If you’re looking for the best in local independent filmmaking, Northwest Film Forum’s Local Sightings (Sep 22–30; localsightings.org) delivers the region’s top narratives, docs, and shorts each fall with 10 days of screenings and film conversation, while Seattle Shorts Festival (Sep 9–10; seattleshort.org) celebrates narrative brevity from across the globe. Three Dollar Bill Cinema (*threedollarbillcinema.org) serves as a beacon for LGBT-centric films with Twist: Seattle Queer Film Festival (Oct 12–22), while plenty of cultural festivals like Seattle Latino Film Fest (Oct 6–14; slff.org) also dot the cinematic calendar.
The city’s love for the silver screen is perhaps most apparent during summer, when more than 20 outdoor movie series in the area showcase favorite flicks alfresco. Notable venues include Seattle Center (*305 Harrison St; seattlecenter.com), Magnuson Park (6310 NE 74th St; epiceap.com), South Lake Union Discovery Center (101 Westlake Ave N; seattleoutdoormovies.com), and Marymoor Park (6046 W Lake Sammamish Pkwy NE, Redmond; epiceap.com).
May through June, the city also hosts the highest-attended film fest of its kind in the country, Seattle International Film Festival (*siff.net), which packs in star-studded features, Oscar bait, top foreign films, and tiny hidden gems into a month’s worth of moviegoing.
If a classic movie-going experience is what you crave, catch the latest blockbuster at one of Seattle’s indie theaters. The city boasts several, from massive cinematic paradise Cinerama (2100 Fourth Ave; cinerama.com) to Sundance Cinema (4500 Ninth Ave NE; sundancecinemas.com), which serves craft beer and cocktails upstairs.
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