Although its “WTF” category was nearly as expansive as ever, this year’s truncated SIFF only featured three actual “playing-at-midnight” midnighters. Jenn takes a look at what worked and what didn’t.
Author: Jenn Misko
Jenn Misko moved to Seattle in early 2014 and dove headfirst into the area's film scene, occasionally showing up as a production assistant or location assistant on local productions and serving in the SIFF festival box office annually thereafter. Some more informal versions of her thoughts on films can be found collected on her obsessive Letterboxd account.
SXSW 2022: Midnighters Round-Up
SXSW ended a week ago, but Jenn’s been brewing up this coverage of the virtual offerings from the festival’s iconic horror/WTF section and just finished it up…better late than never, right? Right??
Jenn’s Favorite Films of 2021
By my count, I saw 236 2021 releases in 2021 (an all-time record by far for me!), and could easily present a Top 50 here of films I’m really passionate and excited about. And yet, even so: I’m woefully behind! The year is over and I can’t drag out publishing this any longer, so here stands my work in progress: 10 of my favorite films (that I’ve seen so far) from 2021!
NIGHTSTREAM 2021: Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes, The Greenhouse
Two NIGHTSTREAM films exploring time travel in lightly sci-fi ways: one a fun Japanese comedy, and one a grief-infused Australian family drama.
NIGHTSTREAM 2021: All My Friends Hate Me, To The Moon
Two films in this year’s virtual genre fest explore social paranoia, and that weirdo who throws off the vibe of a peaceful retreat.
NIGHTSTREAM 2021 is a go!
Jenn is diving in to the second-annual virtual genre festival, organized in part by the team behind the North Bend Film Fest!
SIFF DocFest 2021: The Hidden Life of Trees
German forester Peter Wohlleben’s bestselling book becomes a documentary sharing his infectious passion for preservation and deeper understanding of our forests.
SIFF DocFest 2021: The Neutral Ground, North By Current
Two documentaries where the filmmaker’s identity comes into play in the telling of a larger story, streaming now at SIFF DocFest.
SIFF DocFest 2021: In Balanchine’s Classroom, Try Harder!
Two documentaries about different types of classroom experiences, now streaming at SIFF DocFest.
Local Sightings 2021: Manifest Destiny Jesus
A documentary dealing with colonialism, gentrification, racial justice, and religious faith may have bitten off more than it can chew in its 40 minutes, but it’s got some valuable food for thought.