, or lack thereof, when a neighborhood is shaken by a brutal killing. Director: Lucas Belvaux; Cast: Yvan Attal, Sophie Quinton, Natacha Regnier, Nicole Garcia, France/Belgium 2012 (104 minutes)
THURSDAY, MAY 24
6:30 p.m. — As Luck Would Have It
Maverick filmmaker Alex de la Iglesia’s satire about a media feeding frenzy and one man’s insane bid to capitalize on a freak accident stars Salma Hayek and Spanish comedian José Mota in this high-concept melodrama. Nominated, Goya Awards 2012 (Best Actress, New Actor). Director: Alex de la Iglesia; Cast: Salma Hayek, José Mota, Santiago Segura, Carolina Bang, Blanca Portillo, Spain 2011 (98 minutes)
9 p.m. — The Fourth State (North American Premiere)
A tenacious investigative journalist embraces both romance and risk-taking in Moscow, becoming embroiled in a terrorist plot while probing nefarious Russian secret service operations. Director: Dennis Gansel; Cast: Moritz Bleibtreu, Kasia Smutniak, Max Riemelt, Mark Ivanir, Rade Serbedzija, Germany 2012 (115 minutes)
