Seattle On
On film:
Seattle has always been a moviegoing city, and it has also played host to some major film and television productions throughout the decades. But, as increasing numbers of would-be auteurs make the leap from moviegoer to movie- maker, Seattle is making its mark on the new American independent film scene. Ever since Smoke Signals scored the Audience Award at Sundance in 1998, audiences have taken notice of our unique film voice. Since then, Seattle filmmakers seem to have become perennial players at Sundance, culminating in three premieres during the 2009 festival, representing great advancements in the region.
So much like our independent music scene, Seattle is becoming the kind of film city that collaborates amongst film- makers and across creative platforms, turning production into art. In 2009, the UK’s Guardian said it best when they described Seattle as a hotbed of new talent: “Seattle has a film culture that has benefited from burgeoning music scenes, one artistic medium feeding another, and it’s a town with a strong sense of community.”
Seattle’s indie film scene has sprung up almost unnoticed and in spite of the old hubs of Los Angeles and New York. Our talent is getting noticed, and there is enthusiasm on the part of the local moviemaking community, film offices, and cineastes to see them succeed.
James Keblas