SIFF Award Winners from the 1980s

Golden Space Needle Award for Best Film

Bagdad Cafe

Percy Adlon

1987 West Germany

Bagdad Cafe
(Out of Rosenheim)

✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
West Germany • 1987
Director Percy Adlon
Cast Marianne Sägebrecht, CCH Pounder, Jack Palance, Christine Kaufmann, Monica Calhoun, Darron Flagg, George Aguilar
Genre Comedy, Drama
Available on Amazon

A German woman finds community amongst the eclectic members of a rural desert community in the American Southwest.

My Life as a Dog

Lasse Hallström

1985 Sweden

My Life as a Dog
(Mitt liv som hund)

✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
Sweden • 1985
Director Lasse Hallström
Cast Anton Glanzelius, Tomas von Brömssen, Anki Lidén, Melinda Kinnaman, Kicki Rundgren, Lennart Hjulström
Genre Drama, Comedy
Available on Kanopy, Criterion, HBO Max, iTunes, Google Play, Amazon, YouTube

After being sent to live with family in rural Sweden after his mother falls ill, a young boy finds community and strength amongst the eccentric residents.

Kiss of the Spider Woman

Hector Babenco

1985 Brazil, USA

Kiss of the Spider Woman

✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
Brazil, USA • 1985
Director Hector Babenco
Cast William Hurt, Raúl Juliá, Sônia Braga, José Lewgoy, Miriam Pires, Milton Gonçalves
Genre Drama
Available on No streaming locations found.

In a South American prison, a gay man imprisoned for immoral behavior and a political prisoner come to understand and respect one another.

Golden Space Needle Award for Best Director

My Life as a Dog

Lasse Hallström

1985 Sweden

My Life as a Dog
(Mitt liv som hund)

✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
Sweden • 1985
Director Lasse Hallström
Cast Anton Glanzelius, Tomas von Brömssen, Anki Lidén, Melinda Kinnaman, Kicki Rundgren, Lennart Hjulström
Genre Drama, Comedy
Available on Kanopy, Criterion, HBO Max, iTunes, Google Play, Amazon, YouTube

After being sent to live with family in rural Sweden after his mother falls ill, a young boy finds community and strength amongst the eccentric residents.

Golden Space Needle Award for Best Actor

The Legend of the Holy Drinker

Ermanno Olmi

1988 Italy, France

The Legend of the Holy Drinker
(La leggenda del santo bevitore)

✭ ✭ ✭
Italy, France • 1988
Director Ermanno Olmi
Cast Rutger Hauer, Anthony Quayle, Sandrine Dumas, Dominique Pinon, Sophie Segalen, Cécile Paoli
Genre Drama
Available on YouTube, Tubi, Amazon, Google Play

A recently homeless man is loaned 200 francs. While attempting to repay the money, he encounters an assortment of people along the way.

Prick Up Your Ears

Stephen Frears

1987 United Kingdom

Prick Up Your Ears

✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
United Kingdom • 1987
Director Stephen Frears
Cast Gary Oldman, Alfred Molina, Vanessa Redgrave, Frances Barber, Lindsay Duncan, Julie Walters
Genre Drama
Available on Tubi

Stephen Frears directs this biographical drama focusing on controversial British playwright Joe Orton.

Mona Lisa

Neil Jordan

1986 United Kingdom

Mona Lisa

✭ ✭ ✭
United Kingdom • 1986
Director Neil Jordan
Cast Bob Hoskins, Cathy Tyson, Michael Caine, Robbie Coltrane, Clarke Peters, Kate Hardie
Genre Crime, Drama, Romance
Available on HBO Max, Criterion

A call-girl and an ex-convict work together to find a young prositute in London's criminal underworld.

Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer

John McNaughton

1986 USA

Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer

✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
USA • 1986
Director John McNaughton
Cast Michael Rooker, Tracy Arnold, Tom Towles, David Katz, Mary Demas, Anne Bartoletti
Genre Crime, Drama, Horror, Thriller
Available on VUDU, Google Play, YouTube, Microsoft Movies & TV, Amazon, shudder, FandangoNOW, iTunes

Based on the true story of serial killer, Henry Lee Lucas.

Kiss of the Spider Woman

Hector Babenco

1985 Brazil, USA

Kiss of the Spider Woman

✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
Brazil, USA • 1985
Director Hector Babenco
Cast William Hurt, Raúl Juliá, Sônia Braga, José Lewgoy, Miriam Pires, Milton Gonçalves
Genre Drama
Available on No streaming locations found.

In a South American prison, a gay man imprisoned for immoral behavior and a political prisoner come to understand and respect one another.

Golden Space Needle Award for Best Actress

Shame

Steve Jodrell

1988 Australia

Shame

✭ ✭ ✭
Australia • 1988
Director Steve Jodrell
Cast Deborra-Lee Furness, Simone Buchanan, David Franklin, Bill McCluskey, Allison Taylor, Tony Barry
Genre Drama
Available on Amazon, Kanopy, Google Play, YouTube

When a lawyer encourages a young woman to press charges against her rapists, the two women face the dangerous repercussions of a tight-knit town willing to hide the truth at all costs.

Boundaries of the Heart

Lex Marinos

1988 Australia

Boundaries of the Heart

Australia • 1988
Director Lex Marinos
Cast Wendy Hughes, John Hargreaves, Norman Kaye, Max Cullen
Genre Drama
Available on Tubi

An Australian rodeo rider revisits a tiny town to propose to a hotel owner's 40-ish daughter.

Mona Lisa

Neil Jordan

1986 United Kingdom

Mona Lisa

✭ ✭ ✭
United Kingdom • 1986
Director Neil Jordan
Cast Bob Hoskins, Cathy Tyson, Michael Caine, Robbie Coltrane, Clarke Peters, Kate Hardie
Genre Crime, Drama, Romance
Available on HBO Max, Criterion

A call-girl and an ex-convict work together to find a young prositute in London's criminal underworld.

SIFF Award Winners from the 1980s

Bagdad Cafe

1987 West Germany

Bagdad Cafe(Out of Rosenheim)

My Life as a Dog

1985 Sweden

My Life as a Dog(Mitt liv som hund)

Kiss of the Spider Woman

1985 Brazil, USA

Kiss of the Spider Woman

My Life as a Dog

1985 Sweden

My Life as a Dog(Mitt liv som hund)

The Legend of the Holy Drinker

1988 Italy, France

The Legend of the Holy Drinker(La leggenda del santo bevitore)

Prick Up Your Ears

1987 United Kingdom

Prick Up Your Ears

Mona Lisa

1986 United Kingdom

Mona Lisa

Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer

1986 USA

Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer

Kiss of the Spider Woman

1985 Brazil, USA

Kiss of the Spider Woman

Shame

1988 Australia

Shame

Boundaries of the Heart

1988 Australia

Boundaries of the Heart

Mona Lisa

1986 United Kingdom

Mona Lisa

Bagdad Cafe
(Out of Rosenheim)

My Life as a Dog
(Mitt liv som hund)

My Life as a Dog
(Mitt liv som hund)

The Legend of the Holy Drinker
(La leggenda del santo bevitore)