SEPT 8–OCT 28

Films4Families: Animal Kingdoms

At 1 pm every Saturday and Sunday, SIFF presents a beloved family-friendly film starring an animal or three. Highlights include Babe (Sept 15–16), Charlotte's Web (Sept 22–23), Chicken Run (Oct 20–21), and Wes Anderson's The Fantastic Mr. Fox (Oct 13–14, and 10 times the movie Moonrise Kingdom is).

• SIFF Cinema at the Uptown, 511 Queen Anne Ave N, 324-9996, www.siff.net

SEPT 10–DEC 3

Monday Movie Nights

Every Monday night, King's Hardware turns its back patio into a makeshift cinema pub, with full-length movies screened with full food and drink service. Previous themes include Movies on a Boat, Movies Starring Rick Moranis, and Movies Involving Scientologists.

• King's Hardware, 5225 Ballard Ave NW, 782-0027, www.kingsballard.com

SEPT 15–16

Noor Iranian Film Festival

Two days packed with Iranian and Iranian American films, from documentary shorts to narrative features. For full schedule, see www.noorfilmfestival.com.

• SIFF Cinema at the Uptown, 511 Queen Anne Ave N, 324-9996, www.siff.net

SEPT 21–23

Seattle Design Festival: Films on Architecture and Design

Three days of "new films featuring biophilic design, letterpress printing, design thinking, the evolution of the modern shopping mall, an infamous St. Louis housing project, and Cuba's unfinished National Art School project." For full schedule, see www.siff.net.

• SIFF Cinema at the Film Center, Seattle Center Northwest Rooms, 324-9996, www.siff.net

SEPT 27–DEC 6

Women in the Shadows: The Film Noir Cycle

SAM celebrates the 35th anniversary of the world's longest-running film noir series and its upcoming exhibition Elles: Women Artists from the Centre Pompidou, Paris with this nine-film tribute to the alternately heroic and villainous queens of film noir. Among the highlights: Barbara Stanwyck in Double Indemnity (Sept 27), Joan Crawford in Mildred Pierce (Oct 4), the amazing Gloria Grahame in the amazing In a Lonely Place (Nov 1), and, be still our hearts, Frances McDormand in Fargo (Dec 6).

• Seattle Art Museum, 1300 First Ave, 654-3210, www.seattleartmuseum.org

SEPT 27–30

New Spanish Cinema

Four days of new Spanish films, featuring new work from established masters and innovative upstarts alike. For full schedule, see www.siff.net.

• SIFF Cinema at the Uptown, 511 Queen Anne Ave N, 324-9996, www.siff.net

SEPT 28–OCT 4

15th Annual Local Sightings Festival

Northwest Film Forum's annual showcase of contemporary Northwest filmmaking includes everything from shorts and features to performances and installation art. Highlights include Off Label, a documentary about the pharmaceutical industry by Portland's Michael Palmieri and Donal Mosher, and The International Sign for Choking, a feature film by 2010 Local Sightings winner Zach Weintraub. For full schedule, see www.nwfilmforum.org.

• Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave, 829-7863, www.nwfilmforum.org

OCT 11–21

The Seattle Gay and Lesbian Film Festival

See preview.

• Various venues, 323-4274, www.threedollarbillcinema.com

OCT 19–28

Earshot Jazz Film Festival

The annual celebration of the intersection of jazz and cinema. Highlights include a new 35 mm print of Shirley Clarke's The Connection (the long-banned, jazz-propelled portrait of addicts awaiting a dealer) and the Chuck D narrated FunkJazz Kafe: Diary of a Decade (chronicling the Atlanta arts festival that incubated some the region's best funk, jazz, and soul).

• Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave, 829-7863, www.nwfilmforum.org

OCT 24–28

French Cinema Now

Five days of contemporary Francophone cinema. For full schedule, see www.siff.net.

• SIFF Cinema at the Uptown, 511 Queen Anne Ave N, 324-9996, www.siff.net

OCT 26–NOV 16

Woman with a Camera: The Films of Agnès Varda

In conjunction with the exhibition Elles: Women Artists from the Centre Pompidou, Paris, SAM salutes the pioneering filmmaker Agnès Varda, a former philosophy student and still photographer who "crafted visually stunning, intimate portraits imbued with the French New Wave spirit of spontaneous creativity." Featured films include 1962's Cléo from 5 to 7 (Oct 28), 1965's Le Bonheur (Nov 2), and 1985's Vagabond (Nov 16).

• Seattle Art Museum, 1300 First Ave, 654-3210, www.seattleartmuseum.org

NOV 2–14

Universal Pictures: Celebrating 100 Years

Two weeks of classic films from Universal Pictures, in commemoration of the studio's 100-year anniversary. Among the highlights: Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds (Nov 2), Steven Spielberg's Jaws (Nov 9), Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing (Nov 12), and Douglas Sirk's The Magnificent Obsession (Nov 13).

• Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave, 829-7863, www.nwfilmforum.org

SEPT 7–13

The Ballad of Genesis and Lady Jaye

There once were two people who so loved each other who, rather than having a child, had plastic surgery so they looked more alike, until they basically looked the same, despite the fact that one was born a man and one a woman—and it wasn't weird, it was great. This is a true story, the story of Genesis Breyer P-Orridge and Lady Jaye, two performance artists. This is their movie. You will love it. (JEN GRAVES)

• Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave, 829-7863, www.nwfilmforum.org

SEPT 8

Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory

The Oscar-nominated final chapter in Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky's documentary trilogy tracks the 18-year fight to prove the innocence of three West Memphis teenagers speciously convicted of three brutal murders. In 2010, the now-grown men were finally released from prison, and tonight's film will be followed by a post-screening Q&A with West Memphis 3 member Jason Baldwin.

• SIFF Cinema at the Uptown, 511 Queen Anne Ave N, 324-9996, www.siff.net

SEPT 11

The Love Song of R. Buckminster Fuller

Copresented by Northwest Film Forum and Seattle Theater Group, this "live documentary" finds the Academy Award–nominated filmmaker Sam Green tracking the life story of the 20th-century futurist, architect, engineer, inventor, and author R. Buckminster Fuller. Amazing bonus: a score composed and performed live by the one and only Yo La Tengo.

• Moore Theater, 1932 Second Ave, 877-784-4849, www.nwfilmforum.org

SEPT 12

Flickering Genius

David Schmader hosts a showcase of the three Seattle filmmakers nominated for the 2012 Genius Award—Drew Christie, Megan Griffiths, and Shaun Scott—with free wine afterward.

• SIFF Cinema at the Film Center, Seattle Center Northwest Rooms, 324-9996, www.siff.net

SEPT 13

Deconstructing the Beatles: Sgt. Pepper

Beatles scholar Scott Freiman presents his live multimedia journey through the creation of the classic Beatles album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

• SIFF Cinema at the Uptown, 511 Queen Anne Ave N, 324-9996, www.siff.net

SEPT 15

Monsieur Hulot's Holiday

For its third annual fundraiser spectacular, the Grand Illusion screens a gorgeous 35 mm print of Jacques Tati's classic comedy, with drinks and light hors d'oeuvres available before and after each screening.

• Grand Illusion, 1403 NE 50th St, 523-3935, www.grandillusioncinema.org

SEPT 22

Genius Awards

The 10th annual Genius Awards are happening in a way that they've never happened before: Of three finalists in each category, the winners will be announced from the stage. The film nominees are: Shaun Scott, Drew Christie, and Megan Griffiths.

• Moore Theater, 877-784-4849, 1932 Second Ave, thestranger.com/genius

SEPT 23

The Godfather

Francis Ford Coppola's three-hour, star-packed adaptation of Mario Puzo's The Godfather is one of cinema's greatest achievements, and tonight you can enjoy it on the big screen at Central Cinema, where delicious beer and wine (and nothing-special food) is brought right to your table. For extra fun, drink whenever anyone says "Michael" or Moe Green gets shot in the eye!

• Central Cinema, 1411 21st Ave, 686-6684, www.central-cinema.com

SEPT 27

Star Wars Uncut

In 2009, thousands of internet users banded together to create a shot-by-shot re-creation of the original Star Wars, and here is the crowd-pleasing result. Composed of 15-second segments created by 473 volunteers, Star Wars Uncut is a manic crowd-sourced marvel.

• Grand Illusion, 1403 NE 50th St, 523-3935, www.grandillusioncinema.org

SEPT 29

Time of the Robots

An epic space opera created by Seattle filmmaker Erik Hammen, composed of meticulously edited silent and serial film footage.

• Grand Illusion, 1403 NE 50th St, 523-3935, www.grandillusioncinema.org

SEPT 30

Images of Women in Film: Otto Preminger's Laura

A screening of the classic noir of 1944, followed by a discussion of the film by critic Robert Horton and psychoanalyst Maxine Nelson.

• Frye Art Museum, 704 Terry Ave, 622-9250, www.fryemuseum.org

OCT 15–18

Krzysztof Kieslowski's Three Colors Trilogy

In the early-to-mid-'90s, devoted cinemagoers spent a glorious five hours swimming through Krzysztof Kieslowski's Three Colors Trilogy, three films named for and thematically linked to the French flag's symbolic colors for liberty, equality, and fraternity. Blue is the spooky sad one starring Juliette Binoche, White is the wryly comic one starring Julie Delpy, and Red is the ravishing finale starring Irene Jacob. All are excellent.

• SIFF Cinema at the Uptown, 511 Queen Anne Ave N, 324-9996, www.siff.net

OCT 19–23

Stop Making Sense

The greatest concert film ever made, directed by Jonathan Demme and starring the Talking Heads, the most theatrically adept rock band in history.

• SIFF Cinema at the Uptown, 511 Queen Anne Ave N, 324-9996, www.siff.net

OCT 26–NOV 1

Out Here in the Wilds: The Films of Ben Rivers

Over the past decade, English artist/filmmaker Ben Rivers has made 20 short films, all of them shot on a wind-up Bolex camera in 16 mm black and white, and eschewing plot and character development for static portraits of life on the fringes. Previously seen primarily in galleries, Rivers makes his full-scale cinema debut with the feature-length Two Years at Sea, a nearly wordless portrait of a man living alone in a Scottish forest. Along with the new feature, Northwest Film Forum presents an overview of Rivers's earlier work.

• Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave, 829-7863, www.nwfilmforum.org

OCT 27

The VCR That Dripped Blood

The groovy ghoulies at Scarecrow Video raided their VHS tombs to compile this collection of rare horror clips featuring "bad special effects, nudity, gross-outs, and Alice Cooper."

• Grand Illusion, 1403 NE 50th St, 523-3935, www.grandillusioncinema.org

OCT 29

National Theater Live: The Last of the Haussmans

The Last of the Haussmans is an acclaimed new play about a hard-drinking, hard-loving family, and here is the National Theater's acclaimed production starring Julie Walters, Rory Kinnear, and Helen McCrory. (Repeats Nov 5.)

• SIFF Cinema at the Uptown, 511 Queen Anne Ave N, 324-9996, www.siff.net

NOV 3

VHS for President

Culled from the bulging VHS archives of Scarecrow Video, this feature-length video montage tosses together the good, the bad, and the stupid of political video, including "made-for-TV movies, pulpy propaganda, hysterical histories, grotesque gasbags, and moronic mysteries."

• Grand Illusion, 1403 NE 50th St, 523-3935, www.grandillusioncinema.org

NOV 9–15

Daisies

Widely considered one of the great works of feminist cinema, Vera Chytilová's absurdist farce of 1966 follows two young women who embark on "a series of pranks in which nothing—food, clothes, men, war—is taken seriously."

• Grand Illusion, 1403 NE 50th St, 523-3935, www.grandillusioncinema.org

NOV 16–21

Bestiare

The face of an ostrich is a marvelous thing. So is the fur on certain deer's behinds. Or the angles of a hyena's legs. All these things can be fully appreciated in this talk-free documentary shot at a zoo. Some scenes are deeply sad—proud zebras desperately bumping their gorgeous patterns against the edges of a cage, for instance. But this is not a protest, it's something harder. A taxidermist goes about his cold trade at the heart of the movie, as if to suggest that humanity as a whole has a painfully shallow approach to the rest of the animal world. (JEN GRAVES)

• Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave, 829-7863, www.nwfilmforum.org

NOV 16–21

Sunset Boulevard

Billy Wilder's film noir masterpiece of 1950 is one of the best films ever made about Hollywood, and it features one of the ballsiest film performances ever given (by a woman, no less). Plus, it's at Central Cinema, so there's beer and wine. Any time Gloria Swanson makes you squirm and/or wince, drink!

• Central Cinema, 1411 21st Ave, 328-3230, 686-6684, www.central-cinema.com

NOV 16–22

Ornette: Made in America

This classic documentary tracks the evolution of Ornette Coleman as a performer and composer over three decades using documentary footage, dramatic scenes, and pre-MTV music videos.

• Grand Illusion, 1403 NE 50th St, 523-3935, www.grandillusioncinema.org

SEPT 21

Liberal Arts

A dramedy directed by, written by, and starring Josh Radnor, who plays a thirtysomething man who becomes embroiled with a 19-year-old college student (played by Elizabeth Olsen).

• Wide release

SEPT 28

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

The beloved epistolary novel brought to the big screen by its author, Stephen Chbosky, who also directed and wrote the script.

• Wide release

OCT 5

Keep the Lights On

The most-talked-about gay film of the year concerns the intense romance between two New York City men riddled with addiction and compulsion.

• SIFF Cinema at the Uptown, 511 Queen Anne Ave N, 324-9996, www.siff.net

OCT 12

Wuthering Heights

Emily Brontë's moor-based bodice-ripper returns to the big screen in a stylish, stripped-down adaptation directed by Oscar-winner Andrea Arnold.

• SIFF Cinema at the Uptown, 511 Queen Anne Ave N, 324-9996, www.siff.net

Argo

Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, and Alan Arkin star in this drama about a dramatic rescue during the 1979 Iranian hostage crisis.

• Wide release

Not Fade Away

The feature film debut of David Chase—aka the man who brought the world The Sopranos—centers on the lead singer of a teenage rock band in 1960s New Jersey.

• Wide release

Seven Psychopaths

Martin McDonagh's latest cinematic explosion involves a struggling screenwriter who gets mixed up with the mob after his friends kidnap a gangster's shih tzu. Starring Colin Farrell, Woody Harrelson, and Sam Rockwell.

• Wide release

OCT 26

Cloud Atlas

Written and directed by Lana Wachowski, Tom Tykwer, and Andy Wachowski, Cloud Atlas (based on the 2004 novel of the same name) bills itself as "an epic story of humankind in which the actions and consequences of our lives impact one another throughout the past, present, and future." Starring Tom Hanks and Halle Berry.

• Wide release

Chasing Mavericks

Curtis Hanson and Michael Apted codirect the movie version of the life of American surfer Jay Moriarity.

• Wide release

NOV 16

Lincoln

Steven Spielberg's prestige-ridden take on the Great Emancipator, starring Daniel Day-Lewis, based on a biography by Doris Kearns Goodwin, and with a screenplay written by Tony Kushner.

• Wide release

Anna Karenina

Leo Tolstoy's epic love story, adapted by Tom Stoppard, directed by Joe Wright, and starring Keira Knightley (and a train).

• Wide release

NOV 21

Life of Pi

Yann Martel's 2001 adventure novel hits the big screen in a 3-D adaptation directed by Ang Lee.

• Wide release