Being a rabid Paul Giamatti fangirl, I saw Cold Souls earlier this year at SIFF and have been pretty much dying for it to be released so I could harass everyone I know into going to see it.

Writer and Director Sophie Barthes worked with her partner, Cinematographer Andrij Parekh, to create a film that I loved, loved, LOVED – and I got to ask them all about the process.

I read that you had a dream, and that was the basis of the story – and that you two talked about it and decided to develop it together – is that right?

Sophie: Yes. We live together, we’re life partners – and we shot short films and documentaries together, and he works as a Cinematographer, so he has a career that is much more established than mine. Because we're together we always share ideas, and so he wanted to shoot this.

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Armando Iannucci’s wry political comedy In the Loop started off The 35th Seattle International Film Festival this year and opens in Seattle this Friday, July 31st.

The ensemble cast had many great performances, but I was most drawn to the female duo of Mimi Kennedy as Karen Clarke and Anna Chlumsky as her assistant, Liza Weld. I was able to grab a few minutes with both of them during the festival to talk to them about the experience of making this film.

So I wanted to interview you two because I thought that your relationship in the film was so hilarious.

Mimi Kennedy: Yes!

Anna Chlumsky: Thank you, we did too.

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It’s probably stating the obvious to say that Lynn Shelton is the most celebrated filmmaker in the Northwest right now. Her latest film, Humpday, which received great acclaim from critics and filmgoers alike when it played at the Sundance Film Festival, is a story of two dear friends who find themselves in a dare to make a homemade gay porn film, even though both are straight (and one is married). It’s based on Hump, The Stranger’s annual, amateur porn contest. It’s a really great film that explores the boundaries of friendship. It’s both very funny and moving.

Her second feature, My Effortless Brilliance, played at SIFF in 2008. It also deals with a friendship of two men, who are played by musicians Sean Nelson (of Harvey Danger) and Basil Harris (of “Awesome”). It was also a great film that explored the egos and relationship of those characters. It also has several themes that lead into Humpday.

Lynn Shelton is one of those people you meet that no one has a negative thing to say about them, and it’s all true. When I interviewed The Stranger Genius Award winner a few days before Humpday screened as the Centerpiece film at SIFF, I wish I had let my tape recorder run for about five minutes longer because she had several very positive things to say about the cast and crew of all of her films and said she felt really lucky and fortunate to have worked with the people she has.

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Just when you thought SIFF '09 was over and done, SIFF Cinema is presenting a three-day, 13-program selection of award winners and audience favorites this weekend. SIFFed out as I still am, I'm actually kinda glad, especially having missed Grand Jury Prize winners talhotblond and The Other Bank.

Anything you missed at this year's local cinema-bration but wish you hadn't? Or did SIFF not make it onto your calendar at all this year? (If the latter, you might consider the full weekend pass for admission to all programs. Because you have lameness to account for.)

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Grace is an exceptionally well-written horror film, and after sitting down with Writer and Director Paul Solet, I could see why it turned out as good as it did. He's charming, intelligent, intense - and very, very passionate about Grace, and about making films in general.

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As promised, TIG would continue its coverage of SIFF "until the final Golden Space Needle Award was given out" and early this afternoon, they were. Amie Simon and I were on hand to watch the winners receive their awards.

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talhotblond screens again today, Saturday, June 13 at 4pm at Pacific Place.

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When It Hits Theaters Or DVDs, See Icons Among Us

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{Youssou N'dour: I Bring What I Love screens at the Seattle International Film Film Festival tonight, June 12, at 9:30pm and Sunday, June 14 at 1:30pm, both screenings at the Harvard Exit.}

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Okay, here's the deal: SIFF live-music events are always amazing. Every time I run into someone who's been to one, they insist it's one of the best shows they've ever seen – so I feel compelled to plug this as a recommended Friday show.

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