Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) Group is developing a year-roundscreening facility at Seattle Centre's 400-seater Nesholm Family Lecture Hallat Marion Oliver McCaw Hall.

The new theatre will become the flagship venue for the 33rd AnnualSeattle International Film Festival, which runs from May 24-Jun 17 2007.

The city of Seattle will contribute $150,000 toward the $600,000 project,to transform the Nesholm Family Lecture Hall into a state-of-the-art facilityfor film presentation equipped with a screen, sound system and projectionsystem.

The theatre is expected to be completed by January 2007. SIFFGroup, which is raising additional money to complete the project, plans to beginshowing films in the venue shortly after that and will announce programming indue course.

'This is a great move for SIFF and a great addition toSeattle Centre,' Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels said. 'We are a city offilm buffs, and movies are an important part of our culture and our economy.This flagship theatre allows cinema to take its place along side the vibrantmix of music, theatre, dance and opera at Seattle Centre.'

'This is the realisation of a long-time dream for SIFF,'SIFF managing director Deborah Person said. 'We are looking forward tojoining the other arts and culture constituents at Seattle Centre, and offeringaudiences the best in world cinema. We couldn't be happier with this partnershipbetween SIFF, Seattle Centre and the city of Seattle.'