The Seattle International Film Festival has released the lineup for its Women in Cinema showcase. The showcase will be a four-day event at SIFF 2015, and will include 12 features and documentaries, as well as special guests in the form of directors and producers. Lynn Shelton’s Laggies, her most mainstream offering to date, will play opening night.
Said SIFF’s Director of Programming, Beth Barrett: “Every year, I’ve seen the Women in Cinema festival continue to grow in relevance and in astonishing works from incredible filmmakers. Sharing these unique voices and getting these stories heard — and provoking the conversation about how to continue to keep cinema vibrant and diverse — is why we do this.”
Here’s the stellar-looking lineup (descriptions from SIFF).
Thursday, September 18
Laggies
d: Lynn Shelton c: Keira Knightley, Chloë Grace Moretz, Sam Rockwell, USA 2014, 95 min
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. When he proposes, Megan panics and — at least temporarily — hides out in the home of her new friend, 16-year-old Annika (Chloë Grace Moritz) and Annika’s world-weary single dad (Sam Rockwell).
Director Lynn Shelton and local crew scheduled to attend. Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Lynn Shelton about Laggies.
Friday, September 19
Transit
d: Hannah Espia c: Ping Medina, Irma Adlawan, Jasmine Curtis, Marc Justine Alvarez, Mercedes Cabral, Omer Juran, Philippines 2013, 93 min
This affecting and very timely drama deals with the struggles of an extended Filipino family working in Israel but faced with the prospect of separation when a new law threatens their children with deportation. The Philippines’ Oscar Submission.
Inbetween Worlds
d: Feo Aladag c: Ronald Zehrfeld, Abdul Salam Yosofzai, Saida Barmaki, Germany 2014, 102 min
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, Inbetween Worlds is fair-handed without becoming overly sentimental or inflammatory.
Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Feo Aladag about Inbetween Worlds.
Rocks in My Pockets
d: Signe Baumane, USA/Latvia 2014, 88 min
Five fantastical animated tales based on the courageous women of Latvian filmmaker Signe Baumane’s family and their battles with madness. With boundless imagination, a twisted sense of humor, and a unique, beautifully textured combination of papier-mâché, stop-motion, and classic hand-drawn animation, Baumane has produced a poignant and often hilarious tale of mystery, mental health, redemption, and survival. FIPRESCI Award, Karlovy Vary Film Festival.
Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Signe Baumane about Rocks in My Pockets.
Saturday, September 20
Monk With a Camera
d: Tina Mascara, Guido Santi c: Nicholas Vreeland, Khyongla Rinpoche, Richard Gere, USA 2013, 90 min
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
d: Jessica Yu Narrated by: Kyra Sedgwick, USA 2014, 93 min
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? Taking cues from statistics guru Hans Rosling, Misconception offers a provocative glimpse at how the world — and women in particular — are tackling a subject at once personal and global.
Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Jessica Yu about Misconception.
The Last Season
d: Sara Dosa, USA 2014, 78 min
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.
Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Sara Dosa about The Last Season.
Kelly & Cal
d: Jen McGowan c: Juliette Lewis, Jonny Weston, Josh Hopkins, Cybil Shepherd, USA 2014, 107 min
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. The initially unwanted attention from her 17-year-old wheelchair-bound neighbor, Cal, is the perfect spark to thrust her back to life.
Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Jen McGowan about Kelly & Cal.
Someone You Love
d: Pernille Fischer Christensen c: Mikael Persbrandt, Trine Dyrholm, Birgitte Hjort Sørensen, Sofus Rønnov, Denmark 2014, 100 min
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. Audience Award, LA Film Festival.
Sunday, September 21
Panel: Going Above and Beyond to Make Groundbreaking Film
Presented by Women in Film Seattle
Join us for a panel discussion on how female filmmakers are breaking the conventional methodology to make their movies and how they add excellence and a different perspective to a male-dominated landscape. The film industry should evolve like every other industry, and the contributions these groundbreaking storytellers are making is inspirational.
Shorts: Femme Future
These creative young women and their films were the toast of the 2014 National Film Festival for Talented Youth (NFFTY). Back by popular demand are hilarious comedies, creative music videos, involving dramas, and eye-opening documentaries told by exceptional storytellers who herald a bright future for women who will take the industry by storm.
Stray Dog
d: Debra Granik f: Ron ‘Stray Dog’ Hall, Alicia Soriano Hall, Felipe Angel Padilla Soriano, Felipe de Jesús Padilla Soriano, USA 2014, 105 min
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, balancing his struggles to stay afloat with his commitments to his fellow combat veterans, family, and neighbors. Best Documentary, LA Film Festival 2014.
Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Debra Granik about Stray Dog.
Lock Charmer
d: Natalia Smirnoff c: Esteban Lamothe, Erica Rivas, Yosiria Huaripata, Argentina 2014, 77 min
Upon learning that his girlfriend is pregnant, 33-year-old locksmith Sebastian begins to have strange visions about his clients. With the help of an unlikely assistant, he sets out to use his newfound talent for his own good.
I Am Yours
d: Iram Haq c: Amrita Acharia, Ola Rapace, Trond Fausa Aurvåg, Tobias Santelmann, Norway 2013, 96 min
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. Norway’s Oscar Submission.
Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Iram Haq about I Am Yours.
