SIFF Retrospective
This week we’re celebrating the Seattle International Film Festival by looking back at some of the award winning films from its 45-year history. For more SIFF award winners, visit the festival’s microsite, available May 14th - June 7th, in recognition of the festival’s originally scheduled dates, prior to its cancellation due to COVID-19.
Tel Aviv on Fire
A wry, insightful comedy about a hapless production intern on a Palestinian soap opera.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Luxembourg, Belgium, Israel • 2018
- Director Sameh Zoabi
- Cast Kais Nashif, Lubna Azabal, Yaniv Biton, Maisa Abd Elhadi, Nadim Sawalha
- Genre Comedy
- Available on Cohen Media Amazon Channel, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Amazon Video, YouTube, Tubi TV
The Reports on Sarah and Saleem
(Al-Taqareer Hawl Sarah wa Saleem)
An extramarital affair between a Palestinian and an Israeli becomes the target of political espionage.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- Occupied Palestinian Territory, Germany, Netherlands • 2018
- Director Muayad Alayan
- Cast Adeeb Safadi, Sivane Kretchner, Ishai Golan, Hanan Hillo, Maisa Abd Elhadi
- Genre Drama
- Available on Apple TV, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Tubi TV, Freevee, Hoopla, Plex, Plex Channel
Sami Blood
(Sameblod)
Elle Marja, 14, is a reindeer-breeding Sami girl dreaming of another life.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Norway, Denmark, Sweden • 2016
- Director Amanda Kernell
- Cast Lene Cecilia Sparrok, Mia Sparrok, Maj-Doris Rimpi, Julius Fleischanderl, Olle Sarri
- Genre Drama
- Available on Peacock Premium, Peacock Premium Plus, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube, VUDU Free, Kanopy, Hoopla
Sand Storm
(Sufat Chol)
When Jalila's husband marries a second woman, Jalila and her daughter's worlds are shattered.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Israel, Germany, France • 2016
- Director Elite Zexer
- Cast Lamis Ammar, Ruba Blal, Hitham Omari, Shaden Kanboura, Khadija Al Akel, Jalal Masrwa
- Genre Drama
- Available on No streaming locations found.
A Man Called Ove
(En man som heter Ove)
When pregnant Parvaneh and her family move into the terraced house opposite Ove, it sets off a series of unexpected changes in his life.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Sweden • 2015
- Director Hannes Holm
- Cast Rolf Lassgård, Bahar Pars, Filip Berg, Ida Engvoll, Tobias Almborg, Klas Wiljergård
- Genre Comedy, Drama
- Available on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, OVID, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Flix Premiere, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube, Crackle, Tubi TV, VUDU Free, Freevee, Kanopy, Hoopla, Plex, Plex Channel
Liza, the Fox-Fairy
(Liza, a rókatündér)
DJ? Play the least romantic song you've got!
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Hungary • 2015
- Director Ujj Mészáros Károly
- Cast Mónika Balsai, David Sakurai, Bede Fazekas Szabolcs, Schmied Zoltán, Gábor Reviczky
- Genre Comedy, Fantasy, Romance
- Available on Amazon Video, Tubi TV, The Roku Channel
Phoenix
A noirish study of treachery, identity, and survival.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Germany, Poland • 2014
- Director Christian Petzold
- Cast Nina Hoss, Ronald Zehrfeld, Nina Kunzendorf, Trystan Pütter, Michael Maertens, Imogen Kogge
- Genre Drama
- Available on MUBI, MUBI Amazon Channel, Criterion Channel, AMC+ Amazon Channel, IFC Films Unlimited Apple TV Channel, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Amazon Video, YouTube, Kanopy
Fanie Fourie's Lobola
You're going to marry... him?!?
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- South Africa • 2013
- Director Henk Pretorius
- Cast Eduan van Jaarsveldt, Zethu Dhlomo, Jerry Mofokeng, Marga van Rooy, Motlatsi Mafatshe, Chris Chameleon
- Genre Comedy, Romance
- Available on Hoopla
Maria Full of Grace
(María, llena eres de gracia)
Stuck in a low-paying job with an unexpected pregnancy, seventeen-year-old Maria decides to work as a drug mule to make money.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Colombia, Ecuador, United States • 2004
- Director Joshua Marston
- Cast Catalina Sandino Moreno, Guilied Lopez, Yenny Paola Vega, John Álex Toro, Virgina Ariza, Rodrigo Sánchez Borhorquez
- Genre Crime, Drama, Thriller
- Available on Max Amazon Channel, Max, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube
Whale Rider
A contemporary story of family, rejection and triumph.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- New Zealand, Germany • 2003
- Director Niki Caro
- Cast Keisha Castle-Hughes, Rawiri Paratene, Vicky Haughton, Cliff Curtis, Grant Roa, Mana Taumaunu
- Genre Drama, Family
- Available on fuboTV, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube, Tubi TV, Shout! Factory TV, Kanopy, Hoopla, Plex, Plex Channel
Oasis
(오아시스)
Have you really loved someone?
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Korea • 2002
- Director Lee Chang-dong
- Cast Sol Kyung-gu, Moon So-ri, Ahn Nae-sang, Ryoo Seung-wan, Son Byung Ho, Chu Kwi-jung
- Genre Drama, Romance
- Available on Metrograph, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube
Run Lola Run
(Lola rennt)
Every second of every day, you're faced with a decision that can change your life.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Germany • 1998
- Director Tom Tykwer
- Cast Franka Potente, Moritz Bleibtreu, Herbert Knaup, Nina Petri, Armin Rohde, Joachim Król
- Genre Action, Drama, Thriller
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube, AMC on Demand
The Wedding Banquet
(喜宴)
A gay Taiwanese American man plans a marriage of convenience to a Chinese woman in order to appease his parents
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Taiwan, United States • 1993
- Director Ang Lee
- Cast Winston Chao, May Chin, Gua Ah-leh, Sihung Lung, Mitchell Lichtenstein, Dion Birney
- Genre Comedy, Drama, Romance
- Available on Kanopy
Orlando
In this adaption of Virginia Woolf's novel, Orlando, a gender bending aristocrat, travels through more than 400 years of English history as a man and then a woman.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- United Kingdom, Russia, Italy • 1992
- Director Sally Potter
- Cast Tilda Swinton, Billy Zane, Lothaire Bluteau, John Wood, Charlotte Valandrey, Heathcote Williams
- Genre Drama, Fantasy
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube, AMC on Demand
Bagdad Cafe
(Out of Rosenheim)
A German woman finds community amongst the eclectic members of a rural desert community in the American Southwest.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- 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 Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube, Tubi TV, The Roku Channel, VUDU Free, Shout! Factory TV, Freevee, Kanopy, Hoopla, Plex, Plex Channel
My Life as a Dog
(Mitt liv som hund)
After being sent to live with family in rural Sweden, a young boy finds community and strength amongst the eccentric residents.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Sweden • 1985
- Director Lasse Hallström
- Cast Anton Glanzelius, Tomas von Brömssen, Anki Lidén, Melinda Kinnaman, Kicki Rundgren, Lennart Hjulström
- Genre Comedy, Drama
- Available on Criterion Channel, Max Amazon Channel, Max, Apple TV, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video