This week, the 44th Seattle International Film Festival kicks off, and, as usual, TIG is laser-focused on the Face the Music program!

Let’s talk about one of the incredible LIVE events first: THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE film awesome enough to have DJ NicFit reimagine it with an ALL QUEEN playlist, and that film, of course, is Highlander! I can’t wait to see the Kurgan face off with MacLeod to “Killer Queen” (or, you know, whatever the DJ picks! I’m not the professional here). {Highlander with Live Soundtrack by DJ NicFit is Wednesday, May 23, 6:30pm at SIFF Cinema Egyptian}

People who loved 2014’s quirky comedy Frank will likely also love Being Frank: the Chris Sievey Story, about the real life character under that unsettling — yet still somehow endearing — papier-mache head. {Screens Monday, May 28, 9pm at SIFF Cinema Egyptian, and again Thursday, May 31, 4pm & Saturday, June 2, 8pm at SIFF Cinema Uptown}

I’m SO excited to see Matangi / Maya / M.I.A., because, well, fuck. I love this woman. I love her music. And I can’t wait to learn more about her and her path to making it.  {Screens Wednesday, May 23, 6:30pm at SIFF Cinema Uptown, and again Thursday, May 24, 6:30pm, Ark Lodge Cinemas}

YUSSSSSS! Industrial Accident: The Story of Wax Trax! Records looks totally amazing. A documentary about a legendary record store that wasn’t just a store, but so much more. I may get a little misty-eyed during this one folks — and be even more thankful for the fact that we still have Sonic Boom & Easy Street in our city. {Screens Saturday, May 19, 8:30pm at Majestic Bay; Tuesday, May 22, 9:30pm at SIFF Cinema Egyptian, and one more time Wednesday, May 30, 9pm, Shoreline CC}

Country music isn’t really my jam, and neither is Ethan Hawke, who directed Blaze, but my lady crush Alia Shawkat is in it, so hey, I gotta see it. Also, while it’s true I don’t dig Hawke as an actor, I’m pretty fond of his directing. {Screens Friday, June 8, 7:30pm as part of A Tribute to Ethan Hawke, and again Saturday, June 9, 3:15pm at SIFF Cinema Uptown}

I know nothing about Egyptian diva Oum Kulthum, or at least I didn’t until I saw Looking for Oum Kulthum on the festival schedule, but holycrap does this look gorgeous! Also, hello: I am so down with watching a film about two women smashing the patriarchy with their art. {Screens Saturday, May 19, 6pm at Lincoln Square, and Sunday, May 20, 11am at AMC Pacific Place}

Nico, 1988 looks like it’ll be a little bit of a rough watch, but I’m game. This fictionalized account of Warhol muse Nico, the lead singer of The Velvet Underground, follows the last few years of the singer’s life on the road, battling some pretty fierce demons. {Screens Saturday, May 26, 9pm at SIFF Cinema Uptown, and Sunday, June 3, 8:30pm at SIFF Cinema Egyptian}

More good stuff to check out in the Face the Music program: Seattle band My Goodness will live score 1911 Italian classic L’Inferno {Thursday, May 31, The Triple Door}; get a glimpse into some super intense piano exams in Making the Grade {May 22, May 26 & June 3}; watch an Oscar-winning Japanese musician create a new score in Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda {May 29, May 30 & June 8}; and learn all about a true Renaissance man – musician, lawyer, actor, {Amie’s brain: “HEY THAT GUY IS ON FEAR THE WALKING DEAD”), politician – in Ruben Blades Is Not My Name {May 27 & June 5}.