It’s always the question at the Seattle International Film Festival: What, among the hundreds of films on offer, to watch? For help, peruse the SIFF website, with the fest’s films conveniently organized by genre, country of origin or director — and don’t miss the “Programmers’ Picks” section, in which SIFF staffers who’ve actually watched most of the films pick their favorites — and make your list. My list might include the following, all of which sound well worth stepping out of the May sunshine.
“The Balconettes”
If you loved Noémie Merlant in “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” as much as I did, you’ll want to check out her potentially delightful (and very different-sounding) sophomore film as director/writer/star, described as a feminist comic thriller about three female French roommates coping with toxic masculinity during a hellish heat wave.
9 p.m. May 18, SIFF Cinema Uptown; 3:15 p.m. May 19, SIFF Cinema Downtown
“The Dark Crystal”
Jim Henson’s cult classic 1982 fantasy film, featuring an epic quest and elaborate puppets designed by the beloved creator of the Muppets, arrives on SIFF’s biggest screen accompanied by an all-new live soundtrack on two turntables by Seattle DJ NicFit (who previously transformed SIFF screenings of “Highlander” and “The Craft”).
6:30 p.m. May 20, SIFF Cinema Downtown
“Diamonds”
Turkish Italian filmmaker Ferzan Özpetek, who won the Golden Space Needle in 2003 for the enchanting drama “Facing Windows,” found huge box-office success in Italy with his latest film, a lavish-looking tale of two Italian sisters who run a costume shop in Rome. Looks like absolute heaven for costume nerds, particularly on that giant Downtown screen.
2:30 p.m. May 24 and 7 p.m. May 25, both at SIFF Cinema Downtown
“DJ Ahmet”
Should “heartwarming” be on your list of desired attributes for a SIFF film, this dramedy filmed in North Macedonia sounds like just the thing. Winner of the World Cinema Audience award at Sundance earlier this year, it centers on a 15-year-old shepherd who dreams of being an electronic music disc jockey.
6 p.m. May 24, SIFF Cinema Uptown; 11 a.m. May 25, AMC Pacific Place
“The Glass Web”
This should be a hoot: a 1953 film noir, starring Edward G. Robinson and John Forsythe, newly restored and presented in its original 3D format on the enormous SIFF Downtown screen. The story just might resonate a bit today: A staffer for a popular TV true-crime show turns up dead, and the show plans to re-create the murder in order to expose the real killer. Also with Kathleen Hughes (known then as “Miss 3D”) and Marcia Henderson.
4:15 p.m. May 18, SIFF Cinema Downtown
“The Librarians”
SIFF Artistic Director Beth Barrett strongly recommended this documentary, about a group of librarians in Texas and Florida fighting on the front lines of book censorship. Director Kim A. Snyder, an Oscar nominee for the short film “Death by Numbers,” is scheduled to attend the screening.
6:30 p.m. May 16 and 2 p.m. May 17, both at SIFF Cinema Uptown
“Remaining Native”
Winner of two prizes at the recent SXSW Film Festival, Paige Bethmann’s documentary focuses on Indigenous teen Ku Stevens as he follows a dream of attending the University of Oregon and becoming an Olympic-level cross-country runner — and on the story of Stevens’ great-grandfather, who narrowly escaped decades ago from an abusive boarding school for Native children. Bethmann, Stevens and producer Jessica Epstein are scheduled to attend the screenings.
2:30 p.m. May 17 and 5 p.m. May 18, both at SIFF Cinema Uptown; also streaming on SIFF Channel May 26-June 1
“Slanted”
Amy Wang’s body horror/speculative fiction film, winner of the grand jury prize at the recent SXSW Film Festival, is the tale of a Chinese American teen (Shirley Chen, of “Dìdi”) who dreams of being a blonde, blue-eyed prom queen — and who is approached by a mysterious company who promises to change her appearance to grant her wish. Wang is scheduled to attend the screening.
9 p.m. May 24 and 3:30 p.m. May 25, both at SIFF Cinema Uptown
“Suburban Fury”
Local documentarian Robinson Devor (“Zoo,” “Police Story”) returns with a potentially fascinating subject: Sara Jane Moore, an FBI informant and Bay Area mother of four who in 1975 attempted to assassinate President Gerald Ford. After decades in prison, she is now in her 90s and free. Devor, who will attend the screenings, here reteams with other frequent collaborators: writer Charles Mudede and cinematographer Sean Kirby.
6 p.m. May 21, SIFF Cinema Downtown; 3:30 p.m. May 23, SIFF Cinema Uptown
“Twinless”
A big winner and audience favorite at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, James Sweeney’s film is a bromance between two very different men (Sweeney, Dylan O’Brien) who meet in a twin bereavement group in Portland. Watch for a cameo appearance by Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena, as the two check out a Kraken game.
12:30 p.m. May 24 and 7:15 p.m. May 25, both at SIFF Cinema Uptown
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