Seattle’s SIFF DocFest is back for its fifth outing, unspooling Oct. 16-23 with 13 films at SIFF Cinema Uptown and a special Spotlight Screening at SIFF Cinema Downtown on Oct. 19. 

The fest brings back the SIFF DocFest Audience Award for a second year, following its successful launch in 2024. “Seattle has one of the most enthusiastic documentary-going audiences in the world,” said Stan Shields, SIFF’s associate director of festival programming. “We’ve seen the films we screen here go on to see incredible success, and we can’t wait to see where this year’s films go.”

Opening night kicks off with a film we can recommend “Space Cowboy,” which follows skydiving cinematography pioneer Joe Jennings as he attempts the stunt that has long eluded him. The weekend program includes “Runa Simi,” which follows a father-son duo working to dub The Lion King into Quechua, and “Love+War,” (which we screened with a rapt audience at Toronto International Film Festival) from Oscar winners Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, centering on Pulitzer-winning photographer Lynsey Addario.

The Spotlight slot belongs to “Speak.,” which follows five young competitors as they take the stage at the world’s top public speaking event. Co-director Guy Mossman, producer Pamela Griner and guests will appear in person.

Week-long fest

Other highlights include “25 Cats From Qatar” with director Mye Hoang attending, “Widow Champion” about women’s land rights in Kenya, “Cutting Through Rocks,” a Sundance-winning doc from Iran, and “Mugaritz: No Bread, No Dessert,” which takes viewers inside the famed Michelin-starred Spanish restaurant.

SIFF also brings back marquee names. Mstyslav Chernov, Oscar-winning director of “20 Days in Mariupol,” returns with “2000 Meters to Andriivka,” winner of Sundance’s directing award. Laura Poitras, who screened “All the Beauty and the Bloodshed” at SIFF in 2022, closes the festival with “Cover-Up,” her collaboration with Mark Obenhaus profiling legendary investigative reporter Seymour Hersh.

The Docfest lineup also spotlights music and culture. “Sun Ra: Do the Impossible” paints a kaleidoscopic portrait of the jazz icon, while “A Deeper Love: The Story of Miss Peppermint” chronicles the trailblazing drag performer and activist from Harlem to Broadway.

Visit here for the full line up and SIFF DocFest ticket information.