Northwest Film Forum is getting ready to kick off its 21st edition of Local Sightings— Seattle’s only festival dedicated to Pacific Northwest films and filmmakers: a showcase of new films from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Alaska, the Yukon and British Columbia. This year’s festival will take place September 21-29, 2018.
Produced over the last two decades by Northwest Film Forum, the festival features new films, parties, juried prizes (which include cash grants, additional screening opportunities, in-kind post-production services and gear access) and film conversation. Screenings are only part of the story: artist talks, performances and networking events held throughout the week allow film lovers and filmmakers to explore local creativity together.
SELECT FEATURE FILMS
Proof of Loyalty
Directed by Lucy Ostrander and Don Sellers (Bainbridge Island, WA) –
Kazuo Yamane and the Nisei Soldiers of Hawaii tells the story of a Japanese American who played a crucial strategic role in World War II.
North of Blue
Directed by Joanna Priestley (Portland, OR) – North of Blue is an electrifying experimental animated feature-film that at once shatters the distinction between our modern technological reality and the ancient traditions of Canada’s Yukon Territory.
Arctic Daughter: A Lifetime of Wilderness
Directed by Jean Aspen and Tom Irons (Homer, AK) – The story relates Jean Aspen’s lifelong love of arctic wilderness and adventure and asks the viewer, “What are we leaving for future generations?”
The Forgotten Man
Directed by Arran Shearing (Vancouver, BC) – A beautifully crafted romance in the tradition of classic Hollywood cinema about a young actor in an East London Theatre Company for the homeless who romances a wealthy out-of-towner in the bustling streets of contemporary London.
WOMXN ON THE VERGE SHORTS PROGRAM
The films featured in the Womxn on the Verge shorts program are a testament to the diversity and uniqueness of the work being made by womxn and non-binary filmmakers right now. Ranging from studies of the deep psychic impact of brief moments of gendered insensitivity and intimidation, to ruminations of the power of radical love, to sci-fi spectacular scenes of resistance, these shorts may move you to tears and to action. Some of the films include:
- Unbuckled: directed by Tessa Ribitsch (Portland, OR)
- The Roundhouse directed by Theresa Warbus (Vancouver, B.C.)
- We Have Our Ways directed by Dawn Jones Redstone (Portland, OR)
- Lovely Legs directed by Abby Thompson (Vancouver, WA)
- Weak directed by Emily Laue (Portland, OR)
FESTIVAL JURORS
Jurors for this year’s festival include:
- Paige Watkins (associate director, Detroit Narrative Agency)
- Amanda Salazar (programmer, San Francisco International Film Festival & NWFF film programmer)
- Alan Palomo (filmmaker and musician, Neon Indian)
In addition, the festival will include special presentations and screenings and workshops! There will be so much to see – trust me, you don’t want to miss out on this uniquely Northwest experience! Click here for the full schedule!
WHEN:
September 21-29, 2018
WHERE:
Northwest Film Forum
1515 12th Ave
Seattle, WA 98122
FESTIVAL PASS:
Member: $110
General: $125
Please click here to purchase your festival pass.
https://nwfilmforum.org/festivals/local-sightings-film-festival-2018/
