SIFF programmer Angelo Acerbi on festival's selection criteria and future

Angelo Acerbi, programmer for the Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF), discusses the festival's selection criteria, audience engagement, and future of film festivals. SIFF, running 25 days across 6 cinemas with 415 titles (mostly non-American), has no rigid premiere requirements and features six competitions: Documentary, Ibero-American, New American Cinema, New Directors, Official, and Short Films. Netflix participated in the 2018 edition; Acerbi notes that in the US, Netflix releases films theatrically for Oscar eligibility, contrasting with the Cannes controversy. SIFF's audience averages 35 years old, with a significant older segment buying expensive passes ($1,500–2,000). The festival uses social media actively, with programmers personally recommending films. SIFF is member-based, offers discounts, and owns four cinemas, funded solely by private sponsors and box office. Acerbi predicts festivals like Locarno and Seattle will outlast Cannes and Venice, which cater more to industry. He emphasizes the communal experience of cinema and advocates for hybrid festivals mixing industry, cinephilia, exhibitions, and literature to attract younger audiences.