Sound Cinema: SIFF Uptown

Hamrick's Uptown Theatre opened in 1926 in Lower Queen Anne as a single screen movie house. The space went through a number of owners over the decades and in 1984 the theater owners acquired the building south of it and renovated that space turning the theater into a triplex. In 2010 the theater known simply as The Uptown, and at that time owned by the AMC chain, closed. 

Then, in 2011, the Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) group decided to make its mark with a permanent and year-round art house theater that could show a mix of new releases, archival screenings, and, of course, host screenings as a part of the famous annual festival.

Now known as SIFF Uptown, the theater is a hub of great cinema both new and classic. Since SIFF took over, the space has been updated with great seating, modern sound systems, and digital projection. The work that SIFF has put in has paid off, creating a space for movie lovers around the city to come and enjoy the magic of the big screen.

The lobby is inviting with a friendly volunteer to scan your ticket and an excellent selection of treats at the concessions stand. The largest screen is theater one, theater two is a little smaller than one, and the smallest screen is theater three. The seats are comfy, gentle rockers with enough room that a taller-than-average person is able to sit comfortably. Though, sometimes a person in front of you will be less than gentle in their rocker and close that gap between their set and your knees very quickly.

Because the screens are all built into a hill, you enter from the top of the stadium seating and walk the long ramp in theater one, or the stairs on either aisle of two and three to find the best seat. There are no really bad seats, but it will be painful in the first few rows of any of the three theaters or far to the side, especially in theater one.

South side of SIFF Uptown’s marquee

The Evergreen Echo

Recently, I went to see The Wedding Banquet, which is a remake of the 1993 Queer classic of the same name. The updated story involves more than just anxiety about homophobia and immigration. This time around, there are subplots around IVF (in vitro fertilization), infidelity, and questions about whether marriage or a biological family is right for every Queer couple. While the film is set in Seattle, it was mostly shot in our neighbor to the north, Vancouver, B.C. (Though the filmmakers do throw in a few on the street shots of Capitol Hill and a couple of characters enjoy a drunken walk home with burgers and fries from Dick's.) It’s a great update with a phenomenal cast that is very funny and superbly affecting.

The SIFF Uptown functions as the main space for SIFF's theater operations wing. It will also host the majority of screenings for this year's festival, which is happening from May 15-25. Since the November 2024 closure of SIFF Egyptian, SIFF Uptown has played host to some incredible archival series and restoration runs of cinema classics. SIFF Uptown also co-hosts screenings like the upcoming Science Fiction + Fantasy Short Film Festival on June 7 and 8 presented with the Museum of Pop Culture as well as NeuroCinema: Shorts by Neurodiverse Artists or Exploring Neurodiversity, which is presented with GRRL HAUS CINEMA.

There are also great ongoing programs. The Movie Club meets for a movie and a discussion afterward the first Wednesday of the month and anyone can join in on the fun. Ten months of the year, a programmer picks the film, but in June and December, it is the cinephile's pick. The upcoming cinephile's pick will be William Friedkin's Sorcerer on June 4. 

“We Are SIFF” mission statement and informational poster

The Evergreen Echo

The newest edition to the programming lineup is SIFF 'n' Stitch, which is a phenomenon many theaters are adopting to bring in people who may not be interested in the typical programming. At this event, the programmers show a film with the lights on and people are allowed to chat and complete crafts with other movie lovers. The spring schedule for SIFF 'n' Stitch has just ended, but it’s likely the summer schedule will be up after the festival.

SIFF Uptown is a great place to see a film. The programmers understand that there is value in films outside of the box and off the beaten path. While some new releases can be blink-and-you-miss-it, if the film continues to put people in seats, they will keep the party going. It is a cinephile's dream and a place to find community. The Seattle International Film Festival is a great time to check out the space and learn why Uptown has captured so many hearts.