San Diego International Film Festival

San Diego International Film Festival San Diego International Film Festival celebrates bold storytelling through film and special events. Twenty-five years of film, culture, and community.

Presented by the San Diego Film Foundation, supporting year-round film and education programs. The San Diego International Film Festival’s 25th anniversary celebrates a milestone year of standout films, special events, and unforgettable experiences.

Big stories don't always need a feature-length runtime.From imaginative animation and homegrown San Diego talent to unex...
09/19/2026

Big stories don't always need a feature-length runtime.

From imaginative animation and homegrown San Diego talent to unexpected twists, heartfelt moments and powerful drama, explore the eight shorts programs in this year's Festival lineup.

Swipe to discover what's on screen. →

ANIMATION FILMMAKING — Imaginative storytelling, experimental techniques and moving art come to life.

SHORT & SWEET — Thoughtful stories with just the right amount of heart and charm.

SAN DIEGO SCENE — Local filmmakers share stories from our own backyard.

BETWEEN WORLDS — Stories of identity, borders and navigating the spaces in between.

DRAMEDY — Where life's messy moments blur the line between laughter and drama.

STUDENT SHOWCASE — A new generation of filmmakers brings bold ideas and fresh perspectives to the screen.

DRAMATIC LENS — Powerful stories exploring the choices, struggles and relationships that shape our lives.

STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND — Wonderfully strange stories that turn the unexpected into something impossible to look away from.

Explore the shorts programs and find your next must-see film.
https://sdfilmfest.com/festival-schedule/?view=list

October 13–18 | San Diego International Film Festival

🌍 Stories from around the world, brought to the big screen.From unexpected twists and ancient legends to stories of iden...
09/18/2026

🌍 Stories from around the world, brought to the big screen.

From unexpected twists and ancient legends to stories of identity, love and survival, explore just a few of the international films in this year's Festival lineup.

Swipe to discover the films. 👉

🎬 CATANE — When social services inspectors arrive in a small Romanian village to investigate an unusually high number of disability aid recipients, they discover a seemingly idyllic community struggling to make ends meet. But a return visit reveals a very different reality in this story filled with unexpected twists.

YESTERDAY THE EYE DIDN’T SLEEP — In a fog-covered valley governed by tribal codes, two sisters face a haunting journey shaped by blood, memory and silence.

RKALLA: GILGAMESH’S DREAMS — A young boy in Baghdad searches for a mythical gateway to the underworld, hoping to bring his parents back to life.

TRIAL OF HEIN — After 14 years away, a man returns to his island village only to face a trial to prove he is who he claims to be.

GR**GO CHAMPION — A young Mexican migrant seeks a better life in New York, confronting prejudice and cultural barriers as he fights to find his place.

ELEPHANTS IN THE FOG — In a Nepalese village, the matriarch of a Kinnar community must choose between her dreams of love and her responsibility to her community when one of her daughters disappears.

FIVE KINDS OF FEAR — Five interconnected lives collide in a story of grief, love, revenge and hidden motives.

And these are just a few of the international films waiting to be discovered!

🎟️ Explore the full Festival schedule and start planning your Festival experience.
https://sdfilmfest.com/festival-schedule/?view=list

📅 October 13–18

🎬 Documentaries that take you inside extraordinary true stories.From investigative journalism and unbelievable adventure...
09/17/2026

🎬 Documentaries that take you inside extraordinary true stories.
From investigative journalism and unbelievable adventures to resilience, risk and love in the midst of war, explore just a few of the documentaries in this year's Festival lineup.

Swipe to discover the films. 👉

THE SIX BILLION DOLLAR MAN — A gripping investigation into WikiLeaks, truth, power and the global fight for press freedom. Featuring never-before-seen footage and unprecedented access, it unfolds like a real-life spy thriller.

HIGH GROUND — A plane full of ma*****na crashes in Yosemite, setting off an unbelievable adventure involving a group of daring climbers.

SUM FUNCTION — Disabled veterans confront life-changing challenges on and off the wheelchair-rugby court in a powerful story of survival, connection and resilience.

ALONE ON THE MOUND: THE TORTURED LIFE OF ERIC SHOW — The troubled life of the pitcher who gave up Pete Rose's record-breaking hit, revealing the personal struggles behind a historic baseball moment.

DRIFT — A daring photographer scales skyscrapers and iconic landmarks, revealing a deeply personal story of risk, resilience and freedom.

BIRDS OF WAR — A love story spanning 13 years of revolution, war and exile, following a Lebanese journalist and a Syrian activist and cameraman.

And these are just a few of the documentaries waiting to be discovered!

Explore the full Festival schedule and start planning your Festival experience.
https://sdfilmfest.com/festival-schedule/?view=list

📅 October 13–18

🌟 The San Diego International Film Festival is proud to announce VIOLA DAVIS as the recipient of the Gregory Peck Award ...
09/16/2026

🌟 The San Diego International Film Festival is proud to announce VIOLA DAVIS as the recipient of the Gregory Peck Award for Cinematic Excellence, the Festival’s highest honor, at our 25th Anniversary Night of the Stars Tribute.

An Academy Award, Emmy, Grammy and Tony Award-winning artist, Davis has achieved the rare distinction of EGOT status and created some of the most powerful and unforgettable performances of her generation.

On October 13, we’ll celebrate her extraordinary career and impact on cinema at The Conrad in La Jolla as we open six unforgettable days of our 25th Anniversary Festival.

✨ More Night of the Stars honorees will be announced soon.

25 Years. 6 Days. One Unforgettable Week.
October 13–18, 2026 | sdfilmfest.com

🎬 OUR OPENING NIGHT FILM IS HERE!We’re kicking off our 25th Anniversary Festival with THE DEBUT, written and directed by...
09/16/2026

🎬 OUR OPENING NIGHT FILM IS HERE!

We’re kicking off our 25th Anniversary Festival with THE DEBUT, written and directed by Jesse Eisenberg and starring Julianne Moore, Paul Giamatti, Halle Bailey, Cara Buono, Craig Bierko and Bernadette Peters.

When an unassuming housewife is unexpectedly cast in a community theater production, she loses herself in the role under the spell of a strong-willed director.

Join us Wednesday, October 14 at THE LOT La Jolla for the Red Carpet, cocktails & appetizers, interactive experiences, DJ Valentina setting the pre-party vibe — and after the film, bites, cocktails and dancing as we turn up the music for the after-party. ✨🥂

Opening Night is an exclusive experience for VIP Passholders.
🎟️ Get your VIP Pass and join us for Opening Night.

🎶 The entertainment doesn’t stop when the credits roll.Between screenings, head to the Fest Lounge for live music, DJs, ...
09/12/2026

🎶 The entertainment doesn’t stop when the credits roll.

Between screenings, head to the Fest Lounge for live music, DJs, drinks and plenty of time to hang out, connect and soak up the Festival atmosphere.

It’s all part of what makes Festival week more than just the movies. 🎬🥂

See a film. Grab a drink. Stay for the vibe. ✨

October 13–18 | Celebrating 25 Years

09/12/2026

This is what six days at the San Diego International Film Festival looks like. 🎬✨

And this year, we’re turning it up for our 25th Anniversary with 90+ films, star-studded events, parties, live music, filmmaker Q&As, Culinary Cinema and more.

October 13–18. Come celebrate 25 years with us.

🎟️ Passes + tickets on sale now at sdfilmfest.com

These are the moments we love. 🎬There’s something special about experiencing a film and then finding yourself sharing th...
09/11/2026

These are the moments we love. 🎬

There’s something special about experiencing a film and then finding yourself sharing the same Festival space with the people who brought it to life.

It’s one of our favorite things about the Fest!Great films, talented filmmakers and a community that loves cinema.

Can’t wait to do it all again this October. ✨
See you October 13–18. ✨

09/10/2026

Fresh off the lineup release. 🎬

Our CEO & Artistic Director Tonya Mantooth joined CBS 8 to share some of the films to watch and what’s ahead for our 25th Anniversary Festival.

See you October 13–18. ✨

⭐️ FROM THE FESTIVAL CIRCUIT TO SAN DIEGO ⭐️Seven acclaimed films. One incredible week of cinema.Fresh from Venice, Toro...
09/09/2026

⭐️ FROM THE FESTIVAL CIRCUIT TO SAN DIEGO ⭐️
Seven acclaimed films. One incredible week of cinema.

Fresh from Venice, Toronto, Telluride, Tribeca, Sundance and Cannes, these standout films are joining the lineup for our 25th Anniversary San Diego International Film Festival.

🎬 WILD HORSE NINE — Dark Comedy / Drama
Starring Sam Rockwell, John Malkovich, Steve Buscemi & Parker Posey

🎬 A TALENT FOR MURDER — Crime / Drama / Thriller
Starring Helen Mirren, Alden Ehrenreich & Olivia Cooke

🎬 I PLAY ROCKY — Biography / Drama
The ultimate underdog story behind Rocky

🎬 TENDER LOVING CARE — Comedy / Drama
Starring Kate O’Flynn, Alice Bailey Johnson, Marion Bailey & Paul Jesson

🎬 THE LEADER — Biography / Drama / True Crime
Starring Tim Blake Nelson, Vera Farmiga & Jim Parsons

🎬 SEE YOU WHEN I SEE YOU — Comedy / Drama
Starring Cooper Raiff, David Duchovny, Kaitlyn Dever, Hope Davis & Lucy Boynton

🎬 YESTERDAY THE EYE DIDN’T SLEEP — Drama
From Cannes’ Un Certain Regard

Now it’s time to build your Festival schedule.
Find showtimes + reserve 👉 https://sdfilmfest.com/festival-schedule/?view=list

Explore screening dates + times and reserve your films on our 2026 Festival Schedule. Passholders: sign in to your Festival account to reserve your seats.

25th Anniversary San Diego International Film Festival
October 13–18, 2026

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