The Illusionist was released in the United States.
2006 Sundance Film Festival . It was held in Park City , Utah with screenings in Salt Lake City , Utah ; Ogden , Utah ; and the Sundance Resort . The Seattle International Film Festival ( SIFF ) , held annually in Seattle , Washington since 1976 , is among the top film festivals in North America . The Illusionist (2006 film) . The film premiered at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival and opened the 2006 Seattle International Film Festival ; it was distributed in limited release to theaters on August 18 , 2006 , and expanded nationwide on September 1 .