*|MC:SUBJECT|* *"This is some of the best of what The Grand does so I hope you can join us for the next eight days of marvelous films!" <https://www.tacomafilmfestival.com/> [image: Link] <https://www.instagram.com/tacomafilmfest/> [image: Twitter] <https://twitter.com/TacomaFilmFest> [image: Facebook] <https://www.facebook.com/TacomaFilmFest/> [image: Website] <http://www.tacomafilmfestival.com> *2019 Tacoma Film Festival: October 3–10* *A note from Philip Cowan… * I am approaching my 13th anniversary of serving as Executive Director of The Grand Cinema. Over those 13 years, a lot has happened at the cinema. *To me, the thing that has improved the most over this time is the Tacoma Film Festival*, which is one of the core activities undertaken by The Grand’s staff each year.* In 2006, we reviewed around 100 films to select what to show in the first festival. This year, we reviewed over 1,300. With that increased quantity comes an amazing quality of films. *Led by festival director David Dinnell, we spent the last year searching the globe for the best in independent film to bring to Tacoma for the next week, *October 3–10*. We search for films that are of particular interest to our audience, so in effect, *you get a week of films curated from around the globe, just for Tacoma*. Now it is your turn to see the films, and often* hear from filmmakers who are traveling to Tacoma* from across the country. In addition to feature films, the short film packages are always a particular treat, and we have many of those to show you. Our *full schedule is online <https://www.tacomafilmfestival.com/>*, but if you are looking for a few to focus on, *here are a few I recommend*: <http://bit.ly/infiltratorstff> <http://bit.ly/infiltratorstff> <http://bit.ly/infiltratorstff> - First is* tonight’s Opening Night* film, *The Infiltrators* <http://bit.ly/infiltratorstff>. This is a documentary on immigration and detention centers*. I first saw it at Sundance earlier this year and knew it was an important film, especially for Tacoma.* I recommend this one because it gives you *a perspective of life behind the walls of a detention center *that you haven’t heard elsewhere. One of the directors, *Alex Rivera*, will be present for a conversation and Q&A. It plays at 7:00pm tonight at the Pantages Theater. Tickets are $15 and available at the door tonight <http://bit.ly/infiltratorstff>. GET TICKETS TO OPENING NIGHT ($15) <https://ticketing.us.veezi.com/purchase/29471?siteToken=gkv9LBX3YE6jXoOgGOrMXQ==> <http://bit.ly/againstirreversible> <http://bit.ly/againstirreversible> <http://bit.ly/somuchless> <http://bit.ly/philipspicks> <http://bit.ly/famshorts> - The short film package called *“Against the Irreversible” <http://bit.ly/againstirreversible>* has six great short films, including *The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating *which is based on an award-winning book by Elisabeth Tova Bailey. *Bailey will Skype in for a Q&A following the film.* Also in that package is *Witch a Well*, a 5-minute short film about a water diviner in Eastern Washington. The director of that film will be on hand for a Q&A as well. This package plays twice at The Grand <http://bit.ly/againstirreversible>, Sunday evening at 7:30pm and Tuesday afternoon at 2:15pm. - Another group of short films titled *“so much less than”* <http://bit.ly/somuchless> features six short films from countries around the world. It includes the *award-winning comedy from Belgium, * *Vihta*. This group of shorts also plays twice <http://bit.ly/somuchless>, on Saturday at 11:15am. and on Monday at 2:15pm. - Also playing Monday afternoon, this time at 2:00pm, is *a group of short films that I personally picked out and is appropriately titled “Philip Cowan’s Picks.” <http://bit.ly/philipspicks>* Some I saw at other festivals such as Sundance, some I saw for the first time when they submitted to our festival. Join me for some fun films <http://bit.ly/philipspicks>. - Lastly, the *Family Shorts* <http://bit.ly/famshorts> package on Saturday morning at 10:30am at *The Blue Mouse Theatre* (not at The Grand!) features a short film I love, *A Field Guide to Being a 12-Year-Old Girl*. As the father of a 12-year-old daughter, *this funny and insightful film is for any parent who has a daughter, as well as for the kids themselves*. This package is always popular <http://bit.ly/famshorts> each year so bring the kids but arrive a little early to get your seats. Really, you can’t go wrong with any picks throughout the festival. *This is some of the best of what The Grand does* so I hope you can join us for the next eight days of marvelous films! — Philip SEE FULL FESTIVAL LINEUP (web) <https://www.tacomafilmfestival.com/films/> SEE FULL FESTIVAL LINEUP (.pdf) <http://bit.ly/2019tffpdf> FREE STUDENT PASS For the second year in a row, *students* can attend the Tacoma Film Festival for free*. Visit The Grand Cinema’s box office to sign up for and pick up a free Student Film Pass. (Must show student ID.) Some restrictions apply: access to the VIP lounge, Opening Night, Closing Night, Family Shorts, and The Veldt Preview Party are not included in the student film pass. ** Students are any currently enrolled primary, secondary, college, or trade school student of any age.* THANK YOU *Special thanks to our festival sponsors and supporters*: Propel Insurance, Comcast, Rainier Connect, BECU, Tacoma Public Library, Puyallup Tribe of Indians, City of Tacoma, Tacoma House of Cannabis, TAGRO, DP&C, Judy Bumbaugh, Sudar Appraisals, Portal VR, Olympic Landscape, The Hotel Murano, Tacoma Arts Commission, Pacific Grill Events & Catering, Red Star Taco Bar, Lime Bike, Lyft, Incline Cider, The News Tribune, Northwest Public Broadcasting, KCTS, South Sound Magazine, Print Northwest, KNKX, Simple DCP, Minuteman Press Downtown Tacoma, Fab Lab, Habitat for Humanity Store, The Art Department, This That, King’s Books, Tacoma Arts Live, Alma Mater, Courthouse Square, Smokey Wonder, and Smith Brother’s Farms. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G01GG3arNTE> *The making of Art Chantry's #2019tff poster*. Directed by Taylor Hawkins. Music by Wendell Ratliff. <https://www.tacomafilmfestival.com/panels-workshops/> *Free panels and workshops*. LEARN MORE <https://www.tacomafilmfestival.com/panels-workshops/> <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlf0VNVZa-M> *#2019 trailer*. Video by Peter Berkley. Music by Wendell Ratliff. Design elements by Art Chantry. [image: Link] <https://www.instagram.com/tacomafilmfest/> [image: Twitter] <https://twitter.com/TacomaFilmFest> [image: Facebook] <https://www.facebook.com/TacomaFilmFest/> [image: Website] <http://www.tacomafilmfestival.com> *Our mailing address is:* 606 Fawcett Ave, Tacoma WA 98402