Meet our talented team of programmers—the people who work and watch movies all year long to curate the best films possible for the Seattle International Film Festival, celebrating its 50th year from May 9 to 19, 2024. Full program info siff.net/festival.

Beth Barrett (she/her)
Artistic Director 
Nordic countries, Western Europe, Australia / New Zealand, documentaries

What are your 10 favorite films ever?
Moonlight
Dune
Phoenix
West Side Story
Nomadland
Ran
My Neighbor Totoro
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Infernal Affairs
The Act of Killing

What’s one of your favorite Festival memories or anecdotes?
In 2010, the Topp Twins—two lesbian yodeling country singing twins from New Zealand—were here and opened their screening with an incredible a cappella song honoring the space. I still remember the quiet that fell over the cinema as they sang.

What is your guilty pleasure film?
No time spent watching films is really *guilty* ... do I feel like I should try something new as I watch The Empire Strikes Back for the hundredth time, sometimes....

What's one thing we should know about you that is NOT film related?
I own .0000002% of the Green Bay Packers.

What do you consider your hometown?
Iowa City, IA