Spotlighting 400 full-length and short films originating from more than 60 countries, the 34th annual Seattle International Film Festival runs from May 22th through June 15th. Featuring gala screenings including Battle in Seattle, Bottle Shock, The Great Buck Howard and Kiss the Bride, the festival's 25 day run will also showcase an Emerging Masters series, the Planet Cinema program, four competitions (New Director's Showcase, New American Cinema, and Documentary Film and Short Film); panel discussions and forums; appearances by industry professionals such as Sir Ben Kingsley, Charlize Theron, and John Waters; local favorites like the Fly Films Challenge, Northwest Connections film series and the Secret Festival, and much, much more. For a full listing of screenings, movie descriptions and festival events, visit the Seattle International Film Festival's official website here.

Today: Cinematographer Oliver Stapleton (My Beautiful Laundrette, The Cider House Rules, Buffalo Soldiers, Casanova, The Water Horse) offers his view on the most basic and biggest mistakes inexperienced cinematographers make. See what he has to say in today's Ask a Filmmaker.

Have your own question for Mr. Stapleton? Submit it here: Ask a Cinematographer.

New to Ask a Filmmaker? Catch up on past columns in our archive.

Trailer for My Winnipeg
Trailer for Baghead
Trailer for Surfwise
Trailer for Mister Foe
Trailer for Towelhead
Trailer for Miss Conception
Trailer for The Wackness
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Films of the Future: New York Lately
So, you've finished making your latest masterpiece. Now, you're trying to figure out creative, but inexpensive ways of spreading the word about it, right? The filmmakers who created New York Lately found one intriguing way to grab the attention of movie fans and industry folk by submitting the poster and still photos from their film that revolves around a handful of New Yorkers looking for happiness to our site using IMDb Poster Services. Sharing the poster and photos stirs interest with movie fans of the world, studios and distributors alike -- want the same for your next release? Then head on over to IMDb Poster Services and get started.