I played Santa at last night's rollicking Northwest Film Forum Xmas party. This explains the picture in Morning Fizz and why, if you walked by on 12th Ave last night around 10pm, you would have seen Santa Claus dancing with the mortals to 1980s new wave records.  (Hey DJ, yay on Joan Jett's "Bad Reputation.")

I love NWFF's programming. Nearly half the movies I saw in the theater this year were at NWFF, including my favorite movie of 2009—newcomer director Barry Jenkins' Medicine for Melancholy , which FilmNerd Alexandra reviewed here.

One fun thing about playing Santa (besides getting to judge the eggnog contest): I got a little snapshot of what people want for Christmas this year. (Yes, people sat on my lap and gave me their wish lists.)

Here's what I heard:

1. Tango lessons

2. A living-wage job

3. Get me into grad school

4. A light pink bike (there were a few kids at the party)

5. Investors

6. A man

7. Advertisers

8. A trip to space

9. A TV

10. That's a secret

11. A car

And my favorite request by far:

12. Get Elvis Presley's estate to call off the lawyers.