Necessities for the Festival-goer

The Seattle International Film Festival is screening more than 400 films this year in seven venues across Seattle, requiring the avid festival-goer to navigate from Capital Hill to Downtown to the University District to Seattle Center to the East Side.

There are plenty of movies to see, and a good deal of time is spent moving from place to place or standing in line. After many years attending the film festival I have developed something of a Film Festival Survivor Kit.

A sampling of the items I will always have with me:

The Festival Guide. This indispensable volume provides not only information about the festival and its venues, but details on each film showcased. And during the occasional waiting period it's nice to have something to read.

Kleenex and lozenges. I have a cold.

Mints.

Sunglasses, my Sundance pocket umbrella. Standing in line for good seats outside the Egyptian or Neptune Theaters (one needs to arrive early to ensure one is comfortably settled in at fourth row center when the lights go down) can take a half hour or more, and the weather this time of year in Seattle is unpredictable, though at some point one can count on a little rain.

Tickets and pass. Goes without saying.

Cash for parking, popcorn, pop and, where available, Goobers.

See you on the fourth row!