Feels like SIFF

All outward appearances to the contrary, summer is finally on its way here in Seattle. I know it's true because the Seattle International Film Festival just released their 2008 Program Guide!

As always, the festival boasts 3 packed weeks of cinema, including dozens of movies that are having their world premiere, and many of which will never again be seen on an American screen. Lots of new French and Italian films this year, several about gay and transgendered families, and a whole lot of flicks on suicide, war and ritual murder. Must say something about the state of the world. Personally, I'm looking forward to the German/Swiss film Dust, "an ambitious documentary about the tiniest of particles" and the French movie Faces in which a team of graffiti artists paste giant close-up photos of smiling faces on the Israel/Palestine wall.

Check out the impressively full schedule on the newly re-vamped online SIFF guide, or you can pick up a hard copy of the program in today's Seattle Times. The highly opinionated Stranger SIFF Notes are due out on May 22.