https://youtu.be/r6XVXAGinbo

We’re all VERY excited about SIFF o’er here in TIG-land, and most especially excited about the 2016 Face the Music screenings! The theme of this year is the all-mighty “Documentary,” featuring eight films that span genres from hip-indie tunes to ’60s hits, hard rock, and classical piano.

Check out the history behind the longest-running music program in television history in A Song For You: The Austin City Limits Story. FORTY YEARS you guys. forty years. Director Keith Maitland mixes some pretty amazing archival footage with interviews featuring Willie Nelson, Jenny Lewis, St. Vincent, Black Francis, Brittany Howard and more musical luminaries. ALL THE YES. {Screens Thursday, June 2, 9pm and again Saturday, June 5, 3pm at SIFF Cinema Uptown. Director Keith Maitland and Producer Sarah Wilson scheduled to attend both screenings}

Conceived by the amazing David Byrne, watch ten color guard teams skip the usual marching band accompaniment and perform routines to the music of St. Vincent, tUnE-yArDs, Nelly Furtado, Ad-Rock, Zola Jesus, and David himself in Contemporary Color! Not sold yet? Two words: glitter. cannons. {Screens Thursday, May 26, 9pm at Majestic Bay, Saturday, May 28, 8:30pm at SIFF Cinema Uptown, and once more Monday, May 30, 1:30pm at SIFF Cinema Egyptian}

In a story that actually confirms the internet can be a good place sometimes, Presenting Princess Shaw introduces us to Samantha Montgomery, whose a cappella YouTube performances caught the ear of Israeli music producer Kutiman who stitches together music videos to create amazing collaborations. Inspiring and beautiful (read: get those tissues out). BONUS: Princess Shaw herself will be in attendance! {Screens Friday, May 20, 7pm at SIFF Cinema Egyptian and again Saturday, May 21, 1pm at AMC Pacific Place. Subject Princess Shaw (Samantha Montgomery) scheduled to attend both screenings}

I’m wondering how I’ve never heard of ’80s Japanese rock band X, — my theory is that in the dark times before the world wide web, it would’ve been impossible to find them unless you had an extremely well-traveled friend who had a bootleg tape (sadly, I didn’t). Now that I’ve seen the trailer for We Are X, I’m ALL IN. {Screens Sunday, June 05, 8:30pm at Ark Lodge Cinemas and again Wednesday, June 08, 9:30pm at SIFF Cinema Egyptian} 

More Face the Music goodness: BANG! The Bert Berns Story has Steven Van Zandt talkin’ about Bert Berns, the man behind hits like “Twist and Shout” {Monday, May 30, 8:30pm & Wednesday, June 1, 4:30pm}; Concerto – A Beethoven Journey takes us on a 4-year study of Beethoven’s five piano concertos {Monday, May 23, 6:pm & Wednesday, May 25, 4pm at SIFF Cinema Uptown}; Socialist Pop Star (!?!?!) Dean Reed and his bizarre career is the subject of Red Gringo {Thursday, June 9, 7pm at AMC Pacific Place & Saturday, June 11, 6pm at Kirkland Performance Center: Producer Paulina Obando scheduled to attend both screenings}; and The Music of Strangers: Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble is, well, obviously, about cellist Yo-Yo Ma and his musical collective. {Saturday, May 28, 3:30pm at Shoreline Community College & Sunday, May 29, 7pm at SIFF Cinema Uptown}