Our Top Picks for SIFF 2013: Music and Books Edition

The Seattle Film Festival is in full swing and, as anything book or music related is always on our radar, we’ve rounded up our favorite films that deal with both subjects. Bring out your calendar and make sure you don’t miss Bushwick Seattle’s SIFF picks:

1)   Twenty Feet from Stardom

June 1 and 2 at the Egyptian

This documentary glimpses into the lives of a handful of gifted backup singers—including Merry Clayton, who is famous for her recording of “Gimme Shelter” with Mick Jagger—and features interviews with fronting musicians Jagger, Bruce Springsteen, and Stevie Wonder, among others.Lillian Gish

  2)   The Wind

If you’re wondering why this 1928 silent film starring Lillian Gish is back in theaters, the answer is because Seattle’s The Maldives have composed a brand new score. The band will perform two shows live at the Triple Door on June 7.Macklemore_The_Heist_Tour_1_cropped

3)   The Otherside

May 31 and June 2 at SIFF Cinema Uptown

Seattle’s underground hip-hop scene is the subject of this documentary, featuring Macklemore, Shabazz Palaces, Blue Scholars, and others.

4)   Far Out Isn’t Far Enough: The Tomi Ungerer Story

May 30 at the Harvard Exit and June 3 at SIFF Cinema Uptown

The story of Tomi Ungerer, children’s book author and illustrator, is revealed in this documentary that chronicles the artist’s immigration to the US from the Nazi occupation.

5)   A Band Called Death

May 28 at SIFF Cinema Uptown (Tonight. Don’t miss!)

This rockumentary recognizes 1970s Detroit punk band Death for their place as the first black punk band and follows their pioneering journey in Afro-punk.

6)   All the Boys Love Mandy Lane

May 31, midnight at the Egyptian

Not about music or books, I just had to throw this in the mix because it has teenagers who think they are just out for an innocent weekend party, but end up either covered in blood, or dead. What’s not to love?