poster by Jason Sho Green [lj]

O.K., Seattle: SIFF lands in a few short days to make all of this dreary overcast weather seem like a well-timed blessing. With a gala presentation of Son of Rambow [siff] kicking things off on Thursday, it’s about time to start filling out your dance card.

Although reviews for the opening night selection are few and far between, they’re glowingly “fresh” [rt] and the film was quickly snapped up at Sundance. The film, about a pair of British boys who create an adaptation of Rambo: First Blood, has caused some grumbling in the crowd for not being press-screened [sw], but it looks worthwile. Even though Son of Rambow is semi-autobiographical, I have to imagine that director Garth Jennings (of the surprisingly charming Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy) owes a debt of inspiration to the true-life story of the the three American teenagers who made the brilliantly inventive Raiders: the Adaptation, a glorious shot-for-shot recreation of Raiders of the Lost Ark [guardian]. Unless you want to wait until the film’s widespread 2008 release, it will cost you at least $50 to see whether the movie is worth the hype. The price of entry also gains you admission to the opening party, where you can race other casually glamorous Seattle film lovers, employees of sponsors with free tickets, and other festival guests to snap up the best appetizers and film-inspired alcoholic beverages. Regardless of the quality of the movie shown, the party is always a weird and fun way for those who don’t do much in the way of gala-ing during the year to scurry for food, overdose on unusually abundant chocolate, run into familiar faces from previous years, and get really excited about the rest of the three-week festival.

Beyond opening night, if you’re finding the long list of film offerings and short descriptions too overwhelming, SIFF has also put a bunch of trailers online. Fritter away your lunch hour browsing the list [siff] and streaming clips to your screen. For people who often find that the best part of going to a movie is the parade of previews, it’s a fun way of getting a sense of what the festival has to offer and whether that documentary about Seattle gamers who “dress up and participate in a live action role-playing game” (Monster Camp [siff]) or the Quebecois tale of a vengeful accountant (Little Book of Revenge [siff]) are pretty enough to sustain your interest for a full showing.

In the event that you encounter nightmare timeslots or difficult choices between a couple can’t-miss films, it’s worth knowing that many of the SIFF offerings are actually available on DVD. From the archival presentations to a batch of movies that have been released outside of the U.S., the deep catalog at Scarecrow Video might be able to come to the rescue if there’s something on the festival program that you’re unable to attend. In an annual tradition, Media Babe has compiled a list of films available for rent [lj] in the event that you’d rather watch in the comfort of your own home theater.

So, have you flipped through the glossy pages of the SIFF catalog yet? (It’s available ahead of schedule for only $5) If so, what’s on your list of must see movies?