SIFF

Every year I try to catch at least a few movies at the Seattle International Film Festival, mainly because it exposes you to a variety of both insanely good and horrifyingly awful movies, which bring with them their own cultures, people, and stories.

The festival runs for about three weeks every year, during that time in the spring where it could either be beautiful outside (in which case why are choosing to spend time inside?) or downpouring (which makes the average half hour wait outside miserable.) I usually buy my tickets up front, after carefully cross-checking times with my interest in the movie blurbs. Most films are too small to have reviews written on them, so in general... you're own your own. Good luck!

Before each movie, get to the venue early - about a half hour before the show starts. There will be a line already formed, so jump in. And stay after the movie, as there are often interesting question and answer sessions with someone from the film.

By the way, sitting on the end is never such an awful thing - at least if you hit a three-hour dud, you can leave.