Big news from The Admiral tonight – not only is SIFF returning, it’ll have showings throughout the festival’s three-week run May 19-June 12, not just a one-week stop. Plus, Admiral manager Dinah Brein has announced an Elizabeth Taylor tribute later this month. Read on for the official announcement of both:

For the third consecutive year, The 2011 Seattle International Film Festival brings their amazing array of movies to the Historic Admiral Theater and this year they have extended their one week stay through the entire festival run.

“We are truly thrilled to have the SIFF festival here for all 3 weeks,” said Dinah Brein, Manager of the Admiral. Having that energy and caliber of movies brings a whole different level of excitement here but in the past it’s always gone by so quickly. What a treat to really provide our customers with the full festival experience; we can’t wait.”

The Admiral’s Crow’s Nest Lounge will be open weekend evenings to accompany the festival. The Admiral has added dark chocolate from Theo’s and will be offering pie and coffee during the festival run.

The theater will still show their regular movies in Pier 1 as well as Rocky Horror Picture Show at midnight on Saturday, June 4th .

Also up for the Admiral is an Elizabeth Taylor Film Retrospective slated for Sunday, April 24th. Three of Taylor’s finest films will screen;

The 1950 gem, *Father of the Bride* starring Elizabeth, Spencer Tracey and Joan Bennett. Directed by Vincent Minnelli (Liza’s dad), this black & white comedy is a grand showcase for a terrific cast.

It’s hard to believe that just a year later in 1951, Taylor appeared in, *A Place in the Sun*, based on Dreiser’s An American Tragedy, the movie also stars, Montgomery Cliff and Shelly Winters. In the book Taylor’s character is the rather empty rich girl who takes the hero away from a first love (Shelley Winters). But as George Stevens made the film, Winters is a drab, whining figure – someone dreamers almost want to have removed … and murdered. Liz and Monty are the prince and princess in an impossible love story that ends on Death Row. But thwarted love stories are the best, and at 18 Liz could look at Clift, the camera and us, and convey the magic words that inspired classic American cinema – “If only!”

The review wraps up with the iconic 1958, *Cat on A Hot Tin Roof*, the dynamic and commanding adaptation of Tennessee Williams Pulitzer Prize-winning play focuses on a troubled Southern family and the discord over their dying father’s millions. The movie co- stars Paul Newman and Burl Ives. Newman, Taylor and Ives were all nominated for Oscars and the picture was also nominated for best movie.

Tickets for the movies will be $7.50 each or you can get a pass for all 3 for $18.00. You don’t want to miss this special tribute to one of America’s most treasured actresses.