Truly a gem, a landmark, one of the most important features of Lower Queen Anne and the city in general. I go here all the time; they play a wide variety of interesting movies and have great concessions! Love to have a cider while watching a movie in a respectful environment - audiences here almost never take out their phones or talk, it's for people who actually want to watch the film. Also if you didn't know that the SIFF does lectures and classes, they don't advertise those very much, but they're always so good! Most people I talk to don't know about those - go to their website and check them out! read more

SIFF Uptown does not value customer service. I have to say these are the most uninviting, frequently rude employees I've come across- people that seem to hate their jobs and the customers that pay their wages. That said, I do love the one screen theater. I love that I can walk in and sit wherever I want. SIFF continues to offer a wide variety of interesting movies and doesn't waste my time with endless ads and previews. read more

Came here a couple times - and each time it was nice. Pleasant and helpful staff, nice sized theaters and easy to get to. First visit here was to an advanced screening and my most recent visit was for the SIFF Cinema movie club series where every month they play a "classic" movie. I'm not sure how exactly the other ones went, but for this showing it was 1995's "The Crow". The event called for fans to dress up and the guy who submitted the idea had a little PowerPoint presentation showing off trivia and more about the movie. What also was nice was for the trailers, it was a lot of indie movies, some of which that piqued my interest. I thought that atmosphere was cool and the actual showing of the movie was good. I always like to see to see movies from years passed up on the big screen. SIFF is a nice independent movie theater. Will keep an eye for other classics or indies in the future. read more

SIFF Cinema Uptown - Concessions stand - Cinema Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful! The people, stage, volunteers for the SIFF was absolutely amazing. I didn't get everyone name, BUT... I am grateful for their kind & genuine hospitality to us as visitors. We simply cannot express any more gratitude. This theater is small with 2 screens BUT SUPER BUSY!! There are so many films being shown and so many support from the local community. I am truly grateful for all of this! I absolutely LOVE THE FREEN TEA they have here. It's ona bottle and it's called GOLD PEAK brand. Delicious! Kinda of taste like Pear. Anywho, if I had to watch another show or visit here again, I would choose this place. It's nice, warm and comfy. read more

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Came here for a classified cinema showing and had a great time! The theater and restrooms were clean and well-maintained. They have a concession stand with both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options. We got Rachel's Ginger Beer, some popcorn (delicious even without butter!), and Albanese gummy bears (so good). I'd definitely come back to watch more movies here read more

The Uptown Theater (now the SIFF Uptown Theater) was established in this location in 1926. It's been renovated a few times since, but still has that old movie house charm. There are three screens, and because SIFF owns the theater, you're more likely than not to see all manner of old and indie films. It's great having this theater in Seattle (especially after so many of the old theaters have been developed out of existence in recent years). Concessions: plenty of options, and some good ones too. Grab a microbrew or a cider, some popcorn (okay nothing outlandish with the popcorn, but it might be *free* (see below)), and a Street Treat Ice Cream Sandwich and you'll be set! Parking: parking for this theater is bad on good days, dismal on others. On my first foray to the Uptown there was a huge concert going on at the Seattle Center, which is not so far away. This meant most street parking was nearly gone. We did manage to find a spot, but because of the Seattle Center event, street parking was exorbitantly expensive: we spent $20! For street parking! Come early, and be prepared to search. My recommendation is to head down (west of the theater) on Republican towards 3rd. You may find parking. Careful: in some of the neighborhoods there are parking restrictions (thank you again Seattle Center). Membership: all that said, I love this theater and what it offers. I loved it enough that I joined SIFF, and go back to see movies on a regular basis. I recommend joining if you're going to go even a few times a year. The reason: as a member, you get a card for 5 free medium popcorns ($7 a bag), and you also get $5 off the regular movie price for every show (currently $14). Doing the math, and you'll see that your membership will break even at 5 movies; everything's gravy after that. Plus, SIFF's a great organization to support, and there are plenty of other benefits from membership. read more

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Came here for an advance screening of a movie invited by yelp. This is my first time being invited to an advance screening of a movie and it was a great experience. The outside has the retro vibe. There are some snacks that you could get from the concessions stand. The theatre is well maintained and the acoustics are great. Overall I was quite happy with this event and my first time experience at this theatre. The only problem I faced was finding parking. Looks like this area is popular and hard to find parking at. There is only just garage or street parking. read more

SIFF Cinema Uptown - Yelp elite movie screening - Cinema Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This theater was right next to our hotel. We were actually walking to CVS when we saw it and spontaneously decided to see a movie. It's Al older theater but I love that! Reminds me of the one screen theater from my hometown. The ticket counter is outside. Once you enter there are three screens. There's a concession stand with the typical offerings plus some alcoholic options. The theaters aren't large, and the seats aren't anything to write home about as they are older but they have cup holders and were fairly comfortable. The movie sounded and looked great. The place has so much charm and I'm so glad theaters like this are still around. We were just visiting but if I lived in Seattle I would get a membership and see movies here all the time. read more

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Haven't been to the SIFf in awhile and have to say tonight's experience was disappointing. From the staff issuing tickets to the concession staff, I have to say these are the most uninviting, almost rude employees I've encountered. Why is it you go to Trader Joe's and every single person seems happy to see you. It's bad enough the cinema business struggles to make it but with staff like this why would I want to trek down to an outdated cinema just have to deal with people that seem to hate their jobs and the customers that pay their wages. Won't be coming back anytime soon. read more

Good theater, comfy seats. I've come here for the Film Festival and for screenings and have enjoyed them all. Got the bonus of $1 on National Popcorn day! But on a normal day, the popcorn price is still better than the huge chains. I appreciate these small theaters! :) read more

Theater is pretty solid and the concessions are pretty cheap. Small bag of popcorn is $4 and large bag is $6. It's open seating so if you come in a big group to a popular showtime, come early to reserve your seats. Seats are alright -- not the comfy reclining leather types you'll find at regal or dine in theaters. They're cloth seats and a bit on the smaller side. Furthermore legroom is average. There is NO parking from the theater. You'll have to find street parking or paid lot parking. The reviews that mention otherwise are outdated and refer to precovid times. Overall a good & cheap theater if you're local and not looking to park. read more

What the Uptown lacks in luxurious seating it more than makes up for in its selection. It seems like all of the movies I want to see are playing at the uptown. And $6 movie Mondays cannot be beat. read more

Best movies, best popcorn, great theatres , great staff and volunteers. What more could I ask for?

SIFF is a gem in Seattle. When there are multiple theaters at which to see a movie, we always go to SIFF, to support the local option! As far as movie theaters go, the Uptown location is nice: clean, up-to-date, and a good concession mix. You're not going to be wowed by the screen size, the sound, or the seats, but you're not going to be disappointed, either. Seats are comfy and have cupholders. Overall, a solid multiplex experience. The staff -- I think the bulk of which are volunteers -- are all so especially nice as well. The popcorn is good -- and vegan if you don't get the butter! Also greatly appreciated is that they offer a non-alcoholic beer option. For independent movies, SIFF is the only game in town. In general they show a good selection of movies, although I will say that there are sometimes movies playing at the Rose in Port Townsend that for some reason SIFF never picks up (but sometimes are at the Grand Illusion in the U District). If you are local, definitely get a SIFF membership. I think it pays for itself if you see five movies a year -- and you get free popcorn! read more

I love this theater as a recent Seattle transplant. It is a fine arts theater that runs great independent films and documentaries. The atmosphere is adult for the concessions including alcoholic beverages, and the theater is a throwback neighborhood cinema and not a mall type multiplex. Feels as if this theater was remodeled recently. Workers are adults, not kids( no offense to any teenagers working at multiplexes) this theater does not show mega releases line Avatar or Disney fare. So if you're looking to stimulate your intellect and enjoy a theater where patrons don't need to be reminded to turn off their phones and stop talking, and you can actually listen and enjoy a film, this is the place for you. See you at the cinema! read more

I love SIFF Uptown Cinema in Lower Queen Anne, this older theater has the Seattle personality that is almost long gone. Location is great in the middle of LQA, near a bunch of restaurants, convenient if you take the bus as it is right next to a major bus stop/line. Only 3 screens at this location, old school seats, not really stadium seating but more on a slope, seating is a little rickety but that's part of the character. Screen and sound has always been fine to me, no issues there. Snack bar is pretty good, they offer beer/wine, sodas, popcorn, candy, all kinds of other treats. Not as expensive as the big chain theaters but I'm ok paying a little more to support this local theater. This theater along with the Egyptian in Cap Hill and the SIFF Film Center up the street mainly show more of the independent type of films, art-house type, less known less popular type of films, international works, offer film festivals, special events with q&a from directors etc. SIFF does offer membership programs where you can receive discounts, snack offers, priority viewings, festival event access, and some other stuff if you check their website. I am so glad these types of theaters are still around, do what you can to keep them around, donations are tax deductible if that matters to you, many other ways to donate as well. I don't work for them, just enjoy having these old gems around to remind us of a little history of Seattle. read more

SIFF Cinema Uptown - Inside theater - Cinema Near Me - Seattle, Washington

As a huge SIFF fan, this is likely their best location in the city. Ignore old reviews talking about the quality of the theater - they just reopened winter 2021 with a new face lift and the viewing experience is fantastic. Pros: + Outstanding lineup of art house, wide release, and seasonal film fest showings courtesy of SIFF. + Comfortable viewing experience, with big theaters and nice seats. + Great sound and visual quality. + Three screens!! This is a huge advantage on SIFF terms, since their other two theaters only have one. + Bright and fun place to take your dates or Seattle guests. The marquee is stunning and perfect for photos. Cons: - Maybe a bit less charm than the SIFF Egyptian, which is grungy on the outside but iconic on the inside. Tips: * Parking cheat code: go to the Safeway parking lot around the street or the Dick's Burgers down the street for unlimited free parking (on the borderline of "allowed", but no one's checking) read more

SIFF Cinema Uptown - Outside in the day time - Cinema Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Though appreciative of the work they do and their contributions, I feel ambivalent about SIFF. The start of each screening is proceeded by at least fifteen minutes of previews, announcements, and introductions. The latter could be done after the screening, just before the question-and-answer session. The lobby is small and even at a relatively low-key screening ("Cat Daddies"), it is not very pleasant navigating through it to present one's ticket. A more streamlined approach would be nice. Otherwise, I think I'm going to wait until the movie comes out on streaming and/or DVD. read more

Not for profit, volunteer driven enterprise can transport you to other corners of the world without TSA lines or air fare. I've been here well over a hundred times and am grateful to live nearby. Go into the dark, see the light. read more

I've been avoiding this place for years because it looks like a dump outside, but the auditoriums inside are actually pretty decent. Don't know why they leave an opening the size of a studio apartment on the side of the building where I commonly see people doing drugs, passed out or relieving themselves. Don't know why they let the poster cases on the street look so awful with their crumpled up "now showing" sheets of paper hanging in all different directions. Don't know why half the marquee is yellow. But inside there are well designed auditoriums (I don't even mind the older, run down seats) and they do show some of the best indie films around. My advice would be to go there and just ignore the outside, like SIFF seems to be doing. read more

Shocked that I got free street parking after 8pm, especially with Bumbershoot and restaurant/bar action going on Saturday night in lower Queen Anne (9/2/17). I went to see the 9pm showing of "The Trip to Spain" which I missed during SIFF. While the theater was being cleaned, I noticed that beer and wine are available at the concession stand along with the usual popcorn and candy selections. Featured movie was part of a Winterbottom travel/culinary trilogy, that ended on an interesting point. Probably could have waited for the DVD via Amazon or viewed via You Tube...but nice to see this film on a large screen. Admission charged was $14 non SIFF member, $9 SIFF member. Something to consider, especially if you are a film buff. Glad SIFF retained both the Uptown and Egyptian theaters, unlike the fate of the Guild 45th. Sure miss the Neptune, but glad it was retained as a live music/entertainment venue. Or the long gone sites on Capitol Hill and Greenwood from the early-mid 1980s. I wish the main theater would undergo a seat upgrade though. The Crest up in Shoreline did, makes all the difference in comfort. When the seat springs hits your tailbone wrong, squirming during a two hour film is uncomfortable. Also, the sketchy folks at the outside parklet and the urine stench around the perimeter of the Uptown exterior...all of these observations collectively knocked off two stars. read more

SIFF Cinema Uptown - 9pm film (9/2/17) - Cinema Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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What a rad old school theater with a laid back, vibe. Reasonably priced. I took my daughter to see The Gorillaz docufilm and enjoyed the atmosphere. The food was reasonably priced and if you want a cheap burger, Dicks is across the street. I love the ads for Indy films before our show started. Looking forward to coming again. read more

SIFF Cinema Uptown - Inside by the poster - Cinema Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I was invited here for a Yelp event I signed up for and it took a half an hour to find parking . I finally had to pay for parking and then was turned away . You have to add at least a half an hour to whatever time it takes to get for, and then add 10.00 for parking if you want to go here . I can't testify to what the theatre was like because I wasn't let in . read more

Went for a Monday night showing of Parasite. Things were off to a rocky start with the $9 cup of Malbec from a bottle that can be purchased at the CVS across the street at $9 for the whole bottle. Once inside the theater we were greeted by seats that were old, filled with rips/tears, and reclined so much I felt like I was riding shotgun in a lowrider. Things went from bad to worse when about 15 minutes in, the screen went dark. An usher came out to explain that a fuse had blown, and they were working on it. Another 15 minutes pass before he returned to announce that the projector was broken and the showing is canceled. Not a huge deal, I thought, we'll just get a refund and try again another time. Nope. We were curtly informed that they "don't offer refunds," no matter the circumstances or whether they played the movie or not. Update: They provided a refund after calling and emailing the box office manager. read more

Definitely one of my favorite theaters in Seattle. And there are not many. Have seen some films that don't screen at main chained theaters so I'm glad this place is present to provide these movies to be screened read more

SIFF Uptown is the best, and we are so glad it's right in our neighborhood. We've been members for 5 years or so. You get a pretty deep discount on tickets (almost to '90s prices) if you're a member, as well as 5 free small popcorns every year. And don't quote me on this, but I think the memberships are tax deductible. Love the selection of beers and wines offered - someone has put some thought into that. Everyone who works there is so friendly. We're rarely willing to go anywhere else for movies. If it's not at SIFF, we'll wait for Netflix or HBO or whatever. read more

If you're looking for a hip little theatre in the Queen Anne neighborhood, this is your place! They only play the "artsy" type movies and are on the pricy side ($14 per tickets, $5 for a large bottle of water) but it's QA so... The theatre was clean with plenty of seats. The guy taking our tickets was very friendly. I would love to return if ever I find myself in the neighborhood. read more

SIFF Cinema Uptown knows how to host a big event. Great signage made it easy to figure out where to stand when. There were no fewer than 8 volunteers who were friendly assistants; sure it was only Day 4 of the festival, but they all seemed very willing and excited to help. Great popcorn and selection of wines and beers. read more

Nice to have independent movies near by. Nice theater ! Nice people ! It almost feels like Europe !!! read more

I've been to this theatre and didn't realise it until I stepped inside the main doors, it somehow looks the same as it did when I came over a decade ago. The movie we saw was really great. I did not use the restrooms or concessions stand at this visit. read more

This review is pretty simple. SIFF, in connection with Emerald City Comic Con, arranged to have an epic extravaganza at the Uptown involving my all-time favorite movie, Back to the Future. I'd never been to this theatre before, but it was a no-brainer that I'd be in attendance. Christopher Lloyd was to be the guest of honor and a processional of Deloreans from the PNW Delorean Club would start off the night. Color me ecstatic! A few weeks before the show, Christopher Lloyd had to cancel, which was a huge bummer. I assumed SIFF/ECCC would cancel the showing or just play the movie without the fanfare, but they ended up arranging for Lea Thompson to take his place. Now, she isn't an equal replacement by any means, but from the perspective of a Back to the Future fan, I was happy to see any of the cast from the film and beyond pleased they'd put in the effort to continue the night (mostly) as planned. The evening went great. I got my nerdy fill of all things Back to the Future: Deloreans, Q&A with Lea Thompson, a perfect film viewing with like-minded fans... The staff were great - very friendly and helpful. The theatre seats were more comfortable then I expected and, as someone who is pretty partial to stadium seating these days, I found the seating layout to be conducive to seeing without having to peer around a tall person's head too much. I'm sure I will be back to this theater in the future....get it....BACK TO this theatre in THE FUTURE...?? ;) read more

SIFF Cinema Uptown - Cinema Near Me - Seattle, Washington

A bit of a letdown. Like the Cinerama, the SIFF Cinema at the Uptown was previously an AMC run theatre. The theatre was closed for nearly a year until SIFF took over a couple months back. I have watched several flicks in the past at the Uptown including a SIFF screening here. This past weekend, the Uptown was showing my Yelp profile favorite movie, "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" in Smell-O-Vision and decided to catch a screening. I was looking forward to finding out what a snozberry smells like. The tickets for the Willy Wonka screenings were a bit higher than the price of a regular movie here. Attributable to the Smell-O-Vision I think. Still $15 seems awfully high for a screening of a 40 year old film. The theatre has three auditoriums. Willy Wonka was showing on the largest one which is the one the farthest to the left. It looks the same as before. If there were any aesthetic upgrades, they were not noticeable to me. The movie did not let me down. It is nice to watch Willy Wonka on the big screen for the first time. There were humorous quotes from the movie that I never noticed before, even though I have watched this film a half dozen times or more. But the Smell-O-Vision experience was a huge letdown. I was expecting some sort of ventilation machine to bring the smells of the film to life. What I got was a goodie bag of candy with a couple strips of paper sprayed with scents. The experience just seemed like a low tech way of enjoying the movie, but with candy involved. Despite my disappointment with the Willy Wonka screening, I am happy that Seattle has another art movie house and that the Uptown lives on. read more

Not sure if I am writing this more for the Uptown Theater (building) itself, or for a combination of that along with the fact that the programming here is now in the hands of SIFF. I guess both, since they're now one and the same. First and foremost, it's a solid little theater from probably around 50 years ago. It's always been fun to see movies here, and not too awfully much has changed about the building itself since it changed hands. The box office, concessions, bathrooms, and auditoriums are all basically the same. The seats are not the most comfortable in the world, but you won't leave with a backache or anything. It's just that these days we're spoiled with all the plush captain's chairs at most theaters. Going back to a place with low-backed upholstered seats and fixed armrest feels kinda quaint, without the advantage of antique charm to the rest of the room. But that's fine. What really matters here is the film programming. You're not going to be seeing Explosions V at the Uptown. They emphasize smaller productions with serious artistic, documentary, or other filmic ambitions. Most of the stuff they select achieves these ambitions on some level, and they book cool festivals like Noir City. You can now reliably depend on having a place in town that's virtually always showing cool movies. It's not like Queen Anne is choc a bloc with convenient free parking or anything, but there are tons of decent places to eat and grab a drink within easy walking distance of the Uptown. If you love film beyond what the Megan Foxes of the world (or whomever) are up to, then you'll find yourself in here on a regular basis. There's no place in town I trust more to go see a movie I have never heard of, on the off chance it will be good. Just go. read more

SIFF is a run of the mill older theatre with some really cool perks! First off, you can order beer and wine at the concession stand and bring it into the theatre! There's also some great baked goods you can grab at the snack bar! And ohhhh the popcorn seasoning options...from nutritional yeast to curry and everything inbetween. I've seen a few small showings here and also been for private party viewings where there is Q & A after the movie. But they also run new releases as well. read more

SIFF Cinema Uptown - Tap list is great considering you can't order drinks at most cinemas. - Cinema Near Me - Seattle, Washington

While Regal and Pacific Place started letting you enjoy their films like a normal person, SIFF Uptown continued to virtue signal by requiring masks. Pathetic and unnecessary. Still it's nice to have a place to see smaller indie and foreign films. read more

Watched a couple of movies here. Not a very big theater but not bad either. Apparently they have free parking here. The first time I was here, I didn't know. Parking can be expensive near the area. Staff are always friendly. Bathroom is clean. Big screen with good sound system. read more

I purchased a film festival package for SIFF 2020 ($180, 20 tickets). The festival was understandably and regrettably cancelled by SIFF due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Despite my financial challenges resulting from COVID, which I documented multiple times to SIFF, they refused to refund my purchase...indicating that the only options were to donate the money or to have it serve as a credit for the 2021 or 2022 film festivals. This is in stark contrast to the ethical behavior of other arts organizations which readily refunded my payments when COVID-related cancellations were announced. We've enjoyed SIFF in the past but will not return due to their unethical practices. read more

as a siff member and a person who's been to just about every movie theatre in the city (harvard exit and guild, r.i.p.) the uptown is probably my favorite. the popcorn is by far the best you'll find in town; i've even heard other people standing in line during the spring film festival concur and state they chose to see the screening at the uptown so that they could eat the popcorn! if you're trying to take advantage of parking in one of the two free lots, here's how to do it: find a spot in the lot, park, lock your car and go to the box office to buy your ticket. when you are there, ask them for a parking pass. after purchasing your ticket and with parking pass in hand, walk back to your car and place the parking pass (the color of the passes changes so don't be surprised if one time it's blue and the next it's green) in your dashboard on the driver's side. lock car, walk back, enter theatre, stop at bathroom and concession stand for amazing popcorn, find seat in correct theatre and enjoy your movie! during the film festival in the spring and for movies that are highly popular throughout the rest of the year, it may be difficult to snag a parking spot but most of the time they're available. since queen anne streets are regularly patrolled by the parking police, i'd recommend you shoot for one of the two siff lots to avoid being ticketed, especially on weekday evenings. there are two reasons i give four instead of five stars: the tunnel outside the theatre is the most unsavory place to have to wait in line for a movie, festival excitement or not. it usually reeks of pee. and, sometimes the people working the box office won't hand out the parking passes til 6:00pm exactly which makes it a logistical nightmare to try to run back and forth, get a seat and be ensconced in the theatre at the beginning of the movie. it's no skin off their back if they give it to you early and you take your chance on getting ticketed 10min before the siff parking is supposed to start on week nights. i've been highly annoyed at the disparity in seeing them hand out some passes to some people early on some days and not to other people on other days. in my mind, if have a policy, stick to it and train your employees as such. otherwise the theatre is run well and a great place to see a show. read more

Went here to see a SIFF film. The line to get in wrapped around the corner. I was in the main theater across from the concessions. The theater is huge and is traditional style, with seats on a slight incline. I was sitting about 5 rows from the back and thought the view was great. The concessions offer Rachel's Ginger beer and actual beer and wine. The popcorn is good too! read more

I really appreciate the clean seats. The real gem is the programming of archival and independent films you won't see anywhere else in town. Popcorn is pretty good too... They kept the shakers from the AMC days. Also location is super convenient for getting a bite before or after the film. read more