Red carpets led hundreds of film-goers and party-goers into the opening-night festivities Friday night to kick off the week-long Seattle International Film Festival in Renton.
The IKEA Performing Arts Center at Renton High was filled to capacity for the opening-night film, “Black, White and Blues.” It’s producer, Jeff Balis, was in the crowd and attended the gala at the Renton Pavilion Event Center afterward.
The crowd was loud and even raucous during the welcoming remarks to kick off SIFF-Renton.
It was Balis’ first trip to Seattle – and Renton. He noticed the warm reception from the crowd.
“Thank you for coming and enjoy the film,” he said.
Carl Spence, SIFF’s artistic director, said the film festival was “delighted” to be in Renton this year.
“Black, White and Blues” is a road-trip dramedy about a blues player, Jefferson Bailey, not yet comfortable performing in front of a crowd. Chased out of Austin, Texas, for an adulterous affair, he heads to Huntsville, Ala., with Augy, who brought news that Bailey’s grandfather died and left him something of value.
The feel-good movie kept everyone engaged. It sets apart films shown by SIFF from what’s normally seen at the cineplex. The story is character driven; the human face, not special effects, propel the storyline.
“It’s something that you won’t see at The Landing,” said Bob Anderson, winner of a number of Curvee Awards in the Renton FilmFrenzy, after the screening.
SIFF in Renton can’t help but have a positive effect on Renton’s own filmmaking competition, he said.
The movie’s sound in the IPAC seemed too loud, making it difficult to pick up some pieces of dialogue.
Flashes punctuated the scene at the Renton Pavilion Event Center as gala-goers had their pictures taken. The crowd sampled diverse cuisine from the eight Renton restaurants. Wine and beer flowed.
The evening culminated months of work to bring the largest and longest-running film festival in the nation to Renton for the first time.
A host committee, headed up by Meeghan Black, a TV personality and Renton resident, and car dealer Brad Brotherton, helped promote the festival in the community.
The event was brought to Renton by the Renton Community Marketing Campaign – the Renton Chamber of Commerce, Renton School District, Renton Technical College, Valley Medical Center and the City of Renton.
Other actors and the filmmaker were scheduled to attend, but canceled in recent days. One of the stars is Tom Skerritt, who lives in Seattle; the director is Mario van Peebles.
Tickets for the screenings through Thursday night can be purchased online or at the IPAC box office before each screening.
The SIFF-Renton Film Guide was distributed in the May 6 Renton Reporter and is available online. Film guides are also available at the IPAC.
