SIFF Battles Another Kind of Festival Bloat

We often kid SIFF about its ever-expanding schedule, but there’s a different kind of bloat that can afflict serious SIFFgoers. Over 25 days, if you do nothing but sit in darkened cinemas noshing on popcorn, soda, and candy, you could possibly gain 25 pounds during the festival. There aren’t many opportunities for exercise—or even getting outdoors—for the dedicated movie fan. So it’s fitting that SIFF will be screening The Triplets of Belleville outside at Kirkland’s Juanita Beach Park at 9 p.m. Sat., May 29. The Oscar-nominated 2003 French film is a delightful animated adventure revolving around bicycles and the Tour de France. (Read our original review from Sheila Benson.) And the screening precedes the annual 7 Hills of Kirkland bike ride (held Memorial Day, Mon., May 31). So filmgoers inspired by Triplets can then ride 40 miles, gaining over 3,000 feet in elevation, and burn off at least some the prior week’s SIFF calories.