In their 45th year, the Seattle International Film Festival continues their trend of picking up the scraps from SXSW declaring their opening night film to be Sword of Trust from Seattle native Lynn Shelton. The film received mostly positive marks at its Austin, TX debut where critics commented on its performances and timely political bent, though many rewarded the film with their approval rather than outright admiration. The full press release from the Seattle International Film Festival follows.

[READ MORE: Our grade-A film review of Jordan Peele’s most excellent ‘Us‘]

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SEATTLE, WA — April 3, 2019 — SIFF is thrilled to announce the Opening Night film of its 45th annual Seattle International Film Festival as IFC Films’ Sword of Trust, the latest work by Seattle filmmaker Lynn Shelton, on Thursday, May 16, 2019. Both Shelton and Marc Maron, star of the film, are scheduled to attend. SIFF’s Opening Night red carpet and screening take place at Marion Oliver McCaw Hall at Seattle Center, followed by a celebratory party at Fisher Pavilion.

As the longest and highest attended film festival in North America, SIFF runs May 16 through June 9, featuring hundreds of films at venues across the greater Seattle area.

“Lynn is a beloved friend of SIFF, having been part of the festival for over a decade, and we are overjoyed to celebrate her hilarious new feature film as we kick off the 45th year of the festival,” said SIFF Artistic Director Beth Barrett. “In our contemporary landscape where truth is a point of political debate, Sword of Trust invites audiences to find the humor in the phenomenon of historical revisionism.”

Sword of Trust is written and directed by Shelton (Outside In, Laggies) and features Marc Maron (Late Show with David Letterman, WTF with Marc Maron, GLOW), Jon Bass (Baywatch, Molly’s Game), Michaela Watkins (Brigsby Bear, Enough Said), Jillian Bell (Workaholics, 22 Jump Street), and Toby Huss (King of the Hill, Halt and Catch Fire). The film made its world premiere at the 2019 SXSW Film Festival to audience acclaim and IFC Films will open the film in July.

In Shelton’s latest film, two women (Bell and Watkins) attempt to unload an inherited Civil War sword onto a curmudgeonly pawnshop owner (Maron) and reluctantly enter a world of conspiracy theory and Southern disillusionment.

“Seattle is my hometown and any time a film of mine screens in the festival, it has a special significance for me,” said Shelton. “But OPENING the festival? I can’t even begin to express how much this means, what a supreme honor and thrill it is.”

Tickets for the Opening Night Gala are available online at SIFF.net and in person at SIFF Cinema locations (Film Center, Uptown, Egyptian). Opening Night access ranges from the festive, see-it-all Film + Party Ticket to the exclusive VIP Red Carpet Experience featuring complimentary valet service, exclusive pre-film reception, reserved seating at the film screening, and VIP access to the famous after-party.

The complete Festival lineup will be announced on May 1, 2019. Individual ticket sales for SIFF members begin Wednesday, May 1, with general public ticket sales on Thursday, May 2. Purchases can be made online or in person.

Additional support for Opening Night comes from Agave Cocina & Tequilas, AV Factory, Butler Valet, Diageo Americas, Inc., Essential Baking Company, Full Tilt Ice Cream, Hollywood Lights, Lagunitas Brewing Company, Music Man, Northern Lights, Pel’Meni Dumpling Tzar, Princi, Rosichelli Design, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, Sweet Iron Waffles, The Capital Grille, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, and Triumph Expo & Events.

SIFF would like to thank Ingeniux, Brotherton Cadillac Buick GMC in Renton, Encore, Hyatt Regency Seattle, the Official Hotel of the Festival, Amazon Prime Video, The Boeing Company, and Wongdoody for their support of the 2019 Seattle International Film Festival. SIFF also thanks Wells Fargo Bank for their support of the evening’s Red Carpet Experience.
 

ABOUT SIFF
Founded in 1976, SIFF creates experiences that bring people together to discover extraordinary films from around the world with the Seattle International Film Festival, SIFF Cinema, and SIFF Education. Recognized as one of the top film festivals in North America, the Seattle International Film Festival is the longest, most highly attended film festival in the United States, reaching more than 140,000 annually. The 25-day festival is renowned for its wide-ranging and eclectic programming, presenting over 400 features, short films, and documentaries from over 80 countries each year. SIFF Cinema exhibits premiere theatrical engagements, arthouse, international titles, and classic repertory film showings 365 days a year on five screens at the SIFF Cinema Uptown, SIFF Cinema Egyptian, and SIFF Film Center, reaching more than 175,000 attendees annually. SIFF Education offers educational programs for all audiences serving more than 8,000 students and youth in the community with free programs each year.

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