Fall means the return of film festival season with more than a dozen in-person events in Seattle and the neighboring areas. While some festivals are returning in a hybrid format, year three of the pandemic means more in-person theater options at multiple locations. Here’s a look at what’s coming.
Everett Film Festival
The Everett Film Festival started in 1997 as the Everett Women’s Film Festival. This year’s one-day festival presents 10 back-to-back documentaries, animation and shorts starting at 1 p.m. The screening of Alexandra Dean’s documentary, “Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story,” will be followed by a Q&A with Lamarr’s daughter, local artist Denise Loder-DeLuca.
Sept. 10; Everett Community College Jackson Center, 2000 Tower St.; festival pass: $40; everettfilmfestival.org
Local Sightings Film Festival
Seattle’s Northwest Film Forum’s 25th annual festival of short and feature films will be offered in-person and virtually on demand, including world premieres for first features by women of color. The festival opens with Jana Bolotin’s “Wheels De Amor” (2022), Vee Hua’s “Reckless Spirits” and Tariqa Chereé Waters and AJ Lenzi’s “Thank You, MS PAM” — three films by Seattle-based filmmakers.
Sept. 16-25; NWFF, 1515 12th Ave., Seattle; festival passes: $90-$140 virtual or in-person, or $100-$150 for a hybrid pass ($60 and $75 for NWFF members); nwfilmforum.org
Port Townsend Film Festival
The 23rd annual Port Townsend Film Festival is virtual and in-person this year, screening more than 60 films and shorts across six theaters. Husband-and-wife Jared and Jerusha Hess, best known for their work on “Napoleon Dynamite” (2004), will be honored for their work during an award ceremony.
Sept. 22-Oct. 2; multiple locations; festival pass: $135 for unlimited virtual pass, $250 unlimited in-person pass; $15 for one virtual ticket, $20 for one in-person pass; ptfilmfest.com
Gig Harbor Film Festival
More than 80 films will be screened over four days, opening with Staci Layne Wilson’s documentary “The Ventures: Stars on Guitars.”
Sept. 22-25; Galaxy Theatres Gig Harbor IMAX, 4649 Point Fosdick Dr. N.W.; festival passes: $300 VIP passes, $40 general admission tickets; gigharborfilm.org
Social Justice Film Festival
Celebrating its 10-year anniversary, the Social Justice Film Festival will be in-person and virtual this year. The festival is presented by the Social Justice Film Institute and Northwest Film Forum.
Sept. 28-Oct. 2; more details to be announced; socialjusticefilmfestival.org
Seattle Polish Film Festival
The 30th annual event showcasing Polish cinema is presented by the nonprofit Seattle-Gdynia Sister City Association.
October; more details to be announced; polishfilms.org
SIFF DocFest
The annual documentary celebration will have fewer streaming options compared to last year’s festival. Streaming options will be announced.
Oct. 6-Oct. 13; SIFF Cinema Uptown, 511 Queen Anne N., Seattle; festival passes: $100 ($75 for SIFF members), individual tickets for $14 ($9 for SIFF members); siff.net
Orcas Island Film Festival
More than 35 films will be screened over the course of five days in three venues during the eighth annual festival. Highlights include Ruben Östlund’s “Triangle of Sadness” (2022), which won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival; Carla Simón’s “Alcarràs” (2022), which won the Golden Berlin Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival; and Park Chan-wook’s “Decision to Leave” (2022), which won best director at the Cannes Film Festival.
Oct. 6-10; multiple locations; festival pass: $225-$700 in-person, individual tickets go on sale in early October; oifilmfest.org
Tacoma Film Festival
The TFF returns for its 16th year, screening features, shorts, documentaries, animation and more.
Oct. 6-13; Grand Cinema, 606 Fawcett Ave., Tacoma; festival passes: $125 early bird ($100 early bird for Grand Cinema members); tacomafilmfestival.com
Seattle Latino Film Festival
Coinciding with National Hispanic Heritage Month, the 14th annual festival returns — opening with Diego Pino Zamora’s 82-minute Bolivian film, “Gaspar” (2021), about a boy and his father who has a chance to record a first album with his band. Venues include: Museum of Pop Culture, Black Box Theatre, The Beacon Cinema and more.
Oct. 7-15; multiple locations; individual tickets free-$50; slff.org
Seattle Queer Film Festival
The 27th annual festival of films for, by and about lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people will open will the world premiere of Adriana Guiman’s locally produced and directed documentary, “WHAT THE FUNK?!” (2022) about the inaugural BIPOC Burlesque Festival in 2019. The hybrid festival will screen 137 films at multiple locations including SIFF Cinema Egyptian, Northwest Film Forum, Broadway Performance Hall and more.
Oct. 13-23; multiple locations; festival passes: $125-$295, individual tickets $13-30; threedollarbillcinema.org
Friday Harbor Film Festival
The documentary festival returns to San Juan Island with a hybrid format, offering 30 feature-length documentaries and more than a dozen short films.
Oct. 21-30; multiple locations in Friday Harbor; festival passes: $50-$250, individual tickets $12; fhff.org
Tasveer South Asian Film Festival
The 17th annual festival will offer a series of “unapologetically South Asian” film screenings, panel discussions, workshops and cultural programming in a hybrid format.
Nov. 3-20; multiple locations; festival pass: $250; tasveerfestival.org
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