Get your cameras rolling, filmmakers — the curtain call is on! SIFF has opened submissions for the 53rd annual Seattle International Film Festival, which will light up the Emerald City from May 13 to 23, 2027, at SIFF Cinemas and venues across Seattle.
The beloved festival, now in its sixth decade, keeps shining a spotlight on bold new voices alongside established directors, the next great independent hits, and films from more than 70 countries that haven’t yet reached U.S. audiences. Consistently ranked among North America’s top film festivals, SIFF is an Academy Award-qualifying festival for short films and welcomes roughly 50,000 film lovers each year to enjoy over 200 features, documentaries, and shorts.
Submissions will be watched and loved by a team of more than 20 programmers, and audience favorites are already confirmed to return: Secret Fest, ShortsFest, WTF (Wild, Terrifying, Fantastic), and the Opening and Closing Night celebrations.
The spotlight comes with prizes: the Golden Space Needle audience-choice awards, plus internationally juried honors for Best Film, emerging directors, American cinema, Ibero-American cinema, documentaries, and short films. Filmmakers can submit feature or short-length narrative and documentary films through December 17, 2026. Seattle is ready for its close-up — again!
Photo: SIFF
