SpIFF 2018 begins Friday with a local feel

One of the values of a film festival is its power to highlight the work of filmmakers in its home region. That's one of the thing the Spokane International Film Festival has been known for since its inception.

The 20th versions of SpIFF commences at 5:30 p.m. Friday at the Bing Crosby Theater with a program of short films, all of which were crafted by area filmmakers. They include two winners from Spokane's annual 50 Hour Slam, a couple of depictions of life during World War II, a memoir of Native American experience and even a half-hour sci-fit story.

You can access the entire 2018 SpIFF schedule here.

Note to those who buy tickets at the last minute: The eight-day festival will open and close (Feb. 9) at the 750-seat Bing, where plenty of tickets are available. The intervening six days will hold screenings at the Magic Lantern, where tickets are limited and going fast.