The box office is open! I repeat: the box office is open!

One of the things I appreciate about technology is that the SIFF ticket-buying process has improved immensely over the years. They have a kick-ass web site where you can order tickets for a more-than-reasonable fee ($1 a ticket, as opposed to the $8-10 that other ticket company charges). Just order, pick them up at the theater right before the showing, get in line, and see the movie! It’s pretty awesome and it runs really smoothly. Make sure you check out the new SIFFter feature too.

Of course, if you enjoy the experience of combing through the schedule surrounded by other SIFF lovers and filling out your picks by hand, you can head on down to the SIFF Box Office on the second floor of Pacific Place (The SIFF main office at 400 Ninth Avenue N is also a fully-functioning Box Office). The lines always move really quickly, and I won’t lie: walking away clutching a huge packet of tickets is kinda thrilling.

Neither one of those options sound appealing? You can also call 206.324.9996 to order tickets by phone.

I’m just happy that I no longer have to trek down to the Broadway Performance Hall, cram all my picks onto a tiny slip of scrap paper and wait forever and a day while the ancient computers print out each ticket, making terrible crunching noises and jamming paper ever 2 minutes. I was glad to do it, mind you – but it's fantastic that SIFF-going is so much easier now.

Long story short (too late!): get your SIFF tickets NOW. In particular, I recommend you buy for the following, because they will definitely sell out:

Opening Night Gala feat. In the Loop

Tetro – the new Coppola film!

A Tribute to Spike Lee (+ a showing of Passing Strange)

Centerpiece Gala feat. local filmmaker Lynn Shelton’s Humpday

The Gay-la feat. Patrick Age 1.5

Closing Night Gala feat. OSS 117: Lost in Rio