The Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) has announced that its 52nd edition will open with “I Love Boosters,” the sophomore feature from writer-director Boots Riley. The choice marks a high-profile return for Riley, whose debut “Sorry to Bother You” was a centerpiece selection at the festival in 2018.

The announcement comes on the heels of the film’s world premiere at SXSW last week. We just returned from SXSW (where we caught the film at a sold-out screening at Austin’s Paramount Theatre), just as word broke that it would head to Seattle to open SIFF. The premiere was followed by a focused Q&A featuring Riley and the principal cast, including Keke Palmer, Demi Moore, and LaKeith Stanfield, as they riffed on the film’s blend of heist tropes and labor politics.

Boots Riley’s “I Love Boosters” is a sharp, stylized caper that swaps traditional noir tropes for a vibrant critique of the luxury fashion industry. Led by a charismatic Keke Palmer, the film follows a crew of “boosters” who redistribute designer goods as an act of community defiance. The film centers on Corvette (Palmer) and her “Velvet Gang,” a trio of expert shoplifters who find themselves in a high-stakes conflict with a ruthless fashion mogul, played by Demi Moore. While it maintains the absurdist humor Riley is known for, the film is grounded by a sincere exploration of class inequality and collective action. It is a well-crafted, energetic choice to open a major festival.

“I Love Boosters” is set to open SIFF on May 7 at the Paramount Theatre. It’s a smart move for SIFF to pick a movie that balances big ideas with pure entertainment. Riley has a knack for being both polished and rebellious at the same time, which makes this the perfect high-energy start for the festival.