SIFF's 2026 film festival got an attendance bump

The 52nd annual Seattle International Film Festival wrapped Sunday after 10 days - and notched an attendance bump over last year, even with one fewer theater.

According to SIFF representatives, the 2026 festival had a total in-person attendance of 44,841, up from 41,675 last year despite this year's edition having four theaters rather than five, and fewer screenings (219 this year vs. 254 in 2025) and titles (203 vs. 245).

That's some welcome good news for SIFF, which has faced numerous challenges in the past year: staff layoffs, the sudden departure of an executive director, the loss of the SIFF Cinema Egyptian after ending its lease following a long closure due to water damage. The annual festival now has a much smaller footprint than its prepandemic days, when SIFF lasted 3 ½ weeks with 400-plus films.

Though there was no closing night party this year, the annual Golden Space Needle award ceremony took place Sunday, in a long festival tradition. Voted on by SIFF audiences, awards went to Edie Arnold Is a Loser" (best film), "The Life We Leave" (best documentary), Ildikó Enyedi (best director, for "Silent Friend"), Inde Navarrette (best performance, for "Obsession") and "The Gnawer of Rocks" (best short film).

The Fool Serious, a longtime group of full-series pass holders whose members saw an average of 36 films each during the festival, did their own awards voting. They chose "Happy Birthday" as top narrative film, "The Ascent" as top documentary, and "Edie Arnold Is a Loser" as best guilty pleasure, among other categories.

Several films featured at SIFF will be in theaters in the coming weeks, including "Obsession" (now playing), "I Love Boosters" (May 21), "Silent Friend" (May 22), "Power Ballard" (June 4) and "The Invite (July TBD).

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