The 38th Seattle International Film Festival 2012 Honors Film Greats

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Parent Category: Film Festivals

Category: Previews

Published on Friday, 27 April 2012 20:45

Written by Joanne Choi

The 38^th Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) will run from May 17-June 10, 2012. Founded in 1976, SIFF creates experiences that bring people together to discover extraordinary films from around the world with the Seattle International Film Festival, SIFF Cinema and FutureWave Education.

Recognized as one of the top film festivals in North America, the Seattle International Film Festival is the largest, most highly-attended film festival in the United States reaching more than 150,000 annually. The 25-day festival is renowned for its wide-ranging and eclectic programming presenting over 250 features and 150 short films from over 70 countries each year.

SIFF Cinema exhibits premiere theatrical engagements, repertory, classic and revival film showings 365 days a year on four screens at the SIFF Film Center and SIFF Cinema Uptown, reaching more than 90,000 attendees annually.

SIFF FutureWave Education offers educational programs for all audiences serving more than 11,000 students and youth in the community with free programs each year.

In celebration of their outstanding career accomplishments, Sissy Spacek and William Friedkin will be honored during a weekend of celebratory events in Seattle. Spacek will be awarded the fest's Outstanding Achievement in Acting on June 7th and Friedkin will recieve SIFF’s Lifetime Achievement Award on June 9th.

Tribute functions will be open to the public and are set to include individual evening Tribute dedications, as well as a dinner in their honor where they’ll be presented with an authentic Chihuly glass statue, crafted by world renowned artist, Dale Chihuly.

“Sissy Spacek and William Friedkin have captivated audiences repeatedly throughout their careers with critically acclaimed works that boast multigenerational appeal,” said SIFF Artistic Director Carl Spence. “SIFF is proud to celebrate their endured success in cinematic excellence and continuing brilliance, as we honor the highest caliber of cinematic talent at our annual Tribute Awards.”

Sissy Spacek has had a legendary career spanning four decades. First gaining attention starring opposite Martin SIFF’s Sheen in the widely praised 1973 drama, Badlands, Spacek is acclaimed for her work in numerous films, including her Oscar-nominated performance in the 1976 chiller based on Stephen King’s Carrie, and her Academy Award-winning portrayal of country singer Loretta Lynn in 1980’s Coal Miner’s Daughter.

Spacek received her 6th Oscar nomination for the portrayal of a mother grieving for her murdered son in Todd Field’s In the Bedroom and most recently was in the Oscar nominated film The Help, based on the New York Times bestseller. Her tribute also comes on the brink of her highly anticipated memoir, My Extraordinary Ordinary Life, hitting shelves May 1.

Director Friedkin  is critically acclaimed for his brilliant craftsmanship of such essential films as The French Connection, for which he received an Academy Award for Best Director, Sorcerer, and To Live and Die in LA. He is also recognized as revolutionizing the horror genre with 1973’s The Exorcist, which is still considered by critics to be one of the greatest horror movies of all time.

Friedkin’s latest buzzed-about provocative black-comedy, Killer Joe, is his second collaboration with celebrated playwright Tracy Letts. Starring Matthew McConaughey, Emile Hirsch, Gina Gershon, and Juno Temple, Killer Joe will make its Seattle debut at this year’s festival as part of the program and release theatrically this summer.

For more information on the festival please visit: http://www.siff.net/index.aspx

Seattle International Film Festival
May 17th - June 10th, 2012

Seattle

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