MARCH 1–22
A House in the Country: English Life on Film
A three-film series capturing pastoral English life of yore. On the roster: Stanley Kubrick's naturally luminous Barry Lyndon (March 1), the 1961 Turn of the Screw adaptation The Innocents (March 15), and Robert Altman's triumphant Gosford Park (March 22).
Seattle Art Museum, 1300 First Ave, 654-3121, seattleartmuseum.org
MARCH 1–24
L.A. Rebellion
Four weekends of films celebrating the art and lasting influence of the "Los Angeles School of Black Filmmakers," the critical mass of African American artists who flocked to the UCLA School of Theater, Film, and Television in the 1960s and '70s. Featuring films by Charles Burnett, Julie Dash, Jamaa Fanaka, and more.
Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave, 829-7863, nwfilmforum.org
MARCH 8–28
Old-School James Bond Fest
Six classic Bond films presented in glorious 35 mm, including From Russia with Love (March 8–10), Goldfinger (March 10–14), You Only Live Twice (March 15–17), On Her Majesty's Secret Service (March 17–21), The Spy Who Loved Me (March 22–24), and Moonraker (March 24–28).
Grand Illusion, 1403 NE 50th St, 523-3935, grandillusioncinema.org
APRIL 10–11
Floating Energy: The Films of Nathaniel Dorsky
A two-night mini-fest devoted to the sui generis filmmaker Nathaniel Dorsky. "Always without sound and grounded in a penetrating understanding of film form, Dorsky renders the prosaic a poetic experience," crows NWFF. "Dorsky edits nature, light, and figure to create an utterly sensual cinema." Director in attendance.
Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave, 829-7863, nwfilmforum.org
APRIL 13–21
Langston Hughes African American Film Festival
Lighting up the freshly renovated Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute for nine days straight, the 10th anniversary of the African American Film Festival opens with a 30th-anniversary screening of John Sayles's indie sci-fi classic The Brother from Another Planet, closes with the newest work by the legendary Robert Townsend, and crams a whole bunch of good stuff in between. See langstoninstitute.org for the full schedule.
Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute, 104 17th Ave S, 684-4758, langstoninstitute.org
MAY 3–11
STIFF: Seattle True Independent Film Festival
An explosion of independent, experimental, underground, and zero-budget films. See trueindependent.org for the full schedule.
Grand Illusion, 1403 NE 50th St, 523-3935, grandillusioncinema.org
MAY 3–5
The Built World
A weekend-long festival examining cinematic approaches to architecture through four recent films, including a chamber opera based on the life and work of Louis Kahn, and a documentary on the work of Portuguese architect Eduardo Souto de Moura.
Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave, 829-7863, nwfilmforum.org
MAY 9–12
Translations: The Seattle Transgender Film Festival
Now in its eighth year (and with a brand-new director—welcome, Sam Berliner!), Translations offers four days of films and panel discussions by, for, and about the transgender community. (Though cissys are totally welcome, too.)
Various locations, threedollarbillcinema.org
MAY 16–JUNE 9
Seattle International Film Festival
The humongous three-week-plus extravaganza returns. (See The Stranger's forthcoming SIFF guide for full info.)
Various locations, siff.net
MARCH 1–7
Beware of Mr. Baker
The already-notorious documentary about Ginger Baker, former Cream drummer/current expat living in South Africa with a crazy brain and various weapons, who may be the greatest rock drummer who ever lived.
Grand Illusion, 1403 NE 50th St, 523-3935, grandillusioncinema.org
MARCH 1–7
Hors Satan
French filmmaker Bruno Dumont's latest cinematic exploration of faith follows a religious ascetic navigating various brutalities in northern France.
Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave, 829-7863, nwfilmforum.org
MARCH 6
Triple Fisher: The Lethal Lolitas of Long Island
At long last, someone finally makes a supercut of all three television movies—one starring Drew Barrymore, one starring Alyssa Milano, one starring Noelle Parker—devoted to the criminal saga of Amy Fisher, the "Long Island Lolita" who fucked a skeezy married guy then shot his wife in the face. We can die happy now.
Grand Illusion, 1403 NE 50th St, 523-3935, grandillusioncinema.org
MARCH 7
Girl Rising
A one-night-only screening of Girl Rising, the feature film directed by Richard E. Robbins that follows nine girls from around the globe as they strive to overcome unforgiving circumstances through the power of education. (Proceeds benefit World Vision's Strong Women, Strong World initiative.)
Cinerama, 2100 Fourth Ave, 448-6680, seattlecinerama.com
MARCH 8
Turning
A documentary exploring the European tour by singer Antony Hegarty (Antony and the Johnsons) and video artist Charles Atlas.
SIFF Film Center, Seattle Center, 324-9996, siff.net
MARCH 8–11
The Cook, the Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover
Peter Greenaway's stylishly brutal crime drama of 1989, featuring Helen Mirren, retaliatory cannibalism, and fabulous costumes by Jean-Paul Gaultier.
Central Cinema, 1411 21st Ave, 686-6684, central-cinema.com
MARCH 14
I Am Secretly an Important Man
Peter Sillen's acclaimed documentary about the legendary Seattle writer, poet, and performer Steven Jesse Bernstein.
Grand Illusion, 1403 NE 50th St, 523-3935, grandillusioncinema.org
MARCH 15
The War Witch
A Canadian drama about a young girl kidnapped by African rebels and forced to fight as a child soldier—a job at which she excels until her conscience kicks in.
SIFF Cinema Uptown, 511 Queen Anne Ave N, 324-9996, siff.net
MARCH 15–19
Night of the Hunter
The slow-burn thriller of 1955, starring Robert Mitchum as a corrupt reverend turned serial killer.
Central Cinema, 1411 21st Ave, 686-6684, central-cinema.com
MARCH 19
Dance Cinema
Copresented by Northwest Film Forum and Velocity Dance Center, this quarterly series features classic dance films with thematically related short films by Seattle dance-makers.
Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave, 829-7863, nwfilmforum.org
MARCH 22–28
The Men of Dodge City
Winner of the jury award for best feature at the 2012 Local Sightings Festival, Seattle filmmaker Nandan Reo's first film follows three young men transplanted to Detroit, where they work to transform an abandoned church into a community arts space.
Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave, 829-7863, nwfilmforum.org
MARCH 29–APRIL 3
Midnight Cowboy
Still the only X-rated film to win the Oscar for best picture (better luck next time, Stop, My Ass Is on Fire!), John Schlesinger's masterwork stars Angelina Jolie's dad as a dumb, handsome whore and Tom Cruise's idiot-savant brother as his creepy best friend.
Central Cinema, 1411 21st Ave, 686-6684, central-cinema.com
MARCH 29–APRIL 4
Sushi: The Global Catch
A meticulously researched documentary tracking the history of sushi, from its origins in Japan to its explosion as a lucrative worldwide industry with attendant ecological problems.
Grand Illusion, 1403 NE 50th St, 523-3935, grandillusioncinema.org
APRIL 3–9
Eden
A year after snatching prizes galore at the Seattle International Film Festival, Megan Griffiths's razor-sharp human trafficking drama returns for a proper run. Eden is a masterwork and you must not miss it.
SIFF Cinema Uptown, 511 Queen Anne Ave N, 324-9996, siff.net
APRIL 5–11
Leviathan
Lucien Castaing-Taylor and Verena Paravel's groundbreaking nature documentary follows life on a commercial fishing boat from several dozen tiny, deeply entrenched angles.
Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave, 829-7863, nwfilmforum.org
APRIL 5–18
Wrong
From the man behind Rubber (the po-mo thriller about a murderous tire) comes this hallucinatory adventure about a man searching for his lost dog.
Grand Illusion, 1403 NE 50th St, 523-3935, grandillusioncinema.org
APRIL 12–18
Band of Sisters
A documentary about Catholics who do not suck—specifically, the American nuns who have been fighting for social justice (and incurring the wrath of the Vatican) since the 1960s.
Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave, 829-7863, nwfilmforum.org
APRIL 18–20
Luc Sante: L'autre Tour: Paris at Night
The acclaimed writer and critic appears live onstage to present his cinematic tour of the seedy underbelly of Paris.
Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave, 829-7863, nwfilmforum.org
APRIL 20
Saturday Morning Confusion: A Fantastic VHS Voyage into Crazy Kids' Stuff
A plethora of children's entertainment from the early days of VHS, culled from the vast vaults of Scarecrow Video.
Grand Illusion, 1403 NE 50th St, 523-3935, grandillusioncinema.org
APRIL 26–MAY 2
Sun Don't Shine
Written and directed by Amy Seimetz, this Sundance smash follows a young couple on a dreamy, poetic road trip through central Florida.
Grand Illusion, 1403 NE 50th St, 523-3935, grandillusioncinema.org
APRIL 26–MAY 2
Night Across the Street
Chilean filmmaker Raúl Ruiz's posthumously released cinematic memoir looks back longingly at his childhood while poetically anticipating his impending death.
Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave, 829-7863, nwfilmforum.org
MARCH 8
Emperor
Tommy Lee Jones plays General MacArthur struggling to determine the fate of the emperor after the fall of Japan in WWII.
Seven Gables, 911 NE 50th St, 781-5755, landmarktheatres.com
Greedy Lying Bastards
The Koch brothers and their subsidiaries are the title characters in this documentary about lobbying efforts to delay action on global warming.
Varsity, 4329 University Way NE, 781-5755, landmarktheatres.com
Oz the Great and Powerful
Renaissance man James Franco stars as the wizard in Sam Raimi's prequel to The Wizard of Oz. In 3-D!!
Cinerama, 2100 Fourth Ave, 448-6680, seattlecinerama.com
Yossi
Yossi, reminiscing about a lost love, has his passion reignited when he meets a few young soldiers in this sequel to the Israeli film Yossi & Jagger.
Varsity, 4329 University Way NE, 781-5755, landmarktheatres.com
MARCH 15
The Gatekeepers
An Oscar-nominated documentary about the Israeli internal security agency Shin Bet.
Harvard Exit, 807 E Roy St, 781-5755, landmarktheatres.com
Like Someone in Love
Iranian auteur Abbas Kiarostami's new film, set in Japan, about a young prostitute's unusual connection with an aging widower.
Varsity, 4329 University Way NE, 781-5755, landmarktheatres.com
Upside Down
Kirsten Dunst and Jim Sturgess fall for each other in this romantic fantasy about two worlds that are right next to each other but one is upside down and the other is right side up but also right on top of the other one, somehow.
MARCH 22
Ginger and Rosa
An intense Cold War–era friendship between two young women is tested by the tumult of the times. Starring Elle Fanning, Christina Hendricks, and Annette Bening.
Harvard Exit, 807 E Roy St, 781-5755, landmarktheatres.com
On the Road
Though the Jack Kerouac purist might dismiss it for being too conventional and polished, and there's no denying that it's a Hollywood creation, it's hard not to imagine things being much worse for the first cinematic adaptation of this major American novel. It's sentimental, easy on the eyes, and approachable.
Harvard Exit, 807 E Roy St, 781-5755, landmarktheatres.com
The Waiting Room
An inventive and acclaimed documentary about the patients and staff at a beleaguered public hospital in Oakland.
Varsity, 4329 University Way NE, 781-5755, landmarktheatres.com
The We and the I
Set over the course of the bus ride home from the last day of school, Michel Gondry's new film portrays the ways that accumulated social tensions release themselves as people part ways for the summer.
Varsity, 4329 University Way NE, 781-5755, landmarktheatres.com
MARCH 29
Beyond the Hills
A Romanian drama about women who grew up in the same orphanage being reunited after having chosen different paths in life. (Fun fact: The two leads shared the best actress award at Cannes.)
Varsity, 4329 University Way NE, 781-5755, landmarktheatres.com
From Up on Poppy Hill
The newest from the Miyazakis (directed by the younger, scripted by the elder) is set in 1960s Japan where a young lady is yearning, semaphorically, from her house overlooking the water.
Egyptian, 805 E Pine St, 781-5755, landmarktheatres.com
No
A historical drama about Chile's unconventional campaign to overthrow Augusto Pinochet, starring Gael García Bernal.
Seven Gables, 911 NE 50th St, 781-5755, landmarktheatres.com
The Silence
A German thriller about two near-identical unsolved crimes committed exactly 13 years apart.
Varsity, 4329 University Way NE, 781-5755, landmarktheatres.com
APRIL 5
A Fierce Green Fire
A wide-ranging documentary portrait of late-20th-century environmentalism.
Varsity, 4329 University Way NE, 781-5755, landmarktheatres.com
APRIL 12
42
The Jackie Robinson story returns to the big screen with Harrison Ford in a supporting role.
Wide release
My Brother the Devil
A critically acclaimed coming-of-age story of two Egyptian immigrants finding their way in London.
Varsity, 4329 University Way NE, 781-5755, landmarktheatres.com
To the Wonder
Terrence Malick continues his hiatus from his hiatus with this patently ambiguous story of people (Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams, and Javier Bardem) doing things.
APRIL 19
The Company You Keep
A political thriller about a fugitive 1960s dissident trying to avoid being exposed by the media, starring Susan Sarandon, Shia LaBeouf, and Robert Redford (who directs).
Harvard Exit, 807 E Roy St, 781-5755, landmarktheatres.com
APRIL 26
Bert Stein: Original Mad Man
A documentary about the photographer famous for, among other things, his series of Marilyn Monroe, The Last Sitting, taken weeks before her death.
Varsity, 4329 University Way NE, 781-5755, landmarktheatres.com
MAY 3
Deceptive Practice: The Mysteries & Mentors of Ricky Jay
A tour behind the curtain of one of the world's great masters of sleight of hand.
Varsity, 4329 University Way NE, 781-5755, landmarktheatres.com
MAY 10
The Great Gatsby
Luhrmann Auto-Tunes Fitzgerald. DiCaprio and Mulligan star.
Wide release
The Iceman
A biopic about mafia hit man Richard Kuklinski, who killed at least a hundred people over a 40-year period. Starring Ray Liotta, Winona Ryder, and James Franco.
Wide release
