The last time I attended the Seattle International Film Festival in person was 2019. Since then, a pandemic ravaged the world, cancelling many festival events and eventually moving film festivals to online platforms, including SIFF.

Now, it’s time to get back to experiening one of the Pacific Northwest’s most prominent film festivals in person again, and I’m excited to - for the first time - do so as an accredited press attendee.

From April 14 to April 24, SIFF is bringing some of the most buzzed about films from TIFF, Sundance, SXSW and more to Seattle to experience on the big screen. Favorites like I Love My Dad, Skate Dreams, Charlotte, Fire of Love, and The Last Film Show all have multiple screenings in person.

In addition to the in-person experience, SIFF is also offering an online experience, which will host a large offering of films being shown at the in-person festival, including Montana Story, Moneyboys, Speak No Evil, Everything Went Fine, and Zero Fucks Given. In addition, shorts programs will also be available online for the duration of the festival, which includes a favorite short of ours from SXSW, El Carrito.

There is a lot to take in at SIFF this year, but what stands out the most? In this festival’s curtain raiser video, I talk with fellow SIFF attendee and Seattleite, Taylor Baker from Drink In The Movies, about films we’ve been fortunate enough to catch at other festivals that we recommend, and the films we haven’t seen that we’re most excited about.

You can learn more about the 48th Seattle International Film Festival, including the full lineup, schedule, and tickets, at siff.net.