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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

SIFF 2016: Seattle plays host to world cinema

Dan Webster

Long before every city, town village and burg organized its own film festival, a few such movie events attracted movie fans from all over. One of the most user-friendly was born 280-some miles west of Spokane in 1976. You can read a condensed history of the Seattle International Film Festival by clicking here.

From those humble beginnings, SIFF has transformed into a 25-day extravaganza featuring 100s of feature and documentary films, shorts and a year-round program of the best independent and foreign cinema imaginable.

The 2016 edition of SIFF begins May 19 and runs through June 12. Ticket packages and passes are on sale now, especially to the Opening Night Gala — Woody Allen's "Cafe Society," which stars Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart and Blake Lively.

Even if you don't make the opening night, SIFF boasts a lot of good cinema during its near-month-long run. Plan a weekend and head west to experience one of the better films festivals in not just the country — but in the world.