Seattle Film Critics Society has been hard at work bringing attention to Pacific Northwest filmmakers and productions over the last several years. One undertaking they are particularly proud of is presenting locally-made films with an award unique to the organization. To let you all in on the fun, they are hosting a weekend of screenings in partnership with SIFF to showcase this year’s nominees. Below is a quick description of what’s coming up to pique your interest. We hope to see you there!
Rainier: A Beer Odyssey (2024 | USA | 124 min. | Isaac Olsen)
Whether you’re a fan of nationally known, but locally rooted Rainier Brewing, this film will take you through every aspect of their 145 year history. From the founding of a modest brewery to the massive celebration of R-Day you’ll learn everything about the local darling.
Don’t forget to check out Josh’s quick review while you’re at it.
Showtime: December 6th @ 7pm
Location: SIFF Film Center
All That We Carry (2024 | USA | 87 min. | Cady Voge)
The vulnerable immigrant population who seek salvation within our borders have long been treated as criminals; their only crime is hoping for a safe place to call home. Once they arrive in the US, it is a given that uncertainty and fear will be a regular part of their lives until they are granted asylum. Even then, it’s no guarantee. All That We Carry follows a family leaving the only home they’ve ever known in Honduras to find some semblance of security and community in the US. They hope to find that in Seattle.
Don’t forget to check out Josh’s quick review while you’re at it.
Showtime: December 7th @ 5pm
Location: SIFF Film Center
Strange Darling (2023 | USA | 96 min. | JT Mollner)
A tension-filled thriller about a one-night stand gone wrong. A relentless killer stalks a woman deep in the Oregon wilderness hellbent on making her his next victim. J.T. Mollner’s twisty tale Strange Darling is already a cult hit. Not only will you be able to see it with a crowd, but you’ll be able to hear from stars Kyle Gallner, Willa Fitzgerald, and Ed Begley Jr. in a Q&A after the film.
Showtime: December 7th @ 7:30pm
Location: SIFF Film Center
Gasoline Rainbow (2023 | USA | 108 min. | Bill Ross IV, Turner Ross)
Gasoline Rainbow is a road-trip movie that peeks into the lives of kids growing into adulthood. They’re balancing on a tightrope between maturity with responsibilities looming in front of them and the desire to throw everything out the window to drive into the sunset. We’ve all experienced this push and pull (and not just as teens), but it’s never easy, especially when we’re young. Each generation grapples with it and the world being such a tumultuous place, I can’t imagine going through that right now.
Don’t forget to check out Josh’s quick review while you’re at it.
Showtime: December 8th @ 5pm
Location: SIFF Film Center
Fish War (2024 | USA | 79 min. | Jeff Ostenson, Charles Atkinson, Skylar Wagner)
Long have the indigenous folks in the PNW relied on fishing for not only sustenance but a reliable source of trading and income. Looking to keep their rights to certain fishing areas, they went to court for help. a landmark decision by a conservative judge triggered a decades-long battle between the tribes, the government, and non-Indigenous fishermen. This locally produced activism documentary lays out the whole story.
Don’t forget to check out Josh’s quick review while you’re at it.
Showtime: December 8th @ 7:45pm
Location: SIFF Film Center