So in contrast to the morbidly obese maw of cinematic devourings that is SIFF, we also have skinny little STIFF (Seattle's True Independent Film Festival). If you haven't poked around in their offerings, we have at least two films to note: Selfless, an "existential" thriller about a cocky young architect whose life is turned upside down by an identity thief, was shot locally--"We created a modern thriller where both Seattle and Portland are extensions of our protagonist's ego," says co-writer and producer Arnold Pander. That plays tomorrow, Sunday, at 7 p.m. at the Northwest Film Forum. Plus, ubiquitous local film guy Andy Spletzer has a short film ("Best Jewish Comedy!"), Alistair Maclean: Y'did Nefesh, in a shorts collection that shows on Wednesday, 6:15 p.m. at the Jewel Box Theater at the Rendezvous. Here's the whole STIFF schedule--the festival runs through June 14. more ›

Quarterly, the Filmmakers Saloon (which features drinking, as opposed to the Screenwriters Salon, which doesn't) meets up at the Northwest Film Forum to obsess over film trivia en masse, instead of, you know, blogging about it. more ›

Listen, you remember the last time you had a great idea. You sat down and sketched it out, outlined the plot, and wrote treatment after treatment. Then some Bobby-Evans-type said, "Kid, I like your stuff," a year-and-a-half later Tim Allen signed on in the lead, and after the three-day crying jag you nearly drove off the Aurora Bridge. more ›

Seattlest attended SIFF's Screenwriters Salon at Hugo House last night. Seattlest is not a screenwriter, actually, but Lost was a repeat, and we thought perhaps we'd leave our cave for a bit. more ›