Staff Picks<\/h2>\n
Step out of the rain and into an indie moviehouse this month! Here\u2019s a sampling of what\u2019s available on big screens all over town.<\/p>\n
The Beacon<\/h3>\n
One of my all-time favorite movies, Wong Kar-wai\u2019s melancholy masterpiece “In the Mood for Love<\/a><\/strong>,” screens at The Beacon on Valentine\u2019s Day; it\u2019s not exactly a feel-good love story, but oh, is it ever gorgeous. Also an option on the 14th: Clint Eastwood\u2019s \u201cThe Bridges of Madison County<\/strong>.\u201d Friday the 13th<\/sup> brings, appropriately, the horror classic \u201cFriday the 13th<\/sup><\/strong>.\u201d And among The Beacon\u2019s other eclectic offerings this month are two Vincente Minnelli musicals, \u201cThe Band Wagon<\/strong>\u201d (Feb. 15, 16, 18) and \u201cBells Are Ringing<\/strong>\u201d (Feb. 22, 23, 25); the multigenerational drama \u201cAll That\u2019s Left of You<\/strong>,\u201d Jordan\u2019s entry for the international film Academy Award this year (Feb. 6, 9, 12); and Bob Fosse\u2019s dark final film \u201cStar 80<\/strong>\u201d (Feb. 22, 25).<\/p>\n 4405 Rainier Ave. S., Seattle; 206-420-7328,\u00a0thebeacon.film<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Ryan Coogler\u2019s instant-classic horror film \u201cSinners<\/strong>,\u201d recipient of a record 16 Academy Award nominations<\/a> last month, plays at Central Cinema Feb. 6-11, alongside another classic: Mel Brooks\u2019 \u201cYoung Frankenstein<\/strong>,\u201d playing Feb. 6-10. Valentine\u2019s week brings everyone\u2019s favorite rom-com, \u201cWhen Harry Met Sally\u2026<\/strong>,\u201d screening alongside a more offbeat choice, \u201cEternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind<\/strong>.\u201d Both play Feb. 13-18. The Bruce Lee martial arts film \u201cGame of Death<\/strong>\u201d wraps up the month, alongside Richard Linklater\u2019s \u201cBefore Sunrise<\/strong>\u201d (both Feb. 20-25).<\/p>\n 1411 21st<\/sup>\u00a0Ave., Seattle; 206-328-3230,\u00a0central-cinema.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Though still officially closed as it seeks a new venue, the Grand Illusion continues to present pop-ups around town. At SIFF Film Center, it offers Kristen Stewart\u2019s directorial debut \u201cThe Chronology of Water<\/a><\/strong>\u201d (Feb. 12, 18), the 1974 Isaac Hayes blaxploitation film \u201cTruck Turner<\/strong>\u201d screening in 35mm (Feb. 5, 9), the Sundance prizewinner \u201cCactus Pears<\/strong>\u201d (Feb. 8) and the newly restored 1978 Czech fairy tale \u201cBeauty and the Beast<\/strong>\u201d (Feb. 11). At Northwest Film Forum, the G.I. presents a pair of newly restored John Woo action films, \u201cHard Boiled<\/strong>\u201d (Feb. 17) and \u201cA Better Tomorrow<\/strong>\u201d (March 2), and a 50th<\/sup>-anniversary screening of the erotic film \u201cThe Opening of Misty Beethoven<\/strong>\u201d (Feb. 10).<\/p>\n SIFF Film Center: 167 Republican St. on Seattle Center campus, Seattle; Northwest Film Forum: 1515 12th Ave., Seattle; grandillusioncinema.org<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n This month NWFF hosts the Sakinah Film Festival<\/strong>, a two-day showcase of short films from Muslim filmmakers around the world (Feb. 14-15). Also on screen: Todd Haynes\u2019 beautiful Technicolor melodrama \u201cFar From Heaven<\/strong><\/a>,\u201d starring Julianne Moore (Feb. 20-22, Feb. 28-March 1); the 2025 Cannes Film Festival award winner \u201cThe Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo<\/strong>\u201d (Feb. 5-8); and video artist Kahlil Joseph\u2019s \u201cBLKNEWS: Terms & Conditions<\/strong>,\u201d adapted from the filmmaker\u2019s video installation (Feb. 21-22).<\/p>\n 1515 12th<\/sup> Ave., Seattle; nwfilmforum.org<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n SIFF\u2019s \u201cFor Your Consideration<\/a>\u201d roundup of Oscar-nominated films, including every 2026 best picture nominee, occupies the vast screen at SIFF Cinema Downtown through Feb. 12. After that at the Downtown is the Noir City Seattle<\/a> festival, produced by Czar of Noir Eddie Muller and featuring noir classics starring the likes of Lauren Bacall (\u201cTo Have and Have Not<\/strong>\u201d), Frank Sinatra (\u201cThe Man With the Golden Arm<\/strong>\u201d), Sammy Davis Jr. (\u201cA Man Called Adam<\/strong>\u201d), Rita Hayworth (\u201cGilda<\/strong>\u201d) and Elvis Presley (\u201cKing Creole<\/strong>\u201d). The festival runs Feb. 13-19; a full series pass is $150 ($125 SIFF members).<\/p>\n The series “The Pacific Northwestern” concludes this month with the 1959 Gary Cooper drama \u201cThe Hanging Tree<\/strong>\u201d (filmed near Yakima; screening Feb. 10), Oregon filmmaker Kelly Reichardt\u2019s acclaimed 2019 drama \u201cFirst Cow<\/a><\/strong>\u201d (Feb. 17) and Robert Altman\u2019s 1971 classic \u201cMcCabe & Mrs. Miller,<\/strong>\u201d screening in 35mm Feb. 24, all at SIFF Film Center. And finally, the 10-film series \u201cMartin Scorsese: Maestro of Cinema<\/a>\u201d gets underway at the SIFF Uptown with \u201cMean Streets<\/strong>\u201d on Feb. 25 and a 50th<\/sup>-anniversary screening of \u201cTaxi Driver<\/strong>\u201d on March 4, continuing on Wednesday nights through April 29.<\/p>\n SIFF Film Center: 167 Republican St. on Seattle Center campus, Seattle; SIFF Cinema Downtown: 2100 Fourth Ave., Seattle; SIFF Uptown: 511 Queen Anne Ave. N., Seattle; 206-464-5830,\u00a0siff.net<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Should you be in need of an early Valentine\u2019s outing, the Ballard indie theater\u2019s popular Retro Nights (voted on by social media followers) presents the made-(partly)-in-Seattle Nora Ephron classic \u201cSleepless in Seattle<\/strong>\u201d Feb. 11. See how many Seattle locations<\/a> you can spot!<\/p>\nCentral Cinema<\/h3>\n
Grand Illusion<\/h3>\n
Northwest Film Forum<\/h3>\n
SIFF<\/h3>\n
Majestic Bay<\/h3>\n