The 2010 Seattle International Film Festival kicks off on May 20 with a screening of The Extra Man, an indie comedy based on a Jonathan Ames novel, starring Kevin Kline as an escort for aging socialites in New York City. I’d love to include the screening of The Extra Man in my top 10, but tickets are going to be tight. We do have a pair to give away though—click here to enter the contest.

And now, my top 10 picks, in no particular order…

Leaves of Grass Screening as part of a SIFF Tribute to Edward Norton is his latest movie, a "Southern-fried farce" where he plays identical twins—an Ivy League professor and a bumbling pot dealer. Norton is expected to be in attendance to receive an award from SIFF and do a Q&A. June 4.

Get Low Robert Duvall plays a backwoods recluse who hires Frank Quinn (Bill Murray) to help throw him a "living funeral." Closing night: June 13.

Farewell A French film based on a true story of a KGB colonel who speeds up the end of the Cold War by giving top-secret documents to an ordinary French businessman working in Russia. (Plus, Willem Dafoe’s in it.) May 29 & 31, June 12.

The Oath Director Laura Poitras gives insight into the other side of the war on terror in this documentary about two brothers, one a former bodyguard for Osama bin Laden turned critic of Islamic extremism. May 23 & 25.

Au Revoir, Taipei A Taiwanese rom-com caper about "a lovesick teen, a retiring gangster, a broken-hearted cop, wannabe thugs, and a bookshop clerk who irreparably cross paths one night." June 6, 7 & 12.

Waiting for Superman A documentary about the failure of the U.S.’s public education system from the director of An Inconvenient Truth. June 4 & 5.

The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner Academy Award-nominated documentary short features former Washington Gov. Booth Gardner in his campaign for Washington’s Death With Dignity Act. To be followed by a panel discussion. June 5.

Bass Ackwards Local director Linas Phillips—who once walked from Seattle to LA to meet director Werner Herzog—hits the road again for a little more soul-searching. May 21 & 23.

Stephin Merritt of the Magnetic Fields performs 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Merritt plays his new, original score for the 1916 classic live, with backup provided by organist David Hegarty and Daniel Handler (Lemony Snicket!) on accordion. June 9.

A Little Help (world premiere) A dramedy starring The Office‘s Jenna Fischer as a widow who reconnects with an old flame—her sister’s husband. From Michael Weithorn, creator of King of Queens. May 21 & 22.

And if you have a little extra time, check out: Amplified Seattle, a companion piece to Lynn Shelton’s MTV web series $5 Cover: Seattle, on May 22 or 26.

For more info and tickets, go to siff.net.