While much of the film world has their attention turned to the first full day of the Cannes Film Festival, there is a much bigger film festival kicking off today in the Pacific Northwest. That's bigger in sheer number of films at least.
Yes the Seattle International Film Festival 2015 unspools today with over 300 films and events in store for the good citizens of the Emerald City. You can view the full program and calendar of events on the SIFF homepage, but in the meantime, we've chosen 10 films to highlight from the selection. This is just a tiny fraction of the great movies on offer, but it's at least a good start.
Click right for the film picks!
Cop Car
Oh boy. What can be said about this 80s-throwback midnight thriller? Two boys find an abandoned cop car and decide to take it for a spin. It turns out the car belongs to crooked cop Kevin Bacon and he'll stop at nothing to get it back. This one is just straight up fun to the max.
The End of the Tour
One of the big faves at Sundance was this follow-up to The Spectacular Now by James Ponsoldt. The film starts Jason Segel as David Foster Wallace and Jesse Eisenberg as David Lipsky, the journalist sent to interview him right after the release of Infinite Jest. A24 will release the film with an eye towards awards this year.
Cartel Land
Winner of the US Documentary Directing Award and the US Documentary Special Jury Award for Cinematography at Sundance 2015, this docu about Mexican drug cartels has been touted as one of the best documentaries of the year. The Orchard will bring it to theaters in July.
Deathgasm
What happens when a New Zealand punk rock band is tasked with saving the Earth from the spawns of Satan? Deathgasm happens! This wacky and wild midnighter by Jason Lei Howden is one gut-splattering good time.
The Look of Silence
Joshua Oppenheimer's follow-up to The Act of Killing is more of a companion piece than it is a sequel. The films examine the Indonesian genocide from different sides of the murder/victim divide. While The Look of Silence is a bit bleaker than the first film (as it is from the victim's perspective), it is undoubtedly worth watching and a true cinematic treasure.
The Golden Era
Tang Wei stars in Ann Hui's gorgeous 1930s period piece. The film was named the Best Picture at the Hong Kong Film Awards last month.
Eden
This drama spanning the young life of a French house DJ has the odd ability to be both alienating and compelling. Mia Hansen-Love's film is a bit divisive but certainly an emotional journey and one to think about. Broad Green should be bringing it to theaters soon.
Me and Earl and The Dying Girl
The fact this was dual winner of the Dramatic Jury and Audience awards at this year's Sundance points to big things in store for Alfonso Gomez-Rejon's teen cancer drama. Fox Searchlight is bringing it to theaters on June 12.
Racing Extinction
Louie Psyhoyos's follow-up to The Cove is quite simply a film that everyone on Earth should see. This Sundance-premiering docu follows Louie and number of other activists as they look into the dire shape of this planet's inhabitants. Yet the film is far from depressing and the real call to actions have found the backing of such heavyweights as Paul Allen and Elon Musk. Expect Allen to do something special for this screening in his hometown.
Slow West
Another Sundance hit, this comedic western by John Maclean stars Michael Fassbender and Kodi Smit-McPhee. Look for it in theaters from A24, umm, tomorrow.