The Tacoma Film Festival opens Thursday, Oct. 22, marking its 20th year with four days of independent films, filmmaker conversations and special events. The program brings films from more than 20 countries to Tacoma, with about a quarter of the lineup coming from the Pacific Northwest.
Opening night begins at 7 p.m. at The Grand Cinema with Time Warp, a documentary about a group of performers in Rock Springs, Wyoming, putting on the town’s first Rocky Horror Picture Show shadow cast. Director Allison Berg is scheduled to attend a post-film Q&A.
The opening continues with a party at The Poet from 9 to 11 p.m. Tacoma’s Blue Mousketeers shadow cast is scheduled to perform, alongside a filmmaker open mic, complimentary bites and a cash bar. The festival catalog says guests need a ticket for both the opening film and party to attend.
Friday’s centerpiece program, Track 20, moves to the Blue Mouse Theatre for a showcase of music videos from around the world, followed by live local bands featured in the program. The festival closes Sunday night at The Grand with Everything Beautiful Is Far Away, a sci-fi comedy, and a Q&A with director Pete Ohs.
There are also lower-key ways to join in: Sunday morning’s Cereal Cinema offers a free cereal bar at The Grand Cinema Lounge, with no ticket required. Later that afternoon, the public can attend the festival awards ceremony for free; award-winning films return for encore screenings Oct. 26–29.
Eligible Tacoma students and Tacoma residents with EBT or Quest cards can get free tickets to many festival screenings at The Grand’s box office on the day of the show. The program excludes the opening-night film and the Track 20 centerpiece, and tickets are limited. The festival’s full catalog has the complete schedule, prices and event details; The Grand’s Tacoma Creates page explains free-ticket eligibility.
Discover more of Tacoma in today’s Tacoma Local Minute. Catch the rest of today’s local news, events, and updates in the full issue here.
Not a Subscriber Yet?
Sign up for a free subscription to Tacoma Local Minute and get the latest issue in your mailbox every morning.