Blog-o-STIFF

Symphony of the Superhero Tears the Roof off Benaroya Hall

Last Night I had the extreme pleasure of attending Mateo Messina’s benefit event for Children’s Hospital at Benaroya Hall.  A couple members of the Symphony Guild are also STIFF volunteers and one of our friends is a childhood friend of Matt’s, so we have actually gone for the last few years.  Many symphonies can be a bit on the boring, but these events never are.  Aside from the fact that Matt’s music is incredibly cinematic, he always includes unusual guests and I really look forward to these shows. 

 

 
This year’s was called Symphony of the Superhero and featured some incredible talent.  Seeing Cut Chemist standing in front of an orchestra and choir with a couple turntables and mixing in their sounds along with Lili Haydn’s violin and the music of The Malandros, in front of a large video screen was one of the coolest things I have ever seen (the phone pic really can’t even come close to doing it justice).  I have never wanted to stand on my seat and dance at Benaroya hall before.  The after party at the W Hotel was also pretty fun as Blake Lewis stopped by to jam with Cut Chemist.

 

I’m sure that the video from last night’s show is going to take a few months to cut together and get online, so in the meantime, check out this clip from a couple years ago featuring Alice in Chains performing Kashmir.  When you see the ads for this thing next year, make sure to buy a ticket.  Not only will you see something that will blow your mind, you are helping out an incredibly worthy cause

 

Couch Film Fest - Saturday November 7th

This Saturday, one of the strangest and most inventive film festivals I have ever heard of kicks off in Seattle. The Couch Film Fest isn't held in theaters.  It is held, as its name implies, in the living rooms of hospitable strangers all around Seattle.  For a total of ten bucks (all inclusive, not per-screening), you can walk from one home to another, plop yourself on their couch and bring your own snacks (bonus points if you can blame a fart on a nearby dog). 

Many of the films sound interesting, but the most intriguing program is titled "INAPPROPRIATELY AWESOME" (which will be screened at 5504 Brooklyn Ave)  >
5504 Brooklyn Ave., Seattle.

Catch The GRADUATES at Central Cinema!

IndieFlix presents
The GRADUATES (Winner of the STIFF 2009 Best Comedy Feature)

November 2, 3, 4, 5 at 7:00, 9:30(21+) at Central Cinema

Filmmaker discussion panel Tuesday Nov 3 at 5:30 will also feature STIFF Filmmaker Meredith Binder. 

Four friends graduate high school and head to Beach Week to party and get laid, hoping their one last hurrah will be everything they've been told it has to be. Through a mind-altering slew of parties and mornings after, each character tries to figure out their lives and relationships, but realizes they have a lot more learning to do. Check it out while you can!

Last Day of STIFF starts at 1:30 Today

Some of us are a bit hung over after closing down the Rendezvous' with a succession of weird shots that taste like juicy fruit.  But we are throwing in some coffee and going full bore in our final day.  Please join us as we kick off with the short film Bite Size at 1:30, which comedian Emmett Montgomery calls the best film in STIFF 2009 about a genetically engineered shark that lives in a hot tub and eats people.

There are some great films to close the night at the Jewel Box with The Providence Effect at 4PM, a shorts block at 6:15, La Cruzando at 8PM

Central Cinema closes tonight with two excellent local films:  Keep Your Day Job Superstar at 7PM and Lucella Green at 9:30.

The Living Artist - An Art Film Featuring Scott Moran

Sundance 2009 - STIFF 2009 - Moviemaker Magazine - Being Media

Moviemaker Magazine has some coverage of Sundance and Slamdance 2009 done by Basil Shadid at Being Media and brought to you by STIFF 2009.  Coverage includes the films City Rats and Black Dynamite, which both look pretty awesome.  Check out the clip:

IndieClub Spotlight: Nerdcore For Life

One of the most pleasant surprises during STIFF '08 was the documentary Nerdcore For Life, a film tracking the rise of geeksta rap.  The film was able to provide great insight into the characters and personalities that exist in nerdcore movement.



IndieClub.com has posted an interview with Dan Lamoureux, the director of Nerdcore For Life as well as a review of the movie and an opportunity to win a t-shirt for the film.

Riding a Cow... HinDON'T

Encore Screening of Wiener Takes All - Thursday 4PM @ Jewel Box

Wiener Takes All, originally uploaded by Clint Berquist.

Due to popular demand, we will be holding an encore screening of Wiener Takes All: A Dogumentary, tomorrow at the Jewel Box Theater at 4PM. Tickets will only be available at the door (There will be no advance tickets sold).

FREE SCREENINGS TONIGHT! Holler Back and Uncounted

Holler Back, originally uploaded by Clint Berquist.

Tonight at the Capitol Hill Arts Center. Register to vote or bring somebody who does and get into these two feature films for free!

Hollerback is an excellent portrait of why some Americans choose not to vot, while Uncounted is an infuriating account of how voting machines can currently be manipulated. They are both MUST SEES!

Check out Barrack Obama's Site for More Details!