SIFF Cinema Egyptian

801 E. Pine Street,
Seattle, WA 98122

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Related Websites

Seattle International Film Festival (Official)

Additional Info

Previously operated by: Landmark Theatres (USA)

Architects: Charles Willard Saunders

Firms: Saunders & Lawton

Functions: Movies (First Run)

Styles: Egyptian

Previous Names: Egyptian Theatre, SIFF Egyptian Theatre

Phone Numbers: Box Office: 206.324.9996

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News About This Theater

SIFF Cinema Egyptian

Originally built as a Masonic Temple, the theatre was taken over by the Seattle International Film Festival in 1980, and converted into an Egyptian-themed art house cinema. Operated by Landmark Theatres it continued to show films until June 27, 2013, when Landmark did not renew the lease. The SFF Egyptian Theatre reopened November 20, 2014. By 2021 it has been renamed SIFF Cinema Egyptian.

Recent comments (view all 20 comments)

droben
droben on February 21, 2007 at 1:11 pm

Mark, the old wood seats are still there, but only the ones in the back below the projection booth. About three years ago, the theater was altered to improve the sound by walling off the side balconies, so there are no longer any posts to obscure viewing.

And, yes, during the Seattle International Film Festival, the balcony is frequently opened up. I “tested” one of those old seats once and the word “painful” comes to mind. By the way, the altering has lowered the seating capacity to about 450 seats.

I love this theater. During the festival, it becomes my home away from home. Many people still complain about the sound, but I’ve never had any issues. New seats on the main floor, no stadiaum seating, a big screen and a curtain…what’s not to love?

Simon Overton
Simon Overton on October 17, 2011 at 4:34 pm

LOSTMEMORY… Please remove your post as this account is no longer working. In fact, I sincerely wish that everyone who has disabled their photos, etc., would PLEASE review their CT account and remove what’s NOT available. It’s so utterly frustrating to do all this scrolling up & down along with clicking this and that, only to find there’s no one home! Get my meaning?

rivest266
rivest266 on January 20, 2012 at 7:29 pm

This opened on November 14th, 1980. I posted the first ad here.

Sean C.
Sean C. on July 18, 2013 at 4:26 pm

Landmark Theatres who had been running this venue for many years lost their lease with the building owner, Seattle Central Community College, and the theater closed on June 27, 2013. Their midnight screenings are resuming on July 28 at the Harvard Exit Theatre, also a Landmark Theatre.

pamster
pamster on September 19, 2013 at 10:41 pm

Holy sh*t. As usual, I was going down another web-hole when I ended up here – and saw this. I’m the one who created the logo, created the ad and worked with Dan & Darryl for a number of years. [I also brought Rocky Horror to the Neptune when I managed it in the ‘70s, but that’s another story]. We were so young then…

tdickensheets
tdickensheets on October 5, 2013 at 11:18 pm

Landmark Theatre use own it. Not any more.

Is it for sale?

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on October 8, 2013 at 12:14 am

The 1915 Masonic Temple was the last major project designed by the Seattle architectural firm of Saunders & Lawton. Charles Willard Saunders was the architect of the Seattle Theatre (1892-1893), and in 1909 he and George Willis Lawton, with whom he had formed a partnership in 1898, designed the Alhambra Theatre.

Seattleprojectionist
Seattleprojectionist on December 2, 2014 at 9:47 pm

This theatre was reopened on October 21, 2014 by SIFF. I am employed as projectionist at their Uptown Cinema. SIFF now operates three theatres, two single screen houses (Egyptian and the SIFF Film Center) and the Uptown triplex. All 5 screens are equipped for both 35mm and Digital Cinema.

MSC77
MSC77 on August 5, 2019 at 2:44 pm

Does anyone know the date on which “The Abyss” screened here during 1989’s SIFF?

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