Fall Film Fests to Fit into Your Travel Plans

Overviews
Written By Zach Youngs

Movie buffs, cinephiles, and award show poolers are often overwhelmed in the fall by the big, glamorous film festivals that always seem out of reach. It would be lovely to have the time to visit Venice, Toronto, or New York City for those grand and glorious film festivals, but most of us are winding down from our summer frivolities and cannot fathom another far-flung vacation. 

It’s lucky if you live around the Puget Sound because you do not have to go far to experience great cinema. There are vast possibilities here that will have destinations like Port Townsend, Tacoma, and Orcas Island on your mind. Here are a few highlights of local film festivals and archival series coming this fall.


City/Regional Film Festivals


Port Townsend Film Festival • September 18-21

The Port Townsend Film Festival is a chance to view intriguing new and archival films while gazing out at the beauty of the Puget Sound. The festival not only has screenings and Q&As, but workshops and parties as well. This is also one of the festivals that offers a virtual option for viewing films between September 22-28.


Gig Harbor Film Festival • September 25-28

The Gig Harbor Film Festival showcases shorts, features, and documentaries from around the US. The festival also features multiple workshops on Saturday and more than a few parties, including two afterparties on opening night. It’s a good chance to mingle with filmmakers and fans alike.

hanging sign for The Grand Cinema on a brick walled corner

The Grand Cinema sign

The Evergreen Echo


Tacoma Film Festival • October 9-12

The Tacoma Film Festival is hosted by The Grand Cinema in Tacoma. The festival champions films by local filmmakers and takes over The Grand for the duration for plenty of mingling in the hallways and lobby. More information will be coming soon.


Orcas Island Film Festival • October 15-19

The Orcas Island Film Festival has become a taste of what the prestige fall festivals have to offer, all in a lovely and picturesque location. In years past, Orcas Island has played host to future Oscar nominees and winners as well as the buzziest films that often end up on year-end top ten lists. It is a chance to see something vetted and noteworthy before anyone else. This year's lineup has yet to be announced.

Cultural Film Festivals


SEA-Nordic Film Festival • September 5-7

The SEA-Nordic Film Festival is put on by the National Nordic Museum. This year's festival is a mix of contemporary and classic Danish cinema. There is an eclectic mix of titles to choose from, but for the most enjoyable taste of what Danish cinema has to offer, Another Round and Babette's Feast are not to be missed.


Tasveer Film Festival & Market • October 8-12

Tasveer Film Festival & Market is a celebration of films from South Asia. The group that runs Tasveer has built a community of film lovers and professionals to advance South Asian filmmakers and their work. This year's festival will be taking place in Tasveer's newly acquired permanent home in the former Ark Lodge Theater in Columbia City.  


Seattle Latino Film Festival • October 10-18

The Seattle Latino Film Festival is the only forum in the Pacific Northwest dedicated to Latin American cinema. The films’ topics will vary broadly, but focus on Latin American history, culture, and language. More information on the lineup is still to come.


Seattle Polish Film Festival • October 24-26

The Seattle Polish Film Festival has been going strong for 33 years. The schedule has a mix of contemporary Polish films, both features and shorts. More information on the lineup and guests in attendance is coming soon.


Seattle Romanian Film Festival • November 7-9

The Seattle Romanian Film Festival will feature contemporary shorts, documentaries, and features. This year's theme is unifying stories with a focus on relations between Romania and its neighbor Moldova. More information on the lineup and schedule is coming soon.

Niche Festivals and Series


Star Wars: the Ultimate Cinematic Marathon • September 5-18

Since it took over the Cinerama and made it the SIFF Downtown, SIFF has utilized that big screen for some excellent retrospectives. It was only a matter of time before Star Wars made the list. Star Wars: the Ultimate Cinematic Marathon will show all 11 live action Star Wars features, not back to back, but with several showings for each film so you can pick and choose the best time for you to go.

R2D2 at SIFF Downtown lobby

R2D2 on display at SIFF Downtown

The Evergreen Echo


L.A. Noir: Shadows in Paradise • September 10 - November 12

Noir is best suited to the shadows, so when it takes place in the ever-sunny L.A., those shadows are brought into the light to show all their ugliness to the world. L.A. Noir: Shadows in Paradise will be taking place on Wednesday nights and showcases some of the best this subgenre of a subgenre has to offer. If you haven't seen The Limey starring the late, great Terrence Stamp, this is a terrific opportunity to enjoy it.


Local Sightings Film Festival • September 19-28

The Local Sightings Film Festival highlights films made in the Pacific Northwest region. The film program will include shorts, documentaries, and features and will take place at the Northwest Film Forum. The festival, like much of the Northwest Film Forum's mission, will also feature panels and workshops for filmmakers and fans alike.


Hump! • Various days

The Hump! Film Festival is unequivocally a pornography showcase. Rather than the fantasies of industry professionals you can find on the internet, Hump! features real people having real sex based on their real fantasies. It's a cheeky, sex and body positive romp through all the strangeness that can encompass human sexuality. The festival will have screenings in Olympia, Bellingham, and Seattle (Queen Anne, White Center, and Capitol Hill).


Seattle Trans Underground Film Festival • October 16-19

Not much is known yet about the Seattle Trans Underground Film Festival except that it is in its inaugural year. It is highlighted on this list because of the intriguing possibilities it holds. The festival details will come and the festival itself will take place at the Northwest Film Forum. 


SIFF Doc Fest • October 16-23

SIFF, the annual festival, has been a documentary-heavy festival for years, but there are always more documentaries to show. SIFF Doc Fest is a celebration of the documentary in all its forms. This week-long festival will feature domestic and international entries with a full lineup and schedule to be announced soon.


Friday Harbor Documentary Film Festival • October 23-26

The Friday Harbor Documentary Film Festival is for documentary lovers who just did not get their fill of the form at SIFF Doc Fest. That and it takes place on beautiful San Juan Island, which is a great destination any time of the year. The festival lineup and schedule is still to come.

Festivals are a great way to see films you normally would not have a chance to experience. Many of the festivals listed here even offer films that you may never see the likes of again. They are well worth the ferry trip or the Light Rail fare to go and check out.

Zach Youngs

(he/him) Zach's life is made better by being surrounded by art. He writes about his passions. He is a freelance film critic and essayist. He loves film and devours books. He seeks the type of cinema that gives him goosebumps and prose that tickles his brain. He wants to discover the mysteries of the creative process through conversation and a dissection of craft.

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