Seattle, WA

Ranking the Seattle Mariners’ draft classes from Dipoto era

Published

9 months ago

July 11, 2025

Ranking the Seattle Mariners’ draft classes from Dipoto era

The Seattle Mariners will be on the clock soon.

The first day of the 2025 MLB Draft kicks off at 3 p.m. Sunday with the first three rounds taking place. The Mariners will make four selections that day, including the No. 3 overall pick. The draft concludes Monday with rounds 4 through 20.

Seattle Mariners Draft Profile: RHP Seth Hernandez would be swinging for fences

Under president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto and vice president of amateur scouting Scott Hunter, the Mariners have developed a reputation as one of baseball’s best draft and development teams. A look back at each class beginning when Dipoto was hired as general manager and Hunter as director of amateur scouting in 2016 shows plenty of hits from the organization.

Which class in the Dipoto-Hunter era is the best? We’re going to take a look back at each class and attempt to rank them from best to worst. Below is a look at the picks from the first five rounds of each draft, other notable picks and reasoning for each ranking.

Seattle Mariners draft class rankings

1. 2018

• First round (No. 14): Logan Gilbert, RHP
• Second round (No. 54): Josh Stowers, CF
• Third round (No. 90): Cal Raleigh, C
• Fourth round (No. 118): Michael Plassmeyer, LHP
• Fifth round (No. 148): Nolan Hoffman, RHP
• 33rd round (No. 988): Penn Murfee, RHP

Overview: A draft that featured a pair of All-Stars who have shown they are capable of being legitimate Cy Young and MVP candidates has to come in at No. 1 here. Logan Gilbert has emerged as the ace of a very talented starting rotation and one of baseball’s best pitchers. Cal Raleigh is currently in a two-man race for AL MVP and is baseball’s best catcher. In fact, the 16.1 WAR Raleigh has produced to this point in his career is more than the combined 13.3 WAR produced by all six catchers picked in front of him.

Seattle also got a stellar season-plus out of reliever Penn Murfee, a 33rd-round pick, before he had Tommy John surgery and was eventually released in 2023. Two other pitchers the Mariners picked – 21st-rounder Grant Anderson and 36th-rounder Justin Wrobleski (who didn’t sign) – have also reached the big leagues with other teams.

2. 2021

• First round (No. 12): Harry Ford, C
• Second round (No. 48): Edwin Arroyo, SS
• Third round (No. 83): Michael Morales, RHP
• Fourth round (No. 113): Bryce Miller, RHP
• Fifth round (No. 144): Andy Thomas, C
• Sixth round (No. 174): Bryan Woo, RHP
• 20th round (No. 594): Troy Taylor, RHP (did not sign)

Overview: The Mariners started to see this fruits of this draft class early with both Bryce Miller and Bryan Woo becoming fixtures in the rotation after debuting in 2023. Elbow issues have put a damper on Miller’s 2025 campaign, but the right-hander already has a sub-3.00 ERA season under his belt. Woo, who had a 6.36 ERA in college, just made his first All-Star team and looks like the biggest steal of the draft.

Harry Ford, a top 100 prospect who was just selected to his third Futures Game, could end up making this draft class look even better. The pick of Edwin Arroyo in the second round is also notable since he was second-best prospect moved in the trade that brought starting pitcher Luis Castillo to Seattle in 2022, a move that helped end the Mariners’ 21-year playoff drought.

3. 2023

• First round (No. 22): Colt Emerson, SS
• First round (No. 29): Jonny Farmelo, OF
• First round (No. 30): Tai Peete, SS
• Second round (No. 57): Ben Williamson, 3B
• Third round (No. 92): Teddy McGraw, RHP
• Fourth round (No. 124): Aidan Smith, OF
• Fifth round (No. 160): Brock Rodden, SS
• 11th round (No. 337): Brandyn Garcia, LHP
• 12th round (No. 367): Logan Evans, RHP

Overview: For as good as the drafts above were, the 2023 draft class has a chance to be best on this list once everyone has played out their big league careers. Colt Emerson and Jonny Farmelo have become two of the most exciting prospects in Seattle’s talent-rich farm system and appear to be important pieces for the future of the franchise. Ben Williamson and 12th-round pick Logan Evans have already reached the majors and made key contributions this season to a Mariners team that’s in the hunt for an AL wild playoff berth.

Brandyn Garcia, an 11th-round pick, has reached Triple-A and could crack the roster as a reliever at some point this season. And there’s still plenty of untapped potential with Tai Peete, who is in High-A at just 19 years old. Oh yeah, the M’s also used fourth-rounder Aidan Smith and sixth-rounder Brody Hopkins to acquire Randy Arozarena last July. Pretty good stuff.

4. 2019

• First round (No. 20): George Kirby, RHP
• Second round (No. 59): Brandon Williamson, LHP
• Second round (No. 76): Isaiah Campbell, RHP
• Third round (No. 76): Levi Stoudt, RHP
• Fourth round (No. 126): Tim Elliot, RHP
• Fifth round (No. 156): Austin Shenton, 3B
• 20th round (No. 606): Cade Marlowe, OF

Overview: The Mariners went heavy on pitching early in this draft and hit in a major way by taking George Kirby in the first round. Kirby was the first of Seattle’s core of homegrown starting pitchers to make an All-Star game and has been one of baseball’s best strike-throwers since he debuted in 2022.

Most of the rest of the notable picks in this draft were used as trade chips. Brandon Williamson, Austin Shenton and Levi Stoudt were each used to acquire players who helped the Mariners end their playoff drought. Williamson was the headlining prospect sent to the Cincinnati Reds in the deal for Eugenio Suárez and Jesse Winker in 2022. Shenton wasone of two players sent to the Tampa Bay Rays for reliever Diego Castillo in 2021. And Stoudt was one of four players moved to land Luis Castillo. Seattle also got some value out of 20th-rounder Cade Marlowe in 2023.

5. 2022

• First round (No. 21): Cole Young, SS
• Second round (No. 58): Tyler Locklear, 3B
• Second round (No. 74): Walter Ford, RHP
• Fourth round (No. 126): Ashton Izzi, RHP
• Fifth round (No. 156): Reid VanScoter, LHP
• 12th round (No. 366): Troy Taylor, RHP

Overview: The Mariners’ 2022 draft class very much falls into the category of being too early to make any definitive statements on. Much of the value of this draft could end up falling on the shoulders of Cole Young. Now at second base in the majors, Young quickly became one of Seattle’s top prospects. Considering the fact that he is one of just two high schoolers taken in the 2022 first round to reach the big leagues (the other is No. 1 pick Jackson Holliday), he’s lived up to that billing so far.

The rest of the class is still very much up in the air. Troy Taylor seemed like the latest late-round pitching gem uncovered by Seattle during a surprising debut season in 2024. However, he struggled in the majors this season and has also had troubles in Triple-A. Tyler Locklear was briefly a top 100 prospect and got a taste of the majors last season, but has yet to make an impact at the big league level. Second-rounder Walter Ford has also lost much of the prospect hype he had after being taken out of high school. He ended 2023 as Seattle’s eighth-ranked prospect, per MLB Pipeline, but is no longer in the organization’s top 30.

6. 2024

• First round (No. 15): Jurrangelo Cijntje, switch-handed pitcher
• Second round (No. 55): Ryan Sloan, RHP
• Third round (No. 91): Hunter Cranton, RHP
• Fourth round (No. 121): Josh Caron, C
• Fifth round (No. 154): Charlie Beilenson, RHP

Overview: This is another class that’s far too early to judge, but the early returns on Seattle’s first two picks look promising. Switch-pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje was named to this year’s Futures Game and is a top 100 prospect ranked eighth in the Mariners’ system by Pipeline. With his unique ability to throw with both hands, there’s a lot of intriguing upside. Speaking of upside, there might be even more with Ryan Sloan. Sloan is putting together a solid season with Single-A Modesto at just 19 years old, and he’s also cracked Pipeline’s top 100 rankings.

7. 2016

• First round (No. 11): Kyle Lewis, OF
• Second round (No. 50): Joe Rizzo, 3B
• Third round (No. 87): Bryson Brigman, SS
• Fourth round (No. 117): Thomas Burrows, LHP
• Fifth round (No. 147): Donovan Walton, SS
• Seventh round (No. 207): Matt Festa, RHP
• 40th round (No. 1,197): Adley Rutschman, C (did not sign)

Overview: We’ve gotten to the territory of recent Mariners drafts that just weren’t very good. However, part of the reason this class comes in so low is some unfortunate injury luck. First-rounder Kyle Lewis looked like Seattle’s center fielder of the future after winning Rookie of the Year in the COVID-shortened 2020 season. As we all know now, Lewis would play just 54 games in a Mariners uniform after that season as he dealt with recurring knee issues and freak injuries like being concussed by an errant pitch. With that said, the 2.4 WAR Lewis produced as a Mariner is the most by anybody in this class.

One fun note is that Seattle took a high school catcher out of Oregon named Adley Rutschman in the 40th and final round. He didn’t sign, but it’s a good look on the scouting department that they took a future No. 1 overall selection nearly 1,200 picks into the draft.

8. 2020

• First round (No. 6): Emerson Hancock, RHP
• Second round (No. 43): Zach DeLoach, OF
• Second round (No. 64): Connor Phillips
• Third round (No. 78): Kaden Polcovich, 2B
• Fourth round (No. 107): Tyler Kennan, 3B
• Fifth round (No. 137): Taylor Dollard, RHP

Overview: The 2020 draft has to be graded on a curve. It was only five rounds and it came after the college season was cancelled by the COVID pandemic. However, it’s one that doesn’t look very good for the Mariners even with all that considered. First-rounder Emerson Hancock has shown some good signs of progress this year while helping an injury-riddled starting rotation, but names like future All-Stars Garrett Crochet and Pete Crow-Armstrong were still on the board with the sixth pick.

This class may look a bit better if it weren’t for an injury to fifth-rounder Taylor Dollard, though. Dollard reached Triple-A Tacoma by 2023, but a torn labrum forced him to miss most of the season and all of 2024. He recently made his return in June and is currently pitching in High-A.

9. 2017

• First round (No. 17): Evan White, 1B
• Second round (No. 55): Sam Carlson, RHP
• Third round (No. 93): Wyatt Mills, RHP
• Fourth round (No. 123): Seth Elledge, RHP
• Fifth round (No. 153): David Banuelos, C
• 11th round (No. 133): JP Sears, LHP
• 36th round (No. 1,083): Heston Kjerstad, CF (did not sign)

Overview: The best thing to come out of this class for the Mariners was that third-rounder Wyatt Mills was one of two players traded to get Carlos Santana from Kansas City in 2022. Outside of that, this was a rough draft. The most productive player Seattle picked never ended up playing for the team. Left-hander JP Sears, an 11th-round pick, has become a decent big league starter for the Athletics, but the Mariners traded him to the Yankees in a 2017 deal for reliever Nick Rumbelow, who had a 7.58 ERA in 19 innings with the Mariners.

Seattle does have a Gold Glove from this class, though. First-round pick Evan White won one at first base in 2020, but the University of Kentucky product never showed the ability to hit big league pitching, missed most of the next three seasons with injuries and was traded to Atlanta after 2023. This was also the second year in a row where the Mariners picked a future top-two pick by the Orioles in the later rounds. Heston Kjerstad, a 36th-rounder who didn’t sign, went on to be the No. 2 pick in the 2020 draft.

More on the Seattle Mariners

• Two insiders name D-backs 1B Naylor as ideal Seattle Mariners trade target
• Seattle Mariners Draft Profile: The bigger Holliday brother, Ethan Holliday
• Insider drops All-Star closer’s name as Seattle Mariners trade target
• Seattle Mariners Draft Profile: Funky Florida State lefty Jamie Arnold
• Seattle Mariners’ draft prep at No. 3 tougher than expected

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Seattle, WA

Padres rally in 9th inning to stun Seattle Mariners 7-6

Published

7 hours ago

April 16, 2026

Press Room

Padres rally in 9th inning to stun Seattle Mariners 7-6

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Jackson Merrill hit a walkoff, two-run double to cap San Diego’s five-run ninth inning and the Padres beat the Seattle Mariners 7-6 on Wednesday night for their seventh win in a row.

San Diego Padres 7, Seattle Mariners 6: Box Score

The Padres won a game after entering the ninth inning trailing by four-plus runs for the first time since June 14, 2019.

Andrés Muñoz (2-2) came on to start the ninth and loaded the bases before Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a pinch-hit sacrifice fly. Luis Campusano and Ramón Laureano followed with two-out RBI singles that made it 6-5.

Jose A. Ferrer replaced Muñoz and five pitches later Merrill hit a line drive to left field that ended it.

Alek Jacob (1-0) came on to start the eighth and pitched two scoreless innings for his second career win. Starter Randy Vásquez gave up four runs and five hits in four innings. He walked four and had six strikeouts.

Xander Bogaerts hit a two-run homer in the sixth. The 33-year-old shortstop has 200 career home runs, 45 in his three-plus seasons with the Padres.

Bogaerts, Laureano, Merrill and Gavin Sheets had two hits apiece.

Luke Raley hit a two-run home run, doubled and finished with a career-high four hits for the Mariners.

Seattle starter Emerson Hancock allowed two runs and had six strikeouts in six innings.

Dominic Canzone and Brendan Donovan each drove in two runs for the Mariners.

Randy Arozarena singled and stole second base before Raley’s two-run shot made it 6-0 in the fifth.

Arozarena, who also doubled, scored three times.

Before the game, Padres manager Craig Stammen said opening day starter Nick Pivetta, who was put on the 15-day IL on Tuesday, will be out maybe months.

Up next

Seattle’s Luis Castillo (0-0, 6.92 ERA) takes the mound on Thursday against Walker Buehler (0-1, 4.97) to conclude a three-game set.

More on the Seattle Mariners

• Changes helping Mariners’ Luke Raley look like his old self
• Trevor May: Mariners’ Brendan Donovan ‘has been as advertised’
• Former Mariners clubhouse favorite continuing career in Mexico
• How will Bryce Miller’s return impact Seattle Mariners rotation?
• Keith Law’s under-the-radar Seattle Mariners prospect to watch

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Seattle, WA

Seattle International Film Festival Announces 2026 Lineup with ‘The Invite,’ ‘I Love Boosters,’ and More

Published

19 hours ago

April 15, 2026

Press Room

Seattle International Film Festival Announces 2026 Lineup with ‘The Invite,’ ‘I Love Boosters,’ and More

There are few cities with local film cultures that feel as alive as what’s happening in Seattle right now. A long-time haven for indie auteurs, scrappy productions, and cinephiles of all stripes, the bustling artistic hub in Washington has slowly become not just an inlet for mainstream Hollywood success stories — but also an essential source for the sort of edgier fringe projects that make the movies feel revolutionary.

That punk-rock energy will surge through the city once more this spring when the Seattle International Film Festival returns for its 52nd edition. Running from May 7 to 17, at various venues across the city, SIFF 2026 will showcase 203 films from 71 countries and regions. The newly announced lineup includes 71 narrative features, 34 documentaries, and 98 shorts. Most films currently lack U.S. distribution, reinforcing the fest’s role as a launchpad for filmmakers who might otherwise struggle to break through.

“The films at this year’s Festival represent a wide array of voices, regions, storytelling, and style,” artistic director Beth Barrett said in a release. “In our increasingly divided world, film is a medium that can close some of those gaps, and help us understand the universality of humanity.”

SIFF festival programming manager Megan Leonard continued, “This year’s lineup will cinelate the mind, body and soul — even while at times providing an escape, these 203 films don’t shy away from diving headfirst into the issues of today. We salute the bravery and fortitude of all the filmmakers who poured into their creations in such a complex artistic landscape.”

The festival will open with “I Love Boosters,” the latest from Boots Riley, whose follow-up to 2018’s “Sorry to Bother You” comes stacked with star power including Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie, and LaKeith Stanfield. The filmmaker will be in attendance at the Paramount Theater.

Closing night will shift gears with “The Invite” from director/star Olivia Wilde. It’s a relationship drama written by Rashida Jones and Will McCormack, also starring Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz, and Edward Norton. Wilde will present the film and a live Q&A at SIFF Cinema downtown.

The rest of the lineup leans heavy into the eclectic. Highlights include “Powwow People,” a locally shot documentary from Sky Hopinka that will receive the Seattle Film Critics Society’s John Hartl Pacific Northwest Spotlight Award — and “Obsession,” a wish-fullfillment horror entry from Curry Barker. John Carney also returns with the music-driven crowd-pleaser “Power Ballad,” and Kenji Tanigaki will deliver a high-octane martial arts showcase in “The Furious.” Genre fans can further look forward to a reimagined presentation of “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” and SIFF’s ever-mysterious Secret Fest returns with its NDA-guarded screenings.

SIFF’s continued confidence in local audiences who will seek out the unfamiliar only bolsters Seattle’s growing reputation as a destination ready to help shape the future of cinema.

Read on for the full 2026 lineup, with all synopses and competition details provided by the festival.

Opening Night Film & Party

I Love Boosters

Thursday, May 7 – The Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine St
Doors Open to Public: 6:00 pm (Paramount Theatre)
SIFF Welcome & Screening: 7:00 pm (Paramount Theatre)
After-Party: Following the Film (Cannonball Arts)
Opening Night Film & Party Tickets: $55.00 | $75.00 Non-Members
Film Only Tickets: $40.00 | $35.00 Non-Members

I Love Boosters follows a crew of professional shoplifters taking aim at a cutthroat fashion maven. It’s like community service! Boots Riley’s sophomore film stars Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie, Taylour Paige, Poppy Liu, Eiza Gonzalez, LaKeith Stanfield, Will Poulter, Don Cheadle & Demi Moore. Riley’s feature debut Sorry to Bother You was featured as the Centerpiece film at the 2018 Seattle International Film Festival.

(d: Boots Riley c: Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie, Taylour Paige, Poppy Liu, Eiza Gonzalez, LaKeith Stanfield, Don Cheadle, Demi Moore, USA 2026, 115 min)

Closing Night Film

The Invite

Saturday, May 17, 7:00 pm – SIFF Cinema Downtown
Audience Q&A with Director and Star Olivia Wilde to follow screening
Closing Night Film Tickets: $35.00 Members | $40.00 Non-Members

In The Invite, Joe and Angela’s marriage is on thin ice. When they invite their enigmatic upstairs neighbors for a dinner party, the night spirals into unexpected places. Have they reignited the spark or lit the match that burns it all down?

Fresh off its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival and newly acquired by A24, The Invite has already generated strong buzz, with early reviews calling it “a wildly funny, deeply human look at modern relationships.” Also starring Seth Rogen, Penelope Cruz and Edward Norton, the film follows two very different couples whose lives collide during an unexpected night together. Director Olivia Wilde is scheduled to appear in person to present this San Francisco-set story, which was written by Rashida Jones and Will McCormack.

(d: Olivia Wilde c: Seth Rogen, Olivia Wilde, Penélope Cruz, Edward Norton, USA 2026, 107 min)

Competitions

Our competitions come in two forms. The juried competitions are made up of films selected by our Festival programmers and represent the best in their category from all over the world. A carefully selected jury of industry professionals then determines the winners. These include the Official Competition, Documentary Competition, New American Cinema Competition, Dan Ireland Prize, New Directors Competition, Ibero-American Competition. The other form of competition is the Golden Space Needle Awards, which are selected by SIFF audiences using our online platform. Categories include Best Film, Best Documentary, Best Director, Best Performance, Best Short Film, and the Lena Sharpe Award for Persistence of Vision. The winners will be announced on Sunday, May 17 at the Golden Space Needle Awards Ceremony.

Golden Space Needle Awards

Since 2013, the Golden Space Needle Award design has been created by artist Piper O’Neill, Principal & Creative Director of Idlewild Union. The award is given in six categories (Best Film, Best Documentary, Best Director, Best Performance, Best Short Film, and the Lena Sharpe Award for Persistence of Vision) as voted by festival audiences. The jury and audience winners will be announced on May 17 at the Golden Space Needle Awards Reception.

Official Competition

With work spanning the world, the six films in the Official Competition illustrate some of the finest filmmaking this year. These films represent some of the Festival’s best, and should be at the top of your movie-watching lists. Juried by a team of international industry members, the winner of the Official Competition will be announced at the Golden Space Needle Awards and receive a cash prize of $5,000.

2026 Entries:

Burn, d: Makoto Nagahisa (Japan 2026)
The Friend’s House is Here, d: Hossein Keshavarz, Maryam Ataei (Iran/USA 2026)
Lady, d: Samuel Abrahams (United Kingdom 2025)
Mārama, d: Taratoa Stappard (Māori) (New Zealand 2025)
Silent Friend, d: Ildikó Enyedi (Germany/Hungary 2025)
Sundays, d: Alauda Ruiz de Azúa (Spain 2025)

Documentary Competition

There are stories to be told all throughout our living world, providing documentarians endless source material for compelling projects. Music, dance, art, politics, sports, social injustices, and nature itself all offer new perspectives and challenge our preconceived notions. These films broaden our horizons and invigorate our understanding of the planet, including the people and creatures with whom we share it. The winner will be announced at the Golden Space Needle Awards and receive a cash prize of $5,000.

2026 Entries:

American Doctor, d: Poh Si Teng (USA/Palestine/Malaysia/Qatar 2026)
Birds of War, d: Janay Boulos, Abd Alkader Habak (United Kingdom/Syria/Lebanon 2026)
Bucks Harbor, d: Peter Muller (USA 2026)
Kikuyu Land, d: Andrew H. Brown (Huron-Wyandot), Bea Wangondu (Kikuyu) (Kenya/USA 2026)
Nuisance Bear, d: Gabriela Osio Vanden, Jack Weisman (USA/Canada/United Kingdom 2026)
The Seoul Guardians, d: Jong-woo Kim, Shin-Wan Kim, Chul-Young Cho (South Korea 2026)
To Hold a Mountain, d: Biljana Tutorov, Petar Glomazić (Serbia/France/Montenegro/Slovenia 2026)
Yo (Love is a Rebellious Bird), d: Anna Fitch, Banker White (USA 2026)

New American Cinema Competition

When we begin our programming selection process in the fall, the team looks in awe at the sheer volume of films by independent American filmmakers, a category that fields the largest number of submissions by far. We can only select a fraction to take to the finals, but the heavy competition leads to a truly remarkable collective output of U.S. independents. Each of these films may not currently have a distributor, but they have a champion on the programming team. Our mission is to herald the diversity of the American experience through voices sorely underrepresented in American cinema. The winner will be announced at the Golden Space Needle Awards and receive a cash prize of $5,000.

2026 Entries:

April X, d: Michel K. Parandi (USA/Romania 2025)
Crystal Cross, d: Richie James Follin (Cherokee) (USA 2025)
Edie Arnold is a Loser, d: Megan Rico, Kade Atwood (USA 2026)
Hot Water, d: Ramzi Bashour (USA 2026)
Lucky Lu, d: Lloyd Lee Choi (USA/Canada 2025)
Valentina, d: Tatti Ribeiro (USA 2025)

Dan Ireland Prize

In 2026, SIFF will present the inaugural Dan Ireland Prize to a promising new U.S. director, to be given alongside the New American Cinema Jury award. This support is provided by Harry Gregson-Williams, and originated as part of the Louisiana International Film Festival to honor SIFF Founder and LIFF Artistic Director, accomplished filmmaker and mentor, Dan Ireland. The winner of the Dan Ireland Prize will receive a cash prize of $3,000.

New Directors Competition

Be at the cutting edge of world cinema and take a little risk in your viewing. This year, seven new international voices have been selected for SIFF’s New Directors Competition. To qualify, the films must be dramatic features, a director’s debut or second feature, and without U.S. distribution at the time of SIFF selection. The films are chosen for their original scripts, innovative cinematography, and unique insights into people, places, and story. The New Directors jury comprises film industry professionals and journalists who will choose the winning filmmaker during the Festival’s final weekend. The winner will be announced at the Golden Space Needle Awards and receive a cash prize of $5,000.

2026 Entries:

Becoming Human, d: Polen Ly (Cambodia 2025)
Cotton Queen, d: Suzannah Mirghani (Germany/France/Palestine/Egypt/Qatar/Saudi Arabia/Sudan 2025)
Happy Birthday, d: Sarah Goher (Egypt 2025)
Hijra, d: Shahad Ameen (Saudi Arabia/Iraq/Egypt/United Kingdom 2025)
Shape of Momo, d: Tribeny Rai (India/South Korea 2025)
Three of a Kind, d: Charlotte Brodthagen (Denmark 2026)
Trial of Hein, d: Kai Stänicke (Germany 2026)

Ibero-American Competition

The Ibero-American Competition selects 8 outstanding films from Latin America, Spain, and Portugal to highlight the increasing power, creativity, and influence of storytelling in the region. To be eligible, films must be without U.S. distribution at the time of their selection. A jury made up of film industry professionals and journalists will be responsible for selecting the winning film. The winner will be announced at the Golden Space Needle Awards and receive a cash prize of $5,000.

2026 Entries:

Balandrau, Where the Fierce Wind Blew, d: Fernando Trullols (Spain 2026)
The Condor Daughter, d: Alvaro Olmos Torrico (Quechua) (Bolivia 2025)
Fifteen, d: Jack Zagha, Yossy Zagha (Mexico/Argentina 2026)
The Garden We Dreamed, d: Joaquín del Paso (Mexico 2026)
It Would Be Night in Caracas, d: Mariana Rondón, Marité Ugás (Mexico/Venezuela 2025)
Iván & Hadoum, d: Ian de la Rosa (Spain/Germany/Belgium 2026)
Jaripeo, d: Efraín Mojica, Rebecca Zweig (Mexico/USA/France 2026)
The Red Hangar, d: Juan Pablo Sallato (Chile/Argentina/Italy 2026)

Short Films Competition

Limited in length but never in creativity, short films have their very own energy, far removed from the financial constraints of a feature film and often the rules of cinema itself. Whether they embody the start of an idea or the crystallization of one, shorts are one of the most consistently intriguing cinematic forms, a fascinating world unto themselves. Each year, SIFF is proud to present a collection of short films we believe best represent the form’s limitless imaginative possibilities. While these films may be onscreen for mere moments, they make lasting impressions. Every short film in the Seattle International Film Festival is eligible for both the Golden Space Needle Audience Award and the Grand Jury Prize. Our Shorts Competition jurors will choose winners in the Live-Action, Animation, and Documentary categories. Each Grand Jury Prize winner will receive $2,500; winners may also qualify to enter their respective Short Film category of the Academy Awards® for the concurrent season without the theatrical run.

Programs

New American Cinema

Going to the movies has long been a favorite American pastime, and these filmmakers are determined to keep it that way. Each of these films represents a unique voice, and together they reflect the diversity of the American experience.

April X
Chili Finger
Drunken Noodles
Edie Arnold is a Loser
Hot Water
If I Go Will They Miss Me
I Want Your Sex
Late Fame
Lucky Lu
See You When I See You
Valentina

World Cinema

These stories showcase bold voices, fresh perspectives, and unforgettable storytelling from today’s international filmmakers.

African Pictures

Bringing the best filmmaking happening in and about Africa today to American audiences. Don’t miss this opportunity to delight in these innovative and inspiring works spanning diverse regions and cultures.

Black Burns Fast
Cotton Queen
Happy Birthday
Kikuyu Land
Promised Sky

Asian Crossroads

Discover the most exciting films to come from Earth’s largest continent with our Asian Crossroads program. Selected films represent a diverse collection of genres from across the regions and cultures of Central, East, and South Asia.

Another World
Becoming Human
Burn
Deadline
En Route To
Renoir
Roid
The Seoul Guardians
Shape of Momo
Sons of the Neon Night

Australia

A distinctive Australian selection showcasing contemporary storytelling through a queer neo-noir lens.

Body Blow

Canada

Explore the richness of Canada’s cinematic landscape through tension and diaspora perspectives within Toronto’s communities.

100 Sunset

Ibero-American Cinema

Ibero-American Cinema is nurtured by diversity, unique histories, and a rich tradition of storytelling. Allow the powerful documentaries and works of fiction in this program to ignite your emotions and expand your imagination.

Balandrau, Where the

Fierce Wind Blew

The Condor Daughter

The Garden We Dreamed

It Would Be Night in Caracas

Iván & Hadoum

Jaripeo

Maspalomas

The Red Hangar

Strange River

Sundays

Europe

A cross-continental program bringing together films that span genres and eras, from historical reckonings to unexpected and unconventional turns. These films capture the variety of filmmaking across Europe today.

Amrum

Case 137

Franz

Hen

Lady

Murder in the Building

Primavera

Silent Friend

Tell Everyone

Three Goodbyes

Three of a Kind

Trial of Hein

Middle East

The Middle East is rooted in history, identity, and a rapidly changing cultural landscape. Experience evocative films that bring urgent and deeply personal stories from around the region.

The Friend’s House is Here

Hijra

Hold Onto Me

Salvation

Alternate Cinema

Forward-thinking, pattern-disrupting independent films for viewers with a passion for experimentation. Our Alternate Cinema program promises to open your mind with unconventional cinematography and fresh narratives.

EIGHT BRIDGES

Archival Films

Are you a history buff? A lover of pre-CGI practical effects or Old Hollywood glamor’s stacked lashes and Marcel waves? Well, we’ve got a stellar lineup of stunningly restored films from decades past that will transport you back to the time when films were actually shot on film and trailers were still at the end of the movie.

Prisoners of the Earth

Queen Kelly

Documentary Films

From intimate portraits to thrilling reconstructions of historical events and everything in between.

American Doctor

The Ascent

Barbara Forever

Beat the Lotto

Birds of War

Boorman and the Devil

Bucks Harbor

Cuba & Alaska

Ghost in the Machine

Hanging by a Wire

Love Chaos Kin

Maintenance Artist

Nuisance Bear

Rising Through the Fray

Soul Patrol

To Hold a Mountain

When A Witness Recants

Yo (Love is a Rebellious Bird)

Culinary Cinema

Culinary Cinema serves up films that explore food in all its intensity and artistry. Awaken your senses with a flavorful lineup where food takes center stage.

The Big Cheese

One of Our Own: A Tribute to Joan Roca

Face the Music

Regular exposure to music and film is essential to maintaining your personal equilibrium. That’s why we created Face the Music, a scientifically proven regimen of music-centered movies for your peak audio-visual health.

The Best Summer
Broken English

cINeDIGENOUS

SIFF acknowledges that we are on Indigenous land, the traditional territories of the Coast Salish people. This program amplifies Indigenous filmmakers worldwide, sharing vital voices for our planet and its people.

Aanikoobijigan [ancestor/great-grandparent/great-grandchild]
Crystal Cross
Mārama
Meadowlarks
Powwow People
Reservation Redemption

Northwest Connections

Washingtonians have a distinct culture, and the films in this program highlight all that makes us unique. Grab your raincoat—skip the umbrella—and head on over to SIFF for these movies filmed or set in the PNW.

Again Again
Assets & Liabilities
The Life We Leave
Phoenix Jones: The Rise and Fall of a Real Life Superhero
RADIOHEART: The Drive and Times of DJ Kevin Cole
Under a Million Stars

WTF: Wild, Terrifying, Fantastic!

All aboard this ultimate WTF cruise to the strangest, most disconcerting, and silliest parts of this spooky, slimy planet we call Earth—and maybe even beyond.

Camp
Fifteen
The Furious
Gaua
Obsession
The Restoration at Grayson Manor

Films4Families

Family-friendly films for kids, their chaperones, and anyone with a sense of childlike wonder. Enjoy the bright colors, quirky sound effects, and sweet narratives of these fabulous children’s features and shorts from around the world.

Cookie Queens
Songbirds’ Secret

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Seattle, WA

Seattle roars as 36,128 watch U.S. debut new Lumen grass in 1-0 loss to Japan

Published

1 day ago

April 15, 2026

Press Room

Seattle roars as 36,128 watch U.S. debut new Lumen grass in 1-0 loss to Japan

SEATTLE — Maika Hamano scored and Japan beat the U.S. women’s national team 1-0 in a friendly on Tuesday tight to snap the Americans’ 10-game winning streak.

The loss was the first for the U.S. since Oct. 23, 2025, a 2-1 setback to Portugal, and marked the first time the Americans lost in a shutout in 42 games.

RELATED | USWNT gets a sneak peek at the grass installed at Lumen for the World Cup

Japan midfielder Maika Hamano (17) celebrates with defender Risa Shimizu (2) after scoring against the United States during the first half of an international friendly soccer match Tuesday, April 14, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

The U.S. had won 10 straight matches for the first time since 2023 after its 2-1 victory against Japan on Saturday.

Before Saturday, Japan had won the last meeting with the United States 2-1 in the 2025 SheBelieves Cup final.

Hamano fooled Lilly Reale, and then booted a left-footed shot over goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce’s outstretched left hand in the 27th minute.

Japan goalkeeper Akane Okuma collects the ball against United States midfielder Jaedyn Shaw during the first half of an international friendly soccer match Tuesday, April 14, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

U.S. coach Emma Hayes made sweeping changes to the lineup she had used on Saturday in San Jose, resting players including Sophia Wilson and Trinity Rodman, who started in the previous game.

Wilson and Rodman entered as substitutes in the 65th minute, as did Tierna Davidson and Gisele Thompson. Davidson had not played for the United States since February 2025, after tearing her ACL in a match with Gotham FC last March.

Wilson played for the second straight match after the birth of her daughter. She had not played for the U.S. since October 2024.

Tuesday marked the first time the U.S. women’s national team played on the new grass that has been installed at Lumen Field for this summer’s World Cup. The women’s team had not been to Lumen since 2017 because of the stadium’s artificial turf.

The announced crowd was 36,128 for the game, which broke the record for a standalone women’s match in Seattle. Megan Rapinoe’s retirement match with the Seattle Reign in 2023 drew 34,130 fans.

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The finale of the three-game series between the U.S. and Japan is slated for Friday in Commerce City, Colorado.

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