Seattle is one of the top cities worldwide (easily in the top 100) for “cinemability”, which is a measure of our ability to support movie goers. Cinemability includes issues such as ticket price and the number of movie screens, available movie titles, cinema multiplexes, independent movie houses, and film festivals.
Film festivals present a series of movies around a topic chosen by the organizer. Topics covered can be anything from nature to comedy or justice, or may feature a culture or location such as Latino or French films. Film festivals may introduce and market new films, showcase short films, documentaries, or independent (“indie”) films. The possibilities are as endless as there are people who have something to say.
A small film festival might include a handful of films shown successively on one day in one theater. Major film festivals that have been running for decades typically include hundreds of films, screened in multiple theaters over many days or weeks. Worldwide, some of the biggest, longest running, and most prestigious film festivals take place in Cannes, Berlin, and Venice (known as “The Big Three”). Other important international film festivals are held in Toronto, Hong Kong, London, and Mumbai. In the U.S. there is Sundance, SXSW, Woodstock, and of course the Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF). But, there are thousands of festivals worldwide, so this is just an inkling of what’s out there.
Seattle also happens to be one of the country’s best cities for movie makers, especially renowned as an indie moviemaking hub. As a film production center for over 75 years, resources for producers include production studios, skilled industry workers, educational institutions, networking events, and fundraising opportunities. Seattle also been a backdrop for some of Hollywood’s biggest movies owing to the city’s commitment to the industry, as well as the available scenery. A few notable films shot in Seattle over the past several decades include: The Slender Thread (1965), The Parallax View (1974), An Officer and a Gentleman (1982), WarGames (1983), Sleepless in Seattle (1993), Enough (2002), The Ring (2002) and The Ring Two (2005), Fifty Shades Of Grey (2015), and dozens more.
In the following calendar list, we include upcoming film festivals throughout the Seattle-Tacoma metropolication region. While our threshold price is usually $15 or less for adult prices for any event we list, we attempt to include every film festival in the region regardless of admission price. There is often a discount and sometimes volunteer opportunity that can lower your cost; if available, this film festival ticket discount information is included.
Upcoming Film Festivals
There should be one or more upcoming film festivals listed here. We update this list on a rolling basis throughout the year, when organizers announce dates for the current year–which is sometimes is just one month prior, especially for smaller festivals.
Friday, August 30, 2019
Saturday, August 31, 2019
Sunday, September 1, 2019
Saturday, September 14, 2019
Sunday, September 15, 2019
Thursday, September 19, 2019
Friday, September 20, 2019
Saturday, September 21, 2019
Sunday, September 22, 2019
Monday, September 23, 2019
Tuesday, September 24, 2019
Wednesday, September 25, 2019
Thursday, September 26, 2019
Friday, September 27, 2019
Saturday, September 28, 2019
Sunday, September 29, 2019
Monday, September 30, 2019
Tuesday, October 1, 2019
Wednesday, October 2, 2019
Thursday, October 3, 2019
Friday, October 4, 2019
Saturday, October 5, 2019
Sunday, October 6, 2019
Monday, October 7, 2019
Tuesday, October 8, 2019
Wednesday, October 9, 2019
Thursday, October 10, 2019
Friday, October 11, 2019
Saturday, October 12, 2019
Sunday, October 13, 2019
Monday, October 14, 2019
Tuesday, October 15, 2019
Wednesday, October 16, 2019
Thursday, October 17, 2019
Friday, October 18, 2019
Saturday, October 19, 2019
Sunday, October 20, 2019
Thursday, October 24, 2019
Friday, October 25, 2019
Saturday, October 26, 2019
Sunday, October 27, 2019
Thursday, October 31, 2019
Thursday, November 7, 2019
Thursday, November 14, 2019
Thursday, November 21, 2019
Thursday, December 5, 2019
Here are this years remaining festivals that had not announced 2019 dates the last time we checked.
Past Seattle and Puget Sound Film Festivals
The last time we checked, the following festivals had not announced their festival dates for next year.
September 22 – 23, 2018. Internet Cat Video Festival at SIFF Cinema Uptown on Lower Queen Anne. Curated by award-winning local filmmaker Will Braden (“Henri le Chat Noir” creator and writer), this film festival features over 85 viral cat videos in one engaging and exciting non-stop parade of **squee!** that will leave you with a smile on your face and a purr in your heart. Will Braden will be on paw to emcee the weekend festivities that includes a cat costume contest, giveaways, and special guests. Tickets: Regular admission $14-15. Discounts: SIFF or PAWS members $9-$10.
October 19 – 21, 2018. Kinofest German Film Festival in Seattle at SIFF Film Center showcases feature films, documentaries, and short films that represent the state-of-the-art in German language film making, including films from Germany, Austria and Switzerland. All films are shown in German with English subtitles. Tickets: Single Film Admission: Adult $13, Seniors and Youth $10, SIFF Members $9. Discounts: SIFF membership includes year-round discount movie tickets, FREE popcorn, and other benefits. SIFF volunteers can earn free movie ticket vouchers. Some programs and films prohibit the use of vouchers.
October 19 – 28, 2018. Seattle Polish Film Festival at SIFF Cinema Uptown is the second longest running Polish film festival in the United States. It showcases diverse Polish cinema, including critically acclaimed films, independent films, shorts, animations, and documentaries. Tickets: TBA. Discounts: TBA.
October 23-24 and October 31, 2018. 48 Hour Horror Film Festival in Seattle. Filmmakers all over the area will compete to see who can make the best horror short film in only 48 hours. Entries will be evaluated on Story, Creativity, Entertainment Value, Technical Merit, and Adherence to the Assignment. The winning film will screen at Filmapalooza 2019. The pubic is invited to attend screening of all the films on October 23-24 or the winning films on October 31. Tickets: $12.
October 27, 2018. Sámi* Film Minifest in Seattle at Nordic Museum. Shorts and documentaries from Finnish, Norwegian, and Swedish Sápmi. The day-long program will include the screening of the documentary Kaisa’s Enchanted Forest, a wide variety of Sami documentaries and shorts, a panel discussion, a tour of the Sámi collection in the Museum’s core exhibit, and happy hour. You can purchase tickets to individual screenings or all-day passes. Tickets: Individual films: $13 general admission. All-day pass: $35 general admission. Discounts: Individual films: $10 Museum and Pacific Sámi Searvi Members. All-day pass: $25 Museum and Pacific Sámi Searvi Members. (*Sami are the people of northern Scandinavia, Finland, and the Kola Peninsula of northern Russia.)
November 1 – 4, 7 – 11, 14 – 18, 2018. Hump Film Festival (18+) in Seattle. A new kind of porn, a celebration of creative sexual expression featuring short dirty movies—each less than five minutes—all created by people who aren’t porn stars but want to be one for a weekend. The carefully curated program is a cornucopia of body types, shapes, ages, colors, sexualities, genders, kinks, and fetishes—all united by a shared spirit of sex-positivity. The filmmakers and stars show us what they think is hot and sexy, creative and kinky, their ultimate turn-ons and their craziest fantasies. You will see films that shock you, make you laugh, and turn you on. You may be touched by the sincerity and vulnerability with which these films are lovingly made. HUMP!’s main mission is to change the way America sees—and makes and shares—porn. Tickets: $25. Discounts: Early Bird $20 (until sold out).
November 2-4, 2018. The Romanian Film Festival at SIFF Cinema Uptown, celebrating five years, explores the blurred frontiers of reality through Romanian films. In tune with the Halloween spirit, the festival takes an imaginary journey to Romania, and its “Uncanny Worlds”, challenging values and beliefs in relation to the unusual, unfamiliar, ineffable, incomprehensible, unfathomable, inscrutable, or the unclear, inviting you to a visual feast of mesmerizing film features and documentaries. You will find out that Romanian films, more than ever, reflect the uncanny aspects of reality, history, politics, everyday life, as well as spirituality, folklore, and traditions; in a word, the uncanny essence of human nature. Tickets: General Admission – $12. Opening Gala + Ticket – $22. Discounts: SIFF Member/student – $7. Senior – $10. Early Bird Pass – $60 (Sept 19th to Oct 10th). Early Bird General Admission – $10 (Sept 19th to Oct 10th).
November 8 – 15, 2018. SIFF Cinema Italian Style Film Festival at SIFF Cinema Uptown in Seattle. The best in current Italian films with some of the biggest names in Italian cinema today. Tickets: Single Film Admission: Adult $15, Seniors and Youth $14, SIFF Members $10. Passes: General $150, Members $100. Discounts: SIFF membership includes year-round discount movie tickets, FREE popcorn, and other benefits. SIFF volunteers can earn free movie ticket vouchers. Some programs and films prohibit the use of vouchers.
November 9 – 17, 2018. Seattle Turkish Film Festival has become one of the most admired and venerated events of the Turkish American Cultural Association of Washington. The film festival is non-profit, volunteer-driven event, and committed to bringing the best of Turkish films to Seattle in an effort to provide an international platform for talented filmmakers (long form or short) to showcase their work. All films are presented in Turkish, with English subtitles. Tickets: GA $14. Discounts: SIFF members and Seniors $10 for selected films. The shorts program on November 11 have free admission.
November 17-18, 2018. Celluloid Bainbridge Film Festival at the Historic Lynwood Theatre on Bainbridge Island showcases films and filmmakers with a connection to Bainbridge Island. To celebrate Celluloid festival legacy, the 2018 festival will run as a retrospective and feature favorite films from the past 20 years. Tickets: prices were unpublished as of October 17, but in year’s past have been Regular $15, Student $8.
January 21, 2019. The Backcountry Film Festival is a celebration of winter sports and human-powered backcountry adventure, recreation, advocacy, and stewardship. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. Tickets: $15 at the door. Discount: advance purchase $12 general public, $10 for Mountaineers members.
January 24 – February 9, 2019. Children’s Film Festival Seattle at Northwest Film Forum in Seattle. The largest and most respected film festival on the West Coast dedicated to children and their families. It’s an opportunity to see films from dozens of countries. Tickets: $12 General Admission; $9 Student, Senior (65+) or Child (12 & under); Festival Passes: $90-$180. Discounts: $7 Film Forum Members. Volunteers get free passes to use for movie screenings at Northwest Film Forum. NWFF Membership: Individual $60, Dual $85, Family $120, Student $35.
More from my site
SIFF international film festival in Seattle
Our big list of annual festivals, fairs, and parades
Our big list of movie theaters in the Puget Sound region
Free documentary film about Northwest tribes
Free weekend cultural festivals at Seattle Center
Getaway: August Kite Festival in Long Beach (170 mi. SW)
Fairs, festivals, and parades for the month of May
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