Local Sightings Film Festival 2024

Opening Feature: Punderneath it All

Available in 03d 11h 33m 31s
Available September 20, 2024 7:01 AM UTC
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Puns: love ’em or hate ’em, they’re everywhere – and those who can pun with aplomb form their own idiosyncratic, camaraderie-filled subculture. Enter Forest Ember, pun-master extraordinaire and the beating heart of Punderneath It All, who started a weekly pun-off in Seattle, only to watch the movement bloom and spread to other cities around the globe. Whether you’re “lexically dextrous” or not, the delightful doc Punderneath It All explores why it’s harder to define “pun” than you think, the ethics of controversial comedy, and how language (and, yes, even puns) can be a tool for social change. Ultimately, Punderneath It All is a celebration of vital in-person community spaces, those seemingly vanishing spots in Seattle to convene, bond, and have a laugh.



Watch this program in person at NWFF, Sep. 20 at 7pm. VIRTUAL, IN-PERSON, and HYBRID (virtual AND in-person) Festival Passes and Individual Tickets are available!


Before the in-person show, join us for a live, movie-themed pun-off hosted by Seattle’s own Forest Ember and featuring a slate of local comedians! Buckle up for all manner of wordplay.

If laughter is the best medicine, then pun competitions are just what the doctor ordered. Visiting the pun scenes in respective U.S. cities, Abby Hagan's Punderneath It All follows multiple characters as they create their own pun slams and navigate the live comedy world. You'll meet an endearing cast of characters, including Seattle's premier pun slam hostess, Forest Ember, as she forges her own path in the community and builds her "pun empire" across the Pacific Northwest. Exploring such themes as linguistics, the ethics of controversial comedy, and inclusivity within this niche world, Punderneath It All ultimately centers around the idea of laughter as a means to foster community. Buckle in for the most pun ride of your life--let the groans begin!

  • Year
    2023
  • Runtime
    76 minutes
  • Language
    English
  • Country
    United States
  • Note
    (Abby Hagan, US, 2023, 76 min, in English)
  • Social Media
  • Director
    Abby Hagan