Eugenie, an esteemed cook, has been working for over the last 20 years for Dodin, a fine gourmet. Growing fonder of one another, their bond turns into a romance and gives rise to delicious dishes that impress even the world’s most illustrious chefs. When Dodin is faced with Eugenie’s reluctance to commit to him, he decides to start cooking for her. Price includes After Party. Tavern will feature a no-host menu. Cocktail Attire requested

OPENING NIGHT FILM PREMIERE + AFTER PARTY

Red Carpet Screening | Cocktail Attire requested

November 9, 2023

Village Theatre 

4:00 p.m. - Screening 

7:00 p.m. - Screening

Both screening include access to the AfterParty

Badge Holders are FREE 

Tickets are not sold separately for the film and the after-party.

AFTER PARTY THE TAVERN 

The Opening Night continues at The Tavern. A Coronado hotspot with a rustic elegant vibe that will serve up hosted classic cocktails, and comfort-food bites.  Additional no-host menu items will be available. 

Shere Hite’s 1976 bestselling book, The Hite Report, liberated the female orgasm by revealing the most private experiences of thousands of anonymous survey respondents. Her findings rocked the American establishment and presaged current conversations about gender, sexuality, and bodily autonomy. So how did Shere Hite disappear?

Sony Classic Pictures
San Diego Premiere
Australia’s Official Oscar Selection for Best International Feature:
A young Iranian mother takes refuge in an Australian women’s shelter with her 6-year-old daughter during the two weeks of Nowruz, the Persian New Year. Her path to freedom is jeopardized when her estranged husband arrives.

Q+A with Executive Producer, Coco Francini and Producer Actors, Mojean Aria

NETFLIX San Diego Premiere
Twenty years after their notorious tabloid romance gripped the nation, Gracie Atherton-Yu and her husband Joe (twenty-three years her junior) brace themselves for their twins to graduate from high school. When Hollywood actress Elizabeth Berry comes to spend time with the family to better understand Gracie, who she will be playing in a film, family dynamics unravel under the pressure of the outside gaze. Joe, never having processed what happened in his youth, starts to confront the reality of life as an empty-nester at thirty-six. And as Elizabeth and Gracie study each other, the similarities and differences between the two women begin to ebb and flow. Set in picturesque and comfortable Camden, Maine, May December is an exploration of truth, storytelling, and the difficulties (or impossibility) of fully understanding another person.

TRIBUTE HONOREE HEBA THORISDOTTIR Will be in attendance for the Q+A

The film competed for the Palme d’Or at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Jury Prize. It is also selected as the Finnish entry for the Best International Feature Film award at the upcoming 96th Academy Awards. Ansa (which means ‘trapped’ in Finnish), is single and lives in Helsinki. She works on a zero hour contract in a supermarket, stocking the shelves; later she sorts recyclable plastic. One night she accidentally meets the equally lonely worker Holappa, an alcoholic. Against all odds and misunderstandings, they try to build a relationship. As a result, Holappa manages to get his alcohol addiction under control. According to Alma Pöysti, the female lead, “the film is about lonely people with baggage, who meet later in life. It takes courage to fall in love later in life.”

A grieving widower becomes obsessed with a mysterious self help book he finds on the dark web written by an eccentric guru, which promises to unlock the power to fly.

Set during a bitter 1964 Massachusetts winter, young secretary Eileen becomes enchanted by the glamorous new counselor at the prison where she works. Their budding friendship takes a twisted turn when Rebecca reveals a dark secret — throwing Eileen onto a sinister path. Champagne Sponsored by Isabella Avenue Dentistry.

Pre-Party:
Steve Van Doren, VP Marketing and Special Events | Vans (cast member)
Wing Lam, Co-Founder, Wahoo’s Fish Tacos (cast member)
Tony Alva, cast member
Lizzie Armanto, cast member
Michael Ien Cohen, Producer, Director
Ian B. Gibson, Director of Photography/Editor

Q & A:
Tony Alva, cast member
Lizzie Armanto, cast member
Michael Ien Cohen, Producer, Director
Ian B. Gibson, Director of Photography/Editor

A documentary about the beauty in overcoming fear and other challenges facing humanity, as seen by icons of pro skating, science, art, music, activism, and education, all of whom share experiences and perspectives shaped by their love of skateboarding.

Humanity Stoked is in the middle of its global film festival run, with over 18 WINS in 8 countries, and over 40 official selections in 16 countries thus far.

Humanity Stoked is a feature length documentary featuring world-famous skateboarders, scientists, artists, musicians, activists and educators, all of whom share a love of skateboarding. The iconic cast, respected as leaders in their fields, reveal their unique experiences and insights on being human. Their perspectives on issues that affect humanity’s ability to move forward together are shaped by their own backgrounds, and often inspired by their love of skateboarding. The conversations focus on understanding fear, depression, addiction, education, activism, philanthropy, racism, sexism, homophobia, and the environment. The film’s purpose is to inspire deeper thinking, and more empathic perspectives about people and the world around them.

Humanity Stoked was produced entirely for free by team of dedicated volunteers.  The film’s Producer/Director, and life-long skater, Michael Ien Cohen, the entire crew of Revere 8 Films / WhatStopsYou.org Foundation, and all 3^rd parties involved have refused salary and compensation of any kind. As result, 100% of the revenue from the film and merchandising goes directly to charity, to help make positive and long-lasting change in the lives of children and young adults around the world, especially in low socio-economic areas.  This film is a mission of love and everyone involved is passionate about inspiring deeper thinking and positive change in the world.

Approaching the end of his twenties and his relative youth, a man decides to quit his cushy desk job and 'embrace life' - only to realize he has no idea what to do with this newfound freedom.

BADGE HOLDERS ONLY: Good Morning! Donuts and coffee All badge holders start the day off right. Coffee: Moto Coffee + Donut Beach

Thursday-Sunday

Eugenie, an esteemed cook, has been working for over the last 20 years for Dodin, a fine gourmet. Growing fonder of one another, their bond turns into a romance and gives rise to delicious dishes that impress even the world’s most illustrious chefs. When Dodin is faced with Eugenie’s reluctance to commit to him, he decides to start cooking for her. Price includes After Party. Tavern will feature a no-host menu. Cocktail Attire requested

OPENING NIGHT FILM PREMIERE + AFTER PARTY

Red Carpet Screening | Cocktail Attire requested

November 9, 2023

Village Theatre 

4:00 p.m. - Screening 

7:00 p.m. - Screening

Both screening include access to the AfterParty

Badge Holders are FREE 

Tickets are not sold separately for the film and the after-party.

AFTER PARTY THE TAVERN 

The Opening Night continues at The Tavern. A Coronado hotspot with a rustic elegant vibe that will serve up hosted classic cocktails, and comfort-food bites.  Additional no-host menu items will be available. 

For some people sitting on the sidelines is not an option. This collection of stories shares the power of taking action to inspire change and drive awareness. Meet these agents of change! Q+A with Filmmakers immediately following screenings

Juan and Ana seem to be a well-educated couple. The vicarious violence that Juan exerts on Ana cannot be seen.

In the summer of 1920, a group of artists embark on an idyllic picnic. A shy painter struggles to navigate his attraction to a cocky novelist.

The surreal experiences of Yellow Dove in his bunker within the world of Hour Blue.

Filled with a stirring national pride, a young Joshua Dawson signs up to fight in the Great War. Living on the front lines, battered and shell-shocked, he comes to realize he is just another pawn.

Teenager Ly and her cousins get high before a boisterous family Thanksgiving at their auntie’s house in southeast San Diego in 2006.

When a group of triathletes set out on their morning training session, one decision changes everything.

A family comes to terms with tragic loss, exploring the psychological and practical implications. It raises awareness of the under-reported social issue of mental health in rural settings and how conversations about feelings prevent a spiral towards suicide.

A remarkable woman challenges two centuries of Navy tradition and discrimination, becoming a champion for equal opportunities to serve onboard ship and in combat -- all while raising a family and rising to the rank of Captain.

A journey through the thoughts of people on a London Underground platform.

Nijole and Elze head out to pick up a shipment of drugs but just one sip of coke can have dire consequences.

A seafarer sings the story of how he, as a young man, left Falmouth looking for a new life on the High Seas. During his voyage, he recounts how the moon began to follow him, watching his every move. After months at sea, the ship arrives at a tropical island where the moon leads him to his first true love waiting on the beach. But the moon becomes envious of their love, driving them apart, and forces the young man, heartbroken and alone, back to Falmouth.

In the French Jura mountains, at the end of fictitious Middle Ages, Else is an herbalist and a midwife. With Nicole, her young apprentice, they are disturbed during their daily practice: a stranger riding a horse demands to gather all the women of the village in its small church.

Pepe and Jesús are father and son. That summer morning, Pepe has to work at a flea market, but the person in charge of looking after Jesús, who has cerebral palsy, calls and says that he won't be able to do it.

After a collection of environmental disasters lead society to the brink of collapse a young mother must find ways to survive with her small child as they navigate the near-future apocalypse.

A Vietnamese-American family's plan to cover up a drunk driving accident begins to unravel when their emotional baggage spills out in front of the police.

A film of a man and his relationship with the ocean, which is then interrupted by the presence of pollution.

Entering cautiously into adulthood, a shy eighteen-year-old attempts to balance “coming out” of his shell with an erratic home life and an unhinged QAnon mother. A timely and poignant short film with a unique twist on the queer coming-of-age story.

A decision delayed for decades allows three generations of a Kansas City family to finally unify when they do something that countless African Americans before them could not do -choose their own last name.

A young woman turns a drone pilot's world upside down when they meet in a movie theater, forcing him to question everything he thought he knew about himself and his personal goals.

This is the story of a meeting between an astonishing robot from outer space and an adorable little bird just hatched from its egg.

En route to his daughter's birthday party, a hapless father annihilates a wiener dog with his car.

Nǎi Nai is my grandma. Wài Pó is also my grandma. Together, they are a grandma super team that dances, stretches, and farts their sorrows away.

While on her travels as a Loan Officer for the bank, Ms. Rossi encounters some obstacles along the way while just trying to do her job.

Tommy Sablan is the first radio producer inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame. He is better known by his San Diego on-air moniker “Little Tommy,” and for decades has entertained millions of people on radio and now television. But, beyond the scope of entertainment, the Chula Vista native, from a humble start, is a man who lives to give and help others. Have there been some struggles along the way? Yes. And in this film “Little Tommy” is candid and shares his personal story and others close to him weigh in.

An exploration into the life and journey of John Cosby, a renowned California Impressionist and plein-air painter. From his beginnings as a communications expert for two U.S. Presidents, to creating some of the most iconic images of the In-N-Out Burger franchise, John Cosby's art has inspired people across America. Follow along with us as we go forward with John on his next adventures.

An explorer has an unusual 21-year-long friendship with manatees that leads to unearthing the insidious forces that stand to wipe them out.

After Evie dresses up like her estranged grandmother, a Holocaust survivor, on “Heritage Day” at school, she becomes increasingly obsessed with this dark part of her family history.

HELP ME UNDERSTAND follows six women as they come to a consensus.

Alissa, a teen Latina, shares her heroic mental health journey from being given up for adoption, experiencing self-harm, being sexually assaulted, and surviving three suicide attempts at age 15, to connecting to other teens, getting help, starting a mental health club at her high school, and beginning college to become a counselor in the future to help troubled youth.

Unlike the rest of the United States, which has seen a steady decline in farming, Alaskan farming has more than doubled in response to food insecurity. Food insecurity in Alaska raises grocery store prices to nearly double that of the rest of the United States. Ron Meeham, Policy and Advocacy Manager at the Food Bank of Alaska, and Ziona Brownlow, Founder of Food for Thought Alaska, introduce the issue and what limits their respective organizations have on creating systemwide change.

David, 12, lives the typical life of a kid in Tijuana; goes to school, plays soccer with friends and spends his weekends at the beach. One day, his mom sets him aside and tells him that they're moving to Los Angeles without his dad.

"D as in Do Not" is a comedy about a stand up comedian (Joey Ally) dealing with her mom's (Annie Golden) continual hints that she's planning to end it all.

An amateur ornothologist confronts a blithe confectioner. A tale of adultery, blackmail and violence unfolds in a small countryside pastry shop.

Weird things keep happening while Elise is alone, so when her husband, Derek, returns unexpectedly from a business trip to surprise her, it has the opposite effect. In fact, it only raises more questions to her mounting suspicions.

When a stranger offers a large sum to train with his son, a junior squash ex-champion must decide whether to release his repressed demons.

On a school day, a 7 year-old hustles strangers for money on the streets of New York City.

A woman and a teenage girl, alone in Berlin in different circumstances and for different reasons, encounter each other and find more in common than they first thought.

The First World War is over. Britain is victorious, but for the casualties of war, the fight for a normal life is far from over. Two lost souls will come to terms with the damage they’ve done to each other.

A portrait of a Deaf activist and his formerly incarcerated daughter, who build new bonds through their experiences in the criminal justice system.

When the "Black Lives Matter" movement grew in awareness, Marcus Baskerville, head brewer of Weathered Souls Brewing Co., wanted to shed light on the growing problem of inequality and police brutality. This is where the "Black is Beautiful" project was born. We follow the impact of the initiative and where it is today.

This film takes a historical look at the significant effect that Black girls have had on popular culture and Black musical aesthetics. The cultural aesthetics of hand games have permeated modern American culture and Black girls are often left uncredited for the impact that they have left on society. PLAY looks to examine this often forgotten world.

Two friends unknowingly experience a major side effect after finally getting their hands on a mysterious new skin cream sweeping TikTok that removes more than wrinkles.

On a Boeing-737, a 39 yr. old flight attendant, Vanina, tries hard to hide her obvious discomfort; this plane carries her mother's dead body to her hometown. When the turbulence become threatening, Vanina faces an urgent need to see her mother in what proves to be a last chance for reconciliation.

"Williams & Mansell: Red 5" is about the career of racing driver Nigel Mansell and the Williams F1 team, focusing on both the development of the Williams Engineering F1 team from its incorporation in 1977 and the driving career of Nigel Mansell from humble beginnings in Birmingham, England. This documentary tells the story of how team and driver came together and their struggle to win the World Formula 1 Drivers' Championship against some of the greatest drivers of all time. Contributions come from World Champions Nigel Mansell, Damon Hill and Jenson Button along with F1 experts and people who worked with Williams and Mansell during the 1980’s and early 1990’s.

A Californian backpacker becomes entangled in a polyamorous relationship with a gang of young actors who plot to kidnap the US Ambassador to Argentina.

Set in the competitive world of chess, we follow Nana’s (Academy Award Winner Mercedes Ruehl) journey in a heartwarming feel-good comedy about reuniting her grandsons (Will Peltz and Nolan Gould) and supporting her retirement community.

In a nondescript warehouse in the heart of Los Angeles, a dwindling handful of devoted craftspeople maintain over 80,000 student musical instruments, the largest remaining workshop in America of its kind. Meet four unforgettable characters whose broken-and-repaired lives have been dedicated to bringing so much more than music to the schoolchildren of the recording capital of the world.

Join CIFF as we honor our Veterans for their sacrifice, valor and commitment. This Special screening will feature the JROTC, Filmmaker David Kneiss. The Gift is the story of Medal of Honor recipient, Corporal Jason L. Dunham and the Marines of Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines. It is a story of courage, sacrifice, and love. How will we live... how will we make a difference? These are the questions the Marines of Kilo Company ask themselves, as they search for a purpose and gather the strength to move forward with their lives.

Spotlight Feature: National Anthem Singer

Victoria Roberston

Victoria Robertson is a classically-trained soprano who was awarded the title Miss USO San Diego for her performance work for the U.S. Military and supporting organizations. With the Armed Forces Entertainment Victoria has toured in Greenland, England, Netherlands, and Germany. Patriotic American music continues to be one of Victoria's leading repertoires, inspiring patriotism into the hearts of thousands of citizens. Her album Celebrating America, a compilation of American patriotic songs, was sent in thousands of care packages to U.S. Military personnel and their families overseas.

Victoria has performed aboard Aircraft Carriers and in desert training grounds for the troops and is often invited to headline official government functions.  Victoria has opened up major events with the National Anthem including the Los Angeles Tennis Open, the Los Angeles Lakers, and the Miramar Air Show.  She was the official entertainment for the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines in 2008 for Independence Day.  

Her opera and art song performances won her several distinguished vocal competition titles such as the La Jolla Symphony & Chorus Competition, National Association of Teachers of Singing Competition, Musical Merit Competition, and Virginia Hawk Competition.  Victoria has been featured at performing arts centers and concert halls world-wide and has performance history with several symphony orchestras and opera companies including San Diego Symphony, La Jolla Symphony, TICO Orchestra, San Diego Opera, and Santa Barbara Opera. Victoria co-founded Opera4Kids and is the acting CEO of this non-profit with a mission to enrich children's lives and prepare them to thrive.  VictoriaRobertson.com

After getting laid off, a young single-mom (Vivian Kerr) finds herself living in her car and struggles to hide her homelessness from her estranged brother Ben (Anthony Rapp) and his wife (Lana Parrilla).

DOG lives in Manhattan and he's tired of being alone. One day he decides to build himself a robot, a companion. Their friendship blossoms, until they become inseparable, to the rhythm of 80's NYC. One summer night, DOG, with great sadness, is forced to abandon ROBOT at the beach. Will they ever meet again?

Nora and Hae Sung, two deeply connected childhood friends, are wrested apart after Nora's family emigrates from South Korea. Twenty years later, they are reunited for one fateful week as they confront notions of love and destiny.

Over/Under is the true story of writers’ Sianni Rosenstock and Sophia Silver’s lifelong friendship. Our story begins in 2002 when Violet West and Stella Steinberg are nine-years-old. During the school year they live apart, but in the summer they are inseparable. They spend their days playing in waves, catching butterflies, sending wishes to fairies, and spying on nude adults at the beach. But then, the summer ends. Stella has friends back home, but would rather talk with them about mermaids than tampons. A lonely Violet attracts the attention of a vicious bully, while silently processing her changing body. Over the next few summers the girls come together, but puberty, boys, family trauma, and the desire to “fit in” all begin to threaten the magic of their friendship. By the end of our story it’s 2006, and the girls are thirteen-years-old. Over/Under is a story of innocence and loss of innocence. Violet and Stella teach us about the deepest kind of friendship, and remind us just how delicate childhood really is.

A young filmmaker sets out on a 10,000-mile exploration of the national parks with his childhood best friend during the centennial year of the formation of the National Park Service. Along the way, the two record stories of the people that work in the parks and those that come to enjoy them, as part of the rich tapestry of the history of the park system emerges.

For those lovers of adevnture and outdoors - this is a "not to miss" film.

By getting in the mind of Dr. J Robert Oppenheimer we take the audience on a journey that took place before, during, and after the testing of the world's first atomic bomb in the New Mexico desert on July 16, 1945. Events quickly unfolded that caused a course of action that is still debated today. Using the written and spoken words of Dr. Oppenheimer, we understand the weight of the world that was on his shoulders at that moment in time.

Maxine’s Baby: The Tyler Perry Story, a nod to his mother’s love, is a tender and intimate portrait of visionary and innovator Tyler Perry: his harrowing but faithful road to the top of an industry that didn’t always include him. CIFF is proud to be host the San Diego Premiere of this amazing documentary.

After pulling a fire alarm to escape a particularly bad panic attack mid-bar exam, Nora (Sara Friedman) returns home to live with her emotionally distant parents (Xander Berkeley and Sarah Clarke) in Maine. While she undergoes court-ordered psychiatric treatment, Nora struggles to navigate both therapy and her tenuous relationship with her parents. Nora’s world is further upended when she is assigned to volunteer at her local state park. Nature induced panic attacks subside in the company of her new supervisor Dusty (Dave Register), and they strike up an unlikely friendship as fellow outsiders. When Nora realizes Dusty suffers from an undiagnosed anxiety disorder, she commits to helping him pass his law enforcement exam so that he can fulfill his dream of becoming a real Park Ranger. Nora and Dusty explore their relationships with their families - including how to deal with Dusty’s bullying step-brother Mitch (Mike Mitchell), Nora’s occasionally destructive coping mechanisms, and their own expectations of themselves, all amidst their blooming romantic feelings for one another.

Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Mercury, Nevada? The latter was the site for the testing of 928 large-scale nuclear weapons from 1951 to 1992. Martin Sheen narrates this harrowing exposé of the United States' disregard for everyone living… downwind.

Join Director, writer, producer Mark Samuel Shapiro for a compelling post screening discussion at the Coronado Historical Association 1100 Orange Avenue, Coronado, CA 92118

This exquisite fly-on-the-wall environmental doc is also a gripping and up-to-the-minute tale of geopolitical, scientific, and corporate intrigue that exposes the destructive machinations of a secretive organization empowered to extract massive amounts of metals from the deep seafloor.

Sponsored by Emerald Keepers

A documentary that follows a modern dance choreographer detailing the journey of several inmates incarcerated in a US prison, as they create and prepare for their own performance. Hearing their stories we understand the need for focus and creativity in a hostile arena.

COMMON GROUND is the sweeping and uplifting story of the pioneers of the “Regenerative Movement” who are forgoing the toxic seeds and sprays pushed by Big Ag in order to produce tremendous quantities of nutritionally dense food while bringing our entire ecosystem back to life.

Through intimate access to a charismatic Mattel insider, Beulah Mae Mitchell, BLACK BARBIE delves into the cross section of merchandise and representation as Black women strive to elevate their own voices and stories, refusing to be invisible.

A young, broke couple kidnap a sleazy politician who decides he can spin the story to his own advantage.

Join Celebrity Chef Susan Feniger and celebrated filmmaker Liz Lachman for their documentary: Susan Feniger. FORKED…a verite feature documentary film following award-winning celebrity chef Susan Feniger on her first solo restaurant, her passionate struggle and quest to bring global street food under one roof in the form of a new LA restaurant: STREET. Shot by her longtime filmmaker partner, it’s a story about starting over and about not IF one fails… but HOW. Film followed with a demo by Susan, and savory bites from her famed Border Grill restaurant.

Filmmaker, Writer and Director and Shannon Morrell shares her compelling film on the devastation from Lionfish. With an avaricious appetite, no native predators, and rapid reproduction rates, the invasive lionfish is one of the planet's greatest eco-disasters. In this short documentary about sustainability and activism, a community of passionate Floridians use creative removal methods to save the waters they love.

Joined by Amy Steward, Founder of Emerald Keepers, and Meghan McKee, the head chef at Coronado Yacht Club for a post screening discussion and tasting. - Reservations required for all badge holders.

The event is sponsored by Emerald Keepers and the Emerald Green, Ocean Blue Initative

A boy sees from the window of his apartment a child playing alone with a ball every day.

A sheriff tries to tame a lawless town in the not-so-old West in this parody of Westerns.

A rich client hires a grizzled private investigator to steal a family heirloom from the mob. The problem: that family heirloom comes in the form of a gold signet ring that the mob boss never takes off. The PI ends up in the center of a small shootout where all of his plans are thrown to the wind, and he must get creative to survive and complete his job.

The journey of a Ukrainian mother as she finds refuge for her family.

Three years ago, Anish flew to Qatar to help with the construction of stadiums for the FIFA World Cup. As a huge football fan himself, he was excited to be playing his part in the development of the biggest sporting event in the world. He’d been promised a good wage which would mean he could support his family back home in Nepal. But what he discovered when he arrived was far from what he expected…

A woman meets a man in a bar and discovers that they have much more in common than they thought.

A stop motion re-telling of the classic Edgar Allen Poe short story, in which a man is driven to insanity by the presence of his older companion's pale blue eye.

When a ruthless tech ubernerd is faced with pushback right before a big launch, he must find a way to hype up the team — and himself — before going onstage. Inspired by true events and one very viral Bill Gates video.

Eager to celebrate the 4th of July, a group of young black and Latino friends experience a police encounter that shatters the meaning of the holiday.

An incredible day of driving, hiking, and drone flying leads to finding a mysterious box with over a century of family history. This good Samaritan can't rest until he finds and delivers this treasure trove of family artifacts to the rightful owner. What could go wrong?

A boy struggling in school is eventually diagnosed with dyslexia. With the help of his family and guided by the strong bond he shares with his brother, he begins his journey of overcoming it.

After their mother’s death, a cognitively disabled woman and her estranged sister must learn to communicate in order to move forward.

Linh is a Vietnamese mother who lives with her son in America. When her father visits and insists on cooking a traditional Vietnamese meal, Linh is confronted with the past and culture she left behind.

Opposing sexual appetites and dietary ethics bring a stagnant relationship to a theatrical and surprising crescendo as a heartfelt revelation confronts the elephant in the room.

A 9-year-old girl discovers that her favorite sweatshirt is a hand-me-down.

In the near future, a woman stuck on a rose-colored version of her past seeks support from an augmented reality therapist to unlock the dark truth behind her memories.

A first-generation college senior confronts the realities of generational trauma, while preparing an original piece for an upcoming violin audition.

A shoal of herrings, adopting fantastic formations, roams the vast ocean. When seagulls suddenly attack, one small herring finds itself stranded in a tidal pool. As it searches desperately for a way out, it discovers many other sea creatures here. And now there is no time for fear: only by joining forces can they hope to defend themselves against the hungry seagull.

Amidst the politically charged atmosphere of 1960s Washington D.C, two female doctors unveil a web of corruption and deceit that puts profits over people's lives. Inspired by true events.

A young man must face his fears to make a personal purchase.

An intimate look inside the healing power of water & surfing on autistic children and the surfers who offer "one perfect day" to kids worldwide for free. Featuring Izzy Paskowitz.

Following his latest romantic humiliation, Simon is unexpectedly summoned to his grandmother’s house to meet her new boyfriend, Merv. The man he encounters there upends his understanding of love, loss, and Chinese takeout.

Yezy Suh was inspired by the book covers being handed out in bins in the library for free in CalArts and built a reflective narrative about a mother-daughter relationship and delved into sense memories, the deeply personal interactions and relationships that have stuck with her in the past to create this film.

One day, out of nowhere, a giant Rock lays in the middle of the peaceful little village where Luce lives. The villagers can’t even open the door to their houses anymore! Luce is angry: go away Rock, you don’t belong here! And why are you here anyway?

After a member of the "freestyle canoe dancing" community suffers a tragic accident and unimaginable loss, his fellow canoe enthusiasts work in tandem to help him through his emotional and physical trauma to recover and get back in his canoe

Matthew Fast always wanted to be a soldier. He served tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. Once he was back home, his wife, Jessica, discovered his service had a hidden affect on him.

A local hero fights to save his culture by teaching Hawaiian language, sustainability and life skills to disadvantaged kids.

Adam Culver follows the five steps to disappearance, hosted by the mysterious "John Doe."

Drew hangs up missing person posters. After returning home, Drew's mother insists that they should go pick up Drew's overdue homecoming dress. At the mall, Drew is convinced that a strange man is trying to lure a woman out of the store. Could this be the person who took Becca?

In the late 1960s, Alice Marshall, my great grandmother, temporarily signed ownership of our ancestral home over to a family friend. However, that friend deceived them—first collecting rent, and then selling the property despite their pleas. Through rare archival material, we come to understand a world that’s gone – dusted cigar boxes, expired glue bottles, led painted bed frames, and more – all of it piled within two storage units.

A man overcomes depression and his wife's death with a passion they used to share.

A ramen chef spends his final night alive hanging out with the Grim Reaper.

After the death of a friend, two nuns in their golden years contemplate what their future holds. One confession leads to another and before they know it, they're embarking on an adventure.

A young boy named Sonny works in an underground coal mine with the adults, taking care of the canary that detects deadly methane gas. He teaches the bird to play dead to prank the men, risking their lives for a moment in the sunlight above.

A team of wheelchair-using tech engineers at the University of Pittsburgh are leading a movement to open up the world to the physically challenged. They take their own spiritual and physical hazards as inspiration for adaptive technology and inventions that provide the means for others to have more mobile and productive lives.

As a little girl in Vietnam, Thao’s mother would rescue ants from bowls of sugar water. The tiny creatures would later return the favour, leading her desperate family through darkness—and pointing the way to safety. With Boat People, illustrator and author Thao Lam undertakes a creative rescue mission of her own, joining forces with animator Kjell Boersma to recount her family’s dramatic trajectory across the turbulent waters of history—they were among over 1.6 million refugees who fled the chaotic aftermath of the Vietnam War, venturing across the South China Sea in precarious open boats.

Iran in 1971. Two young students from opposite ends of society meet by the sea in a time where revolution hangs in the air. Bijan (Shahrooz Mahmoodi), the son of aristocrats close to the regime of the Shah, prepares to leave for college and feels the pressures of a future already decided by his powerful father. He meets Layla (Rana Ghiassi), a girl from the wrong side of Tehran, who forces him to question everything. Their bond will challenge class and social divisions in a world soon to disappear. "Azizam" is an intimate window into a moment of history that continues to cast a shadow in our time.

Based on the true stories of many families, Amazing Grace tells the story of a single mother caring for her adult son with schizophrenia.

A teenage boy goes on a journey from apathy to empathy regarding his sister's depression.

Two people on a first date mask and ignore their insecurities until an event forces them to say what they're really thinking.

The Big Dump is a powerful documentary that aims to shed light on the urgent Pacific Ocean sewage crisis stemming from the Mexican border into San Diego waters. Millions of gallons of sewage spill down the California Coast every day, sickening sea life, pets, and people; a film centered around the worst environmental crisis in the history of the United States.

This screening is sponsored in part by Emerald Keepers

Victoria (Mary Stuart Masterson) is a university professor with a grudge against her self-absorbed mother, the famed actress Carmen Crawford (Diane Ladd), for crushing her dreams of becoming a playwright. When Carmen suffers a life-threatening stroke and wakes up thinking she is living 15 years in the past, Victoria is given a unique opportunity to figure out where her life went off track and reconcile her relationship with her mother. Legacy Tribute Honoree Diane Ladd will be in attendance for the Q+A Moderated by Leonard Maltin

Join Moderator Leonard Maltin (and historian Tim Reid) for a special presentation
on Olivia DeHavilland's spectacular rise to fame and unique connections to Coronado.
Co-Starring a galaxy of Golden Age stars. Featuring sensational film, music, and photography.

Moderator, Leonard Maltin Panelist Historian Tim Reid"

Coffee & Presentation with author Christian Esquevin-----In Designing Hollywood: Studio Wardrobe in the Golden Age, Christian Esquevin showcases the designers who dressed Hollywood's stars from the late 1910s through the 1960s and the unique symbiosis they developed with their studios in creating iconic looks. Studio by studio, Esquevin details the careers of designers like Vera West, who worked on Universal productions such as Phantom of the Opera (1925), Dracula (1931), and Bride of Frankenstein (1931); William Travilla, the talent behind Marilyn Monroe's dresses in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) and The Seven Year Itch (1955); and Walter Plunkett, the Oscar-winning designer for film classics like Gone with the Wind (1939) and An American in Paris (1951). Christian Esquevin is a writer, collector, blogger, and researcher of Hollywood costume design history. His collection of classic film costume design sketches has been featured by the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising Museum in Los Angeles. He is the author of Adrian: Silver Screen to Custom Label. Mr. Esquevin is a CIFF Founding Board Member and served as Board President from 2020 - 2022.

The influence and impact of women in the industry contines to reshape, redefine, and reimagine the industry. All female filmmakers, producers and marketing mavens should plan to attend this lively panel.

Do not miss this dynamic conversation! Mimosas will be served...

CIFF Head Juror, Female Filmmakers

PANELISTS:

Coco Francini -  Executive Producer, Dirty Films (Producing Partner, Cate Blanchet)

Suzanne Farwell - Executive Producer (of every woman's favorite films!) The Holiday, Something's Gotta Give, It's Complicated.

Vivian Kerr - Filmmaker, Writer, Director, Actress. Her film SCRAP will be screening Sunday 10am

War photo journalist experience the frontlines living in a war zone, behind a camera lens but that does not seperate them from the harsh realities of what they witness, must personally process and report back to the world. That unbridled commitment for the truth has a high cost, it is about finding hope in the horrible. This panel will discuss the critical job and why it matters even more today in the digital age.

Moderator Justin Roberts

A panel that takes apart the misconceptions of people with disabilities, and the importance of representation whether it be race, gender, or protected status, on the creative and innovative contributions to the entertainment industy. Moderator Al Kovach

Join industry experts at all levels of their craft, for a dynamic discussion about the state of the entertainment industry; from shifts in audience viewing habits, emerging technologies, representation, and sustainable productions, to making room for the next generation of filmmakers.

The panel will be followed by a guided Q&A and then a candid breakout session for an honest exchange between the panelists, filmmakers in the audience, and those hoping to enter the industry. Moderated panel discussion followed by an open Q+A and breakout working sessions with attendees. 

THIS IS A FREE PANEL TO ATTEND   //   FESTIVAL BADGE NOT REQUIRED

Moderated by Entertainment Marketing Consultant and Strategist, Terry Curtin

Panelist include:

Lisa Bruce, Award Winning Producer

Lisa Bruce is a two-time Oscar nominated, BAFTA winning producer with a career spanning over 25 years with 15 feature and television films to her credit. In 2018, Lisa was Oscar nominated for Best Picture as well as two BAFTA’s for Best Picture for Darkest Hour starring Gary Oldman. In 2015 Lisa won the Best British Film BAFTA and was nominated for both a Golden Globe® and an Academy Award for The Theory of Everything. In 2019, she was the Creative Executive Producer for Amazon Prime’s 8-part anthology TV series entitled Welcome to the Blumhouse. Following this, she helped launch a new EPIX TV anthology series as the Creative Executive Producer on the showcased film American Refugee. Currently, Lisa is the producing partner with actor, producer, director David Oyelowo and his company Yoruba Saxon, developing features, TV series and docuseries. She is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as well as the British Academy of Film and TV Arts and is always in search of a great story to share with the world.

Coco Francini, Producer, Dirty Films

Coco Francini is an Emmy-nominated producer and a partner at Dirty Films, alongside Cate Blanchett and Andrew Upton. She recently produced Christos Nikou’s FINGERNAILS, featuring Jessie Buckley and Riz Ahmed, and has executive produced Iranian-Australian filmmaker Noora Niasari’s feature debut SHAYDA, starring Cannes Best Actress winner Zar Amir-Ebrahimi, which premiered in the World Dramatic Competition at Sundance this past year and went on to win the Audience Award. Previous to her work with Dirty Films, Coco executive produced MRS. AMERICA for FX Networks, written by MAD MEN alum Dahvi Waller. The show premiered in April 2020 and received ten Emmy nominations, including Best Limited Series, Outstanding Writing, and acting nominations for Blanchett, Margo Martindale, and Tracey Ullman, as well as an Emmy win for Uzo Aduba. Coco is also a frequent collaborator of Quentin Tarantino. Beginning with DJANGO UNCHAINED and then on THE HATEFUL EIGHT where she oversaw the global 70MM roadshow tour and the soundtrack/score that won a long-deserved Academy Award for Ennio Morricone. A graduate of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, Francini earned her master's from the elite Peter Stark Producing Program at USC.

Ricky Rhodes,Writer and Director- Planet Froth Productions

Ricky is an award-winning writer and director known for his films that push the boundaries of cinematic storytelling with original concepts about human rights and biodiversity. With a background in marine biology from Sonoma State University and film production from California State University Northridge, he combines his passions for ocean wildlife and filmmaking in the creation of his latest project Humanatee, a nature documentary about an explorer's 21-year long friendship with manatees. Ricky co-founded Planet Froth Productions, the message-first media production company. His work has received numerous awards and has been featured in publications such as Voyage, Nowness and Forbes. Ricky's heartbreaking social justice short film Not Just Another Day, about the racial disparities of cannabis possession arrests, won multiple awards for Best Documentary at festivals in 2021. His narrative short film Yellow Wallpaper, a period drama and psychological thriller based on the feminist short story from the 1890s, premiered at the Oscar and Bafta qualifying LA Shortsfest in July, 2023. Ricky's latest film Humanatee premiered at the United Nations - World Oceans Week in June, 2023 and is currently being developed into a feature film or mini-series.

Will Mustin,Writer, Director, and Editor.

Will Mustin is a New York-based writer, director, and editor. He graduated from NYU Tisch School of The Arts, where he studied Film and Television Production. 

Panel Coordinator: Terry Curtin and Emma Kidd

Work can be all-consuming and these Shorts bring into focus complicated, humorous and tricky work situations. Q+A with Filmmakers immediately following screenings:

Family dynamics take center stage in this diverse collection of films. They will make you laugh, cringe, empathize and perhaps hit a little to close to home. Q+A with Filmmakers immediately following screenings:

Compassion and empathy open the door to our shared understanding of others. This collection of films showcases people who are making a difference and changing lives. Q+A with Filmmakers immediately following screenings:

San Diego is rich in filmmakers and remarkable storytellers. This selection of well crafted films is a testiment to our local creative talent, personalities and artists. Q+A with Filmmakers immediately following screenings:

Life throws curve balls and unexpected situations usually out of our control. These films will take you along for the journey. Q+A with Filmmakers immediately following screenings:

Some people compel us to want to know more about them and where they come from. These films introduce you to such individuals and their unique stories. Q+A with Filmmakers immediately following screenings:

A curated showcase of the next generation of cinematic storytellers. Comprised of students at all levels of their craft these films explore compelling stories, topics and diversity. Q+A with Filmmakers immediately following screenings:

A curated showcase of the next generation of cinematic storytellers. Comprised of students at all levels of their craft these films explore compelling stories, topics and diversity. Q+A with Filmmakers immediately following screenings:

A curated selection of shorts that explore our relationship with food. Q+A with Filmmakers immediately following screenings:

Some things are not always as they seem, everyone has a backstory. These curated shorts bring context and perspective in unexpected ways. Q+A with Filmmakers immediately following screenings:

A curated selection of whimsical, dramatic, artistic and creative shorts that use animation techniques that challenge and delight the imagination. Q+A with Filmmakers immediately following screenings:

November 12, 2023
Coronado Performing Arts Center

Pre-Party:
Stave Van Doren, VP Marketing and Special Events | Vans (cast member)
Wing Lamb, Co-Founder, Wahoo’s Fish Tacos (cast member)
Tony Alva, cast member
Lizzie Armanto, cast member
Michael Ien Cohen, Producer, Director
Ian B. Gibson, Director of Photography/Editor

Q & A:
Tony Alva, cast member
Lizzie Armanto, cast member
Michael Ien Cohen, Producer, Director
Ian B. Gibson, Director of Photography/Editor

A documentary about the beauty in overcoming fear and other challenges facing humanity, as seen by icons of pro skating, science, art, music, activism, and education, all of whom share experiences and perspectives shaped by their love of skateboarding

Humanity Stoked is in the middle of its global film festival run, with over 18 WINS in 8 countries, and over 40 official selections in 16 countries thus far.

Humanity Stoked is a feature length documentary featuring world-famous skateboarders, scientists, artists, musicians, activists and educators, all of whom share a love of skateboarding. The iconic cast, respected as leaders in their fields, reveal their unique experiences and insights on being human. Their perspectives on issues that affect humanity’s ability to move forward together are shaped by their own backgrounds, and often inspired by their love of skateboarding. The conversations focus on understanding fear, depression, addiction, education, activism, philanthropy, racism, sexism, homophobia, and the environment. The film’s purpose is to inspire deeper thinking, and more empathic perspectives about people and the world around them.

Humanity Stoked was produced entirely for free by team of dedicated volunteers.  The film’s Producer/Director, and life-long skater, Michael Ien Cohen, the entire crew of Revere 8 Films / WhatStopsYou.org Foundation, and all 3^rd parties involved have refused salary and compensation of any kind. As result, 100% of the revenue from the film and merchandising goes directly to charity, to help make positive and long-lasting change in the lives of children and young adults around the world, especially in low socio-economic areas.  This film is a mission of love and everyone involved is passionate about inspiring deeper thinking and positive change in the world.

November 11, 2023
Loews Coronado Bay Resort & Spa
Commodore Ballroom 

6:00 PM
Hosted Champagne Reception by the Bay  |  * non-hosted full bars will be open

7:00 PM
Dinner & Awards Presentation | Hosted Wine Service at Table 

4000 Coronado Bay Road, Coronado, 92118

Honorary Chair, Carolynn Berardi Towbin, CEO, Dealer/Principle of Towbin Motorcars 

The Stars Come Out To Shine!

A benefit gala evening honoring industry luminaries for their contribution to the Art & Science of Cinematic Storytelling. Festival Host and Honorary Jury President, Leonard Maltin, will preside over the evening Tributes. Considered one of the most well respected film critics and historians, Mr. Maltin will engage with honorees as they take the stage to accept their awards. 

Recognizing the creative contributions of those who have brought their respective genius to the big screen for generations to enjoy. Honorees are recognized for music, artistry, cinematography, cultural impact and legacy - respected by their peers and loved by audiences worldwide!

Past honorees have included: Geena Davis, Jacqueline Bisset, Ron Shelton, Charles Fox, Elegance Bratton, Vanessa Roth, Chloé Zhao, Richard Dreyfuss, Nancy Utley, Alexandré Desplat, Mayes Rubeo, Gabriel Beristain and Ann Blyth.

MEET Carolynn Berardi Towbin

Carolynn is the Chairman/CEO of Towbin Automotive.  She began her automotive career in 1990 with the launch of Towbin Infiniti. Towbin Automotive is currently comprised of Towbin Motorcars (which includes Rolls Royce, Bentley, Aston Martin, and Karma), Ferrari • Maserati of Las Vegas. Carolynn has become the first female Ferrari dealer in the nation and operates the only licensed Ferrari and Maserati dealership in Nevada.

Carolynn is a loving mother of two children and four grandchildren. She and her family are dedicated to serving the community and play an active role in supporting numerous worthwhile foundations and charities; and is a founding member of Three Square Food Bank and Make a Wish of Southern Nevada.

Carolynn is a graduate of the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Academy and has served as Secretary of the Nevada Franchised Auto Dealers Association. In 2013, she was the “Time Dealer of the Year” nominee from Nevada and was listed among Nevada Business Magazine’s “Women to Watch” for 2016.

Carolynn enjoys, practices, and teaches meditation and is a Certified Meditation Instructor and innovative coach through the Chopra Center.

As the Honorary Chair for the Leonard Maltin Industry Tribute Awards gala, I am humbled by the creative talent of the Honorees. My support of the Coronado Island Film Festival started in year one. The festival celebrates cinema in a way that connects us all through stories, imagination and entertainment. The impact is indelible and I am honored to invest into a vision that changes and impacts lives. I hope to see you there !

November 8, 2023  5:30-7:30
Nautilus Ballroom and Patio
Coronado Community Center 

The official KICK OFF BASH of the 2023 Coronado Island Film Festival--- Come ready to mix, mingle, sip and savor! A blow-out celebration. 

The evening includes our annual Taste of the Festival featuring culinary bites from top chefs and restaurants, and signature festival cocktails from our featured spirits, wine and beer vendors. 

Enjoy previews reels of festival films and dance the night away to the sounds of the New Catililacs

This event is free and open to ALL badge holders. 

Limited tickets for purchase online for non-badge holders on a  first-come basis. 

No tickets will be sold at the door.

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Eugenie, an esteemed cook, has been working for over the last 20 years for Dodin, a fine gourmet. Growing fonder of one another, their bond turns into a romance and gives rise to delicious dishes that impress even the world’s most illustrious chefs. When Dodin is faced with Eugenie’s reluctance to commit to him, he decides to start cooking for her. Price includes After Party. Tavern will feature a no-host menu. Cocktail Attire requested

OPENING NIGHT FILM PREMIERE + AFTER PARTY

Red Carpet Screening | Cocktail Attire requested

November 9, 2023

Village Theatre 

4:00 p.m. - Screening 

7:00 p.m. - Screening

Both screening include access to the AfterParty

Badge Holders are FREE 

Tickets are not sold separately for the film and the after-party.

AFTER PARTY THE TAVERN 

The Opening Night continues at The Tavern. A Coronado hotspot with a rustic elegant vibe that will serve up hosted classic cocktails, and comfort-food bites.  Additional no-host menu items will be available. 

Shere Hite’s 1976 bestselling book, The Hite Report, liberated the female orgasm by revealing the most private experiences of thousands of anonymous survey respondents. Her findings rocked the American establishment and presaged current conversations about gender, sexuality, and bodily autonomy. So how did Shere Hite disappear?

Sony Classic Pictures
San Diego Premiere
Australia’s Official Oscar Selection for Best International Feature:
A young Iranian mother takes refuge in an Australian women’s shelter with her 6-year-old daughter during the two weeks of Nowruz, the Persian New Year. Her path to freedom is jeopardized when her estranged husband arrives.

Q+A with Executive Producer, Coco Francini and Producer Actors, Mojean Aria

NETFLIX San Diego Premiere
Twenty years after their notorious tabloid romance gripped the nation, Gracie Atherton-Yu and her husband Joe (twenty-three years her junior) brace themselves for their twins to graduate from high school. When Hollywood actress Elizabeth Berry comes to spend time with the family to better understand Gracie, who she will be playing in a film, family dynamics unravel under the pressure of the outside gaze. Joe, never having processed what happened in his youth, starts to confront the reality of life as an empty-nester at thirty-six. And as Elizabeth and Gracie study each other, the similarities and differences between the two women begin to ebb and flow. Set in picturesque and comfortable Camden, Maine, May December is an exploration of truth, storytelling, and the difficulties (or impossibility) of fully understanding another person.

TRIBUTE HONOREE HEBA THORISDOTTIR Will be in attendance for the Q+A

The film competed for the Palme d’Or at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Jury Prize. It is also selected as the Finnish entry for the Best International Feature Film award at the upcoming 96th Academy Awards. Ansa (which means ‘trapped’ in Finnish), is single and lives in Helsinki. She works on a zero hour contract in a supermarket, stocking the shelves; later she sorts recyclable plastic. One night she accidentally meets the equally lonely worker Holappa, an alcoholic. Against all odds and misunderstandings, they try to build a relationship. As a result, Holappa manages to get his alcohol addiction under control. According to Alma Pöysti, the female lead, “the film is about lonely people with baggage, who meet later in life. It takes courage to fall in love later in life.”

A grieving widower becomes obsessed with a mysterious self help book he finds on the dark web written by an eccentric guru, which promises to unlock the power to fly.

Set during a bitter 1964 Massachusetts winter, young secretary Eileen becomes enchanted by the glamorous new counselor at the prison where she works. Their budding friendship takes a twisted turn when Rebecca reveals a dark secret — throwing Eileen onto a sinister path. Champagne Sponsored by Isabella Avenue Dentistry.

Pre-Party:
Steve Van Doren, VP Marketing and Special Events | Vans (cast member)
Wing Lam, Co-Founder, Wahoo’s Fish Tacos (cast member)
Tony Alva, cast member
Lizzie Armanto, cast member
Michael Ien Cohen, Producer, Director
Ian B. Gibson, Director of Photography/Editor

Q & A:
Tony Alva, cast member
Lizzie Armanto, cast member
Michael Ien Cohen, Producer, Director
Ian B. Gibson, Director of Photography/Editor

A documentary about the beauty in overcoming fear and other challenges facing humanity, as seen by icons of pro skating, science, art, music, activism, and education, all of whom share experiences and perspectives shaped by their love of skateboarding.

Humanity Stoked is in the middle of its global film festival run, with over 18 WINS in 8 countries, and over 40 official selections in 16 countries thus far.

Humanity Stoked is a feature length documentary featuring world-famous skateboarders, scientists, artists, musicians, activists and educators, all of whom share a love of skateboarding. The iconic cast, respected as leaders in their fields, reveal their unique experiences and insights on being human. Their perspectives on issues that affect humanity’s ability to move forward together are shaped by their own backgrounds, and often inspired by their love of skateboarding. The conversations focus on understanding fear, depression, addiction, education, activism, philanthropy, racism, sexism, homophobia, and the environment. The film’s purpose is to inspire deeper thinking, and more empathic perspectives about people and the world around them.

Humanity Stoked was produced entirely for free by team of dedicated volunteers.  The film’s Producer/Director, and life-long skater, Michael Ien Cohen, the entire crew of Revere 8 Films / WhatStopsYou.org Foundation, and all 3^rd parties involved have refused salary and compensation of any kind. As result, 100% of the revenue from the film and merchandising goes directly to charity, to help make positive and long-lasting change in the lives of children and young adults around the world, especially in low socio-economic areas.  This film is a mission of love and everyone involved is passionate about inspiring deeper thinking and positive change in the world.

Approaching the end of his twenties and his relative youth, a man decides to quit his cushy desk job and 'embrace life' - only to realize he has no idea what to do with this newfound freedom.

BADGE HOLDERS ONLY: Good Morning! Donuts and coffee All badge holders start the day off right. Coffee: Moto Coffee + Donut Beach

Thursday-Sunday

Eugenie, an esteemed cook, has been working for over the last 20 years for Dodin, a fine gourmet. Growing fonder of one another, their bond turns into a romance and gives rise to delicious dishes that impress even the world’s most illustrious chefs. When Dodin is faced with Eugenie’s reluctance to commit to him, he decides to start cooking for her. Price includes After Party. Tavern will feature a no-host menu. Cocktail Attire requested

OPENING NIGHT FILM PREMIERE + AFTER PARTY

Red Carpet Screening | Cocktail Attire requested

November 9, 2023

Village Theatre 

4:00 p.m. - Screening 

7:00 p.m. - Screening

Both screening include access to the AfterParty

Badge Holders are FREE 

Tickets are not sold separately for the film and the after-party.

AFTER PARTY THE TAVERN 

The Opening Night continues at The Tavern. A Coronado hotspot with a rustic elegant vibe that will serve up hosted classic cocktails, and comfort-food bites.  Additional no-host menu items will be available. 

For some people sitting on the sidelines is not an option. This collection of stories shares the power of taking action to inspire change and drive awareness. Meet these agents of change! Q+A with Filmmakers immediately following screenings

Juan and Ana seem to be a well-educated couple. The vicarious violence that Juan exerts on Ana cannot be seen.

In the summer of 1920, a group of artists embark on an idyllic picnic. A shy painter struggles to navigate his attraction to a cocky novelist.

The surreal experiences of Yellow Dove in his bunker within the world of Hour Blue.

Filled with a stirring national pride, a young Joshua Dawson signs up to fight in the Great War. Living on the front lines, battered and shell-shocked, he comes to realize he is just another pawn.

Teenager Ly and her cousins get high before a boisterous family Thanksgiving at their auntie’s house in southeast San Diego in 2006.

When a group of triathletes set out on their morning training session, one decision changes everything.

A family comes to terms with tragic loss, exploring the psychological and practical implications. It raises awareness of the under-reported social issue of mental health in rural settings and how conversations about feelings prevent a spiral towards suicide.

A remarkable woman challenges two centuries of Navy tradition and discrimination, becoming a champion for equal opportunities to serve onboard ship and in combat -- all while raising a family and rising to the rank of Captain.

A journey through the thoughts of people on a London Underground platform.

Nijole and Elze head out to pick up a shipment of drugs but just one sip of coke can have dire consequences.

A seafarer sings the story of how he, as a young man, left Falmouth looking for a new life on the High Seas. During his voyage, he recounts how the moon began to follow him, watching his every move. After months at sea, the ship arrives at a tropical island where the moon leads him to his first true love waiting on the beach. But the moon becomes envious of their love, driving them apart, and forces the young man, heartbroken and alone, back to Falmouth.

In the French Jura mountains, at the end of fictitious Middle Ages, Else is an herbalist and a midwife. With Nicole, her young apprentice, they are disturbed during their daily practice: a stranger riding a horse demands to gather all the women of the village in its small church.

Pepe and Jesús are father and son. That summer morning, Pepe has to work at a flea market, but the person in charge of looking after Jesús, who has cerebral palsy, calls and says that he won't be able to do it.

After a collection of environmental disasters lead society to the brink of collapse a young mother must find ways to survive with her small child as they navigate the near-future apocalypse.

A Vietnamese-American family's plan to cover up a drunk driving accident begins to unravel when their emotional baggage spills out in front of the police.

A film of a man and his relationship with the ocean, which is then interrupted by the presence of pollution.

Entering cautiously into adulthood, a shy eighteen-year-old attempts to balance “coming out” of his shell with an erratic home life and an unhinged QAnon mother. A timely and poignant short film with a unique twist on the queer coming-of-age story.

A decision delayed for decades allows three generations of a Kansas City family to finally unify when they do something that countless African Americans before them could not do -choose their own last name.

A young woman turns a drone pilot's world upside down when they meet in a movie theater, forcing him to question everything he thought he knew about himself and his personal goals.

This is the story of a meeting between an astonishing robot from outer space and an adorable little bird just hatched from its egg.

En route to his daughter's birthday party, a hapless father annihilates a wiener dog with his car.

Nǎi Nai is my grandma. Wài Pó is also my grandma. Together, they are a grandma super team that dances, stretches, and farts their sorrows away.

While on her travels as a Loan Officer for the bank, Ms. Rossi encounters some obstacles along the way while just trying to do her job.

Tommy Sablan is the first radio producer inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame. He is better known by his San Diego on-air moniker “Little Tommy,” and for decades has entertained millions of people on radio and now television. But, beyond the scope of entertainment, the Chula Vista native, from a humble start, is a man who lives to give and help others. Have there been some struggles along the way? Yes. And in this film “Little Tommy” is candid and shares his personal story and others close to him weigh in.

An exploration into the life and journey of John Cosby, a renowned California Impressionist and plein-air painter. From his beginnings as a communications expert for two U.S. Presidents, to creating some of the most iconic images of the In-N-Out Burger franchise, John Cosby's art has inspired people across America. Follow along with us as we go forward with John on his next adventures.

An explorer has an unusual 21-year-long friendship with manatees that leads to unearthing the insidious forces that stand to wipe them out.

After Evie dresses up like her estranged grandmother, a Holocaust survivor, on “Heritage Day” at school, she becomes increasingly obsessed with this dark part of her family history.

HELP ME UNDERSTAND follows six women as they come to a consensus.

Alissa, a teen Latina, shares her heroic mental health journey from being given up for adoption, experiencing self-harm, being sexually assaulted, and surviving three suicide attempts at age 15, to connecting to other teens, getting help, starting a mental health club at her high school, and beginning college to become a counselor in the future to help troubled youth.

Unlike the rest of the United States, which has seen a steady decline in farming, Alaskan farming has more than doubled in response to food insecurity. Food insecurity in Alaska raises grocery store prices to nearly double that of the rest of the United States. Ron Meeham, Policy and Advocacy Manager at the Food Bank of Alaska, and Ziona Brownlow, Founder of Food for Thought Alaska, introduce the issue and what limits their respective organizations have on creating systemwide change.

David, 12, lives the typical life of a kid in Tijuana; goes to school, plays soccer with friends and spends his weekends at the beach. One day, his mom sets him aside and tells him that they're moving to Los Angeles without his dad.

"D as in Do Not" is a comedy about a stand up comedian (Joey Ally) dealing with her mom's (Annie Golden) continual hints that she's planning to end it all.

An amateur ornothologist confronts a blithe confectioner. A tale of adultery, blackmail and violence unfolds in a small countryside pastry shop.

Weird things keep happening while Elise is alone, so when her husband, Derek, returns unexpectedly from a business trip to surprise her, it has the opposite effect. In fact, it only raises more questions to her mounting suspicions.

When a stranger offers a large sum to train with his son, a junior squash ex-champion must decide whether to release his repressed demons.

On a school day, a 7 year-old hustles strangers for money on the streets of New York City.

A woman and a teenage girl, alone in Berlin in different circumstances and for different reasons, encounter each other and find more in common than they first thought.

The First World War is over. Britain is victorious, but for the casualties of war, the fight for a normal life is far from over. Two lost souls will come to terms with the damage they’ve done to each other.

A portrait of a Deaf activist and his formerly incarcerated daughter, who build new bonds through their experiences in the criminal justice system.

When the "Black Lives Matter" movement grew in awareness, Marcus Baskerville, head brewer of Weathered Souls Brewing Co., wanted to shed light on the growing problem of inequality and police brutality. This is where the "Black is Beautiful" project was born. We follow the impact of the initiative and where it is today.

This film takes a historical look at the significant effect that Black girls have had on popular culture and Black musical aesthetics. The cultural aesthetics of hand games have permeated modern American culture and Black girls are often left uncredited for the impact that they have left on society. PLAY looks to examine this often forgotten world.

Two friends unknowingly experience a major side effect after finally getting their hands on a mysterious new skin cream sweeping TikTok that removes more than wrinkles.

On a Boeing-737, a 39 yr. old flight attendant, Vanina, tries hard to hide her obvious discomfort; this plane carries her mother's dead body to her hometown. When the turbulence become threatening, Vanina faces an urgent need to see her mother in what proves to be a last chance for reconciliation.

"Williams & Mansell: Red 5" is about the career of racing driver Nigel Mansell and the Williams F1 team, focusing on both the development of the Williams Engineering F1 team from its incorporation in 1977 and the driving career of Nigel Mansell from humble beginnings in Birmingham, England. This documentary tells the story of how team and driver came together and their struggle to win the World Formula 1 Drivers' Championship against some of the greatest drivers of all time. Contributions come from World Champions Nigel Mansell, Damon Hill and Jenson Button along with F1 experts and people who worked with Williams and Mansell during the 1980’s and early 1990’s.

A Californian backpacker becomes entangled in a polyamorous relationship with a gang of young actors who plot to kidnap the US Ambassador to Argentina.

Set in the competitive world of chess, we follow Nana’s (Academy Award Winner Mercedes Ruehl) journey in a heartwarming feel-good comedy about reuniting her grandsons (Will Peltz and Nolan Gould) and supporting her retirement community.

In a nondescript warehouse in the heart of Los Angeles, a dwindling handful of devoted craftspeople maintain over 80,000 student musical instruments, the largest remaining workshop in America of its kind. Meet four unforgettable characters whose broken-and-repaired lives have been dedicated to bringing so much more than music to the schoolchildren of the recording capital of the world.

Join CIFF as we honor our Veterans for their sacrifice, valor and commitment. This Special screening will feature the JROTC, Filmmaker David Kneiss. The Gift is the story of Medal of Honor recipient, Corporal Jason L. Dunham and the Marines of Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines. It is a story of courage, sacrifice, and love. How will we live... how will we make a difference? These are the questions the Marines of Kilo Company ask themselves, as they search for a purpose and gather the strength to move forward with their lives.

Spotlight Feature: National Anthem Singer

Victoria Roberston

Victoria Robertson is a classically-trained soprano who was awarded the title Miss USO San Diego for her performance work for the U.S. Military and supporting organizations. With the Armed Forces Entertainment Victoria has toured in Greenland, England, Netherlands, and Germany. Patriotic American music continues to be one of Victoria's leading repertoires, inspiring patriotism into the hearts of thousands of citizens. Her album Celebrating America, a compilation of American patriotic songs, was sent in thousands of care packages to U.S. Military personnel and their families overseas.

Victoria has performed aboard Aircraft Carriers and in desert training grounds for the troops and is often invited to headline official government functions.  Victoria has opened up major events with the National Anthem including the Los Angeles Tennis Open, the Los Angeles Lakers, and the Miramar Air Show.  She was the official entertainment for the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines in 2008 for Independence Day.  

Her opera and art song performances won her several distinguished vocal competition titles such as the La Jolla Symphony & Chorus Competition, National Association of Teachers of Singing Competition, Musical Merit Competition, and Virginia Hawk Competition.  Victoria has been featured at performing arts centers and concert halls world-wide and has performance history with several symphony orchestras and opera companies including San Diego Symphony, La Jolla Symphony, TICO Orchestra, San Diego Opera, and Santa Barbara Opera. Victoria co-founded Opera4Kids and is the acting CEO of this non-profit with a mission to enrich children's lives and prepare them to thrive.  VictoriaRobertson.com

After getting laid off, a young single-mom (Vivian Kerr) finds herself living in her car and struggles to hide her homelessness from her estranged brother Ben (Anthony Rapp) and his wife (Lana Parrilla).

DOG lives in Manhattan and he's tired of being alone. One day he decides to build himself a robot, a companion. Their friendship blossoms, until they become inseparable, to the rhythm of 80's NYC. One summer night, DOG, with great sadness, is forced to abandon ROBOT at the beach. Will they ever meet again?

Nora and Hae Sung, two deeply connected childhood friends, are wrested apart after Nora's family emigrates from South Korea. Twenty years later, they are reunited for one fateful week as they confront notions of love and destiny.

Over/Under is the true story of writers’ Sianni Rosenstock and Sophia Silver’s lifelong friendship. Our story begins in 2002 when Violet West and Stella Steinberg are nine-years-old. During the school year they live apart, but in the summer they are inseparable. They spend their days playing in waves, catching butterflies, sending wishes to fairies, and spying on nude adults at the beach. But then, the summer ends. Stella has friends back home, but would rather talk with them about mermaids than tampons. A lonely Violet attracts the attention of a vicious bully, while silently processing her changing body. Over the next few summers the girls come together, but puberty, boys, family trauma, and the desire to “fit in” all begin to threaten the magic of their friendship. By the end of our story it’s 2006, and the girls are thirteen-years-old. Over/Under is a story of innocence and loss of innocence. Violet and Stella teach us about the deepest kind of friendship, and remind us just how delicate childhood really is.

A young filmmaker sets out on a 10,000-mile exploration of the national parks with his childhood best friend during the centennial year of the formation of the National Park Service. Along the way, the two record stories of the people that work in the parks and those that come to enjoy them, as part of the rich tapestry of the history of the park system emerges.

For those lovers of adevnture and outdoors - this is a "not to miss" film.

By getting in the mind of Dr. J Robert Oppenheimer we take the audience on a journey that took place before, during, and after the testing of the world's first atomic bomb in the New Mexico desert on July 16, 1945. Events quickly unfolded that caused a course of action that is still debated today. Using the written and spoken words of Dr. Oppenheimer, we understand the weight of the world that was on his shoulders at that moment in time.

Maxine’s Baby: The Tyler Perry Story, a nod to his mother’s love, is a tender and intimate portrait of visionary and innovator Tyler Perry: his harrowing but faithful road to the top of an industry that didn’t always include him. CIFF is proud to be host the San Diego Premiere of this amazing documentary.

After pulling a fire alarm to escape a particularly bad panic attack mid-bar exam, Nora (Sara Friedman) returns home to live with her emotionally distant parents (Xander Berkeley and Sarah Clarke) in Maine. While she undergoes court-ordered psychiatric treatment, Nora struggles to navigate both therapy and her tenuous relationship with her parents. Nora’s world is further upended when she is assigned to volunteer at her local state park. Nature induced panic attacks subside in the company of her new supervisor Dusty (Dave Register), and they strike up an unlikely friendship as fellow outsiders. When Nora realizes Dusty suffers from an undiagnosed anxiety disorder, she commits to helping him pass his law enforcement exam so that he can fulfill his dream of becoming a real Park Ranger. Nora and Dusty explore their relationships with their families - including how to deal with Dusty’s bullying step-brother Mitch (Mike Mitchell), Nora’s occasionally destructive coping mechanisms, and their own expectations of themselves, all amidst their blooming romantic feelings for one another.

Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Mercury, Nevada? The latter was the site for the testing of 928 large-scale nuclear weapons from 1951 to 1992. Martin Sheen narrates this harrowing exposé of the United States' disregard for everyone living… downwind.

Join Director, writer, producer Mark Samuel Shapiro for a compelling post screening discussion at the Coronado Historical Association 1100 Orange Avenue, Coronado, CA 92118

This exquisite fly-on-the-wall environmental doc is also a gripping and up-to-the-minute tale of geopolitical, scientific, and corporate intrigue that exposes the destructive machinations of a secretive organization empowered to extract massive amounts of metals from the deep seafloor.

Sponsored by Emerald Keepers

A documentary that follows a modern dance choreographer detailing the journey of several inmates incarcerated in a US prison, as they create and prepare for their own performance. Hearing their stories we understand the need for focus and creativity in a hostile arena.

COMMON GROUND is the sweeping and uplifting story of the pioneers of the “Regenerative Movement” who are forgoing the toxic seeds and sprays pushed by Big Ag in order to produce tremendous quantities of nutritionally dense food while bringing our entire ecosystem back to life.

Through intimate access to a charismatic Mattel insider, Beulah Mae Mitchell, BLACK BARBIE delves into the cross section of merchandise and representation as Black women strive to elevate their own voices and stories, refusing to be invisible.

A young, broke couple kidnap a sleazy politician who decides he can spin the story to his own advantage.

Join Celebrity Chef Susan Feniger and celebrated filmmaker Liz Lachman for their documentary: Susan Feniger. FORKED…a verite feature documentary film following award-winning celebrity chef Susan Feniger on her first solo restaurant, her passionate struggle and quest to bring global street food under one roof in the form of a new LA restaurant: STREET. Shot by her longtime filmmaker partner, it’s a story about starting over and about not IF one fails… but HOW. Film followed with a demo by Susan, and savory bites from her famed Border Grill restaurant.

Filmmaker, Writer and Director and Shannon Morrell shares her compelling film on the devastation from Lionfish. With an avaricious appetite, no native predators, and rapid reproduction rates, the invasive lionfish is one of the planet's greatest eco-disasters. In this short documentary about sustainability and activism, a community of passionate Floridians use creative removal methods to save the waters they love.

Joined by Amy Steward, Founder of Emerald Keepers, and Meghan McKee, the head chef at Coronado Yacht Club for a post screening discussion and tasting. - Reservations required for all badge holders.

The event is sponsored by Emerald Keepers and the Emerald Green, Ocean Blue Initative

A boy sees from the window of his apartment a child playing alone with a ball every day.

A sheriff tries to tame a lawless town in the not-so-old West in this parody of Westerns.

A rich client hires a grizzled private investigator to steal a family heirloom from the mob. The problem: that family heirloom comes in the form of a gold signet ring that the mob boss never takes off. The PI ends up in the center of a small shootout where all of his plans are thrown to the wind, and he must get creative to survive and complete his job.

The journey of a Ukrainian mother as she finds refuge for her family.

Three years ago, Anish flew to Qatar to help with the construction of stadiums for the FIFA World Cup. As a huge football fan himself, he was excited to be playing his part in the development of the biggest sporting event in the world. He’d been promised a good wage which would mean he could support his family back home in Nepal. But what he discovered when he arrived was far from what he expected…

A woman meets a man in a bar and discovers that they have much more in common than they thought.

A stop motion re-telling of the classic Edgar Allen Poe short story, in which a man is driven to insanity by the presence of his older companion's pale blue eye.

When a ruthless tech ubernerd is faced with pushback right before a big launch, he must find a way to hype up the team — and himself — before going onstage. Inspired by true events and one very viral Bill Gates video.

Eager to celebrate the 4th of July, a group of young black and Latino friends experience a police encounter that shatters the meaning of the holiday.

An incredible day of driving, hiking, and drone flying leads to finding a mysterious box with over a century of family history. This good Samaritan can't rest until he finds and delivers this treasure trove of family artifacts to the rightful owner. What could go wrong?

A boy struggling in school is eventually diagnosed with dyslexia. With the help of his family and guided by the strong bond he shares with his brother, he begins his journey of overcoming it.

After their mother’s death, a cognitively disabled woman and her estranged sister must learn to communicate in order to move forward.

Linh is a Vietnamese mother who lives with her son in America. When her father visits and insists on cooking a traditional Vietnamese meal, Linh is confronted with the past and culture she left behind.

Opposing sexual appetites and dietary ethics bring a stagnant relationship to a theatrical and surprising crescendo as a heartfelt revelation confronts the elephant in the room.

A 9-year-old girl discovers that her favorite sweatshirt is a hand-me-down.

In the near future, a woman stuck on a rose-colored version of her past seeks support from an augmented reality therapist to unlock the dark truth behind her memories.

A first-generation college senior confronts the realities of generational trauma, while preparing an original piece for an upcoming violin audition.

A shoal of herrings, adopting fantastic formations, roams the vast ocean. When seagulls suddenly attack, one small herring finds itself stranded in a tidal pool. As it searches desperately for a way out, it discovers many other sea creatures here. And now there is no time for fear: only by joining forces can they hope to defend themselves against the hungry seagull.

Amidst the politically charged atmosphere of 1960s Washington D.C, two female doctors unveil a web of corruption and deceit that puts profits over people's lives. Inspired by true events.

A young man must face his fears to make a personal purchase.

An intimate look inside the healing power of water & surfing on autistic children and the surfers who offer "one perfect day" to kids worldwide for free. Featuring Izzy Paskowitz.

Following his latest romantic humiliation, Simon is unexpectedly summoned to his grandmother’s house to meet her new boyfriend, Merv. The man he encounters there upends his understanding of love, loss, and Chinese takeout.

Yezy Suh was inspired by the book covers being handed out in bins in the library for free in CalArts and built a reflective narrative about a mother-daughter relationship and delved into sense memories, the deeply personal interactions and relationships that have stuck with her in the past to create this film.

One day, out of nowhere, a giant Rock lays in the middle of the peaceful little village where Luce lives. The villagers can’t even open the door to their houses anymore! Luce is angry: go away Rock, you don’t belong here! And why are you here anyway?

After a member of the "freestyle canoe dancing" community suffers a tragic accident and unimaginable loss, his fellow canoe enthusiasts work in tandem to help him through his emotional and physical trauma to recover and get back in his canoe

Matthew Fast always wanted to be a soldier. He served tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. Once he was back home, his wife, Jessica, discovered his service had a hidden affect on him.

A local hero fights to save his culture by teaching Hawaiian language, sustainability and life skills to disadvantaged kids.

Adam Culver follows the five steps to disappearance, hosted by the mysterious "John Doe."

Drew hangs up missing person posters. After returning home, Drew's mother insists that they should go pick up Drew's overdue homecoming dress. At the mall, Drew is convinced that a strange man is trying to lure a woman out of the store. Could this be the person who took Becca?

In the late 1960s, Alice Marshall, my great grandmother, temporarily signed ownership of our ancestral home over to a family friend. However, that friend deceived them—first collecting rent, and then selling the property despite their pleas. Through rare archival material, we come to understand a world that’s gone – dusted cigar boxes, expired glue bottles, led painted bed frames, and more – all of it piled within two storage units.

A man overcomes depression and his wife's death with a passion they used to share.

A ramen chef spends his final night alive hanging out with the Grim Reaper.

After the death of a friend, two nuns in their golden years contemplate what their future holds. One confession leads to another and before they know it, they're embarking on an adventure.

A young boy named Sonny works in an underground coal mine with the adults, taking care of the canary that detects deadly methane gas. He teaches the bird to play dead to prank the men, risking their lives for a moment in the sunlight above.

A team of wheelchair-using tech engineers at the University of Pittsburgh are leading a movement to open up the world to the physically challenged. They take their own spiritual and physical hazards as inspiration for adaptive technology and inventions that provide the means for others to have more mobile and productive lives.

As a little girl in Vietnam, Thao’s mother would rescue ants from bowls of sugar water. The tiny creatures would later return the favour, leading her desperate family through darkness—and pointing the way to safety. With Boat People, illustrator and author Thao Lam undertakes a creative rescue mission of her own, joining forces with animator Kjell Boersma to recount her family’s dramatic trajectory across the turbulent waters of history—they were among over 1.6 million refugees who fled the chaotic aftermath of the Vietnam War, venturing across the South China Sea in precarious open boats.

Iran in 1971. Two young students from opposite ends of society meet by the sea in a time where revolution hangs in the air. Bijan (Shahrooz Mahmoodi), the son of aristocrats close to the regime of the Shah, prepares to leave for college and feels the pressures of a future already decided by his powerful father. He meets Layla (Rana Ghiassi), a girl from the wrong side of Tehran, who forces him to question everything. Their bond will challenge class and social divisions in a world soon to disappear. "Azizam" is an intimate window into a moment of history that continues to cast a shadow in our time.

Based on the true stories of many families, Amazing Grace tells the story of a single mother caring for her adult son with schizophrenia.

A teenage boy goes on a journey from apathy to empathy regarding his sister's depression.

Two people on a first date mask and ignore their insecurities until an event forces them to say what they're really thinking.

The Big Dump is a powerful documentary that aims to shed light on the urgent Pacific Ocean sewage crisis stemming from the Mexican border into San Diego waters. Millions of gallons of sewage spill down the California Coast every day, sickening sea life, pets, and people; a film centered around the worst environmental crisis in the history of the United States.

This screening is sponsored in part by Emerald Keepers

Victoria (Mary Stuart Masterson) is a university professor with a grudge against her self-absorbed mother, the famed actress Carmen Crawford (Diane Ladd), for crushing her dreams of becoming a playwright. When Carmen suffers a life-threatening stroke and wakes up thinking she is living 15 years in the past, Victoria is given a unique opportunity to figure out where her life went off track and reconcile her relationship with her mother. Legacy Tribute Honoree Diane Ladd will be in attendance for the Q+A Moderated by Leonard Maltin

Join Moderator Leonard Maltin (and historian Tim Reid) for a special presentation
on Olivia DeHavilland's spectacular rise to fame and unique connections to Coronado.
Co-Starring a galaxy of Golden Age stars. Featuring sensational film, music, and photography.

Moderator, Leonard Maltin Panelist Historian Tim Reid"

Coffee & Presentation with author Christian Esquevin-----In Designing Hollywood: Studio Wardrobe in the Golden Age, Christian Esquevin showcases the designers who dressed Hollywood's stars from the late 1910s through the 1960s and the unique symbiosis they developed with their studios in creating iconic looks. Studio by studio, Esquevin details the careers of designers like Vera West, who worked on Universal productions such as Phantom of the Opera (1925), Dracula (1931), and Bride of Frankenstein (1931); William Travilla, the talent behind Marilyn Monroe's dresses in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) and The Seven Year Itch (1955); and Walter Plunkett, the Oscar-winning designer for film classics like Gone with the Wind (1939) and An American in Paris (1951). Christian Esquevin is a writer, collector, blogger, and researcher of Hollywood costume design history. His collection of classic film costume design sketches has been featured by the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising Museum in Los Angeles. He is the author of Adrian: Silver Screen to Custom Label. Mr. Esquevin is a CIFF Founding Board Member and served as Board President from 2020 - 2022.

The influence and impact of women in the industry contines to reshape, redefine, and reimagine the industry. All female filmmakers, producers and marketing mavens should plan to attend this lively panel.

Do not miss this dynamic conversation! Mimosas will be served...

CIFF Head Juror, Female Filmmakers

PANELISTS:

Coco Francini -  Executive Producer, Dirty Films (Producing Partner, Cate Blanchet)

Suzanne Farwell - Executive Producer (of every woman's favorite films!) The Holiday, Something's Gotta Give, It's Complicated.

Vivian Kerr - Filmmaker, Writer, Director, Actress. Her film SCRAP will be screening Sunday 10am

War photo journalist experience the frontlines living in a war zone, behind a camera lens but that does not seperate them from the harsh realities of what they witness, must personally process and report back to the world. That unbridled commitment for the truth has a high cost, it is about finding hope in the horrible. This panel will discuss the critical job and why it matters even more today in the digital age.

Moderator Justin Roberts

A panel that takes apart the misconceptions of people with disabilities, and the importance of representation whether it be race, gender, or protected status, on the creative and innovative contributions to the entertainment industy. Moderator Al Kovach

Join industry experts at all levels of their craft, for a dynamic discussion about the state of the entertainment industry; from shifts in audience viewing habits, emerging technologies, representation, and sustainable productions, to making room for the next generation of filmmakers.

The panel will be followed by a guided Q&A and then a candid breakout session for an honest exchange between the panelists, filmmakers in the audience, and those hoping to enter the industry. Moderated panel discussion followed by an open Q+A and breakout working sessions with attendees. 

THIS IS A FREE PANEL TO ATTEND   //   FESTIVAL BADGE NOT REQUIRED

Moderated by Entertainment Marketing Consultant and Strategist, Terry Curtin

Panelist include:

Lisa Bruce, Award Winning Producer

Lisa Bruce is a two-time Oscar nominated, BAFTA winning producer with a career spanning over 25 years with 15 feature and television films to her credit. In 2018, Lisa was Oscar nominated for Best Picture as well as two BAFTA’s for Best Picture for Darkest Hour starring Gary Oldman. In 2015 Lisa won the Best British Film BAFTA and was nominated for both a Golden Globe® and an Academy Award for The Theory of Everything. In 2019, she was the Creative Executive Producer for Amazon Prime’s 8-part anthology TV series entitled Welcome to the Blumhouse. Following this, she helped launch a new EPIX TV anthology series as the Creative Executive Producer on the showcased film American Refugee. Currently, Lisa is the producing partner with actor, producer, director David Oyelowo and his company Yoruba Saxon, developing features, TV series and docuseries. She is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as well as the British Academy of Film and TV Arts and is always in search of a great story to share with the world.

Coco Francini, Producer, Dirty Films

Coco Francini is an Emmy-nominated producer and a partner at Dirty Films, alongside Cate Blanchett and Andrew Upton. She recently produced Christos Nikou’s FINGERNAILS, featuring Jessie Buckley and Riz Ahmed, and has executive produced Iranian-Australian filmmaker Noora Niasari’s feature debut SHAYDA, starring Cannes Best Actress winner Zar Amir-Ebrahimi, which premiered in the World Dramatic Competition at Sundance this past year and went on to win the Audience Award. Previous to her work with Dirty Films, Coco executive produced MRS. AMERICA for FX Networks, written by MAD MEN alum Dahvi Waller. The show premiered in April 2020 and received ten Emmy nominations, including Best Limited Series, Outstanding Writing, and acting nominations for Blanchett, Margo Martindale, and Tracey Ullman, as well as an Emmy win for Uzo Aduba. Coco is also a frequent collaborator of Quentin Tarantino. Beginning with DJANGO UNCHAINED and then on THE HATEFUL EIGHT where she oversaw the global 70MM roadshow tour and the soundtrack/score that won a long-deserved Academy Award for Ennio Morricone. A graduate of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, Francini earned her master's from the elite Peter Stark Producing Program at USC.

Ricky Rhodes,Writer and Director- Planet Froth Productions

Ricky is an award-winning writer and director known for his films that push the boundaries of cinematic storytelling with original concepts about human rights and biodiversity. With a background in marine biology from Sonoma State University and film production from California State University Northridge, he combines his passions for ocean wildlife and filmmaking in the creation of his latest project Humanatee, a nature documentary about an explorer's 21-year long friendship with manatees. Ricky co-founded Planet Froth Productions, the message-first media production company. His work has received numerous awards and has been featured in publications such as Voyage, Nowness and Forbes. Ricky's heartbreaking social justice short film Not Just Another Day, about the racial disparities of cannabis possession arrests, won multiple awards for Best Documentary at festivals in 2021. His narrative short film Yellow Wallpaper, a period drama and psychological thriller based on the feminist short story from the 1890s, premiered at the Oscar and Bafta qualifying LA Shortsfest in July, 2023. Ricky's latest film Humanatee premiered at the United Nations - World Oceans Week in June, 2023 and is currently being developed into a feature film or mini-series.

Will Mustin,Writer, Director, and Editor.

Will Mustin is a New York-based writer, director, and editor. He graduated from NYU Tisch School of The Arts, where he studied Film and Television Production. 

Panel Coordinator: Terry Curtin and Emma Kidd

Work can be all-consuming and these Shorts bring into focus complicated, humorous and tricky work situations. Q+A with Filmmakers immediately following screenings:

Family dynamics take center stage in this diverse collection of films. They will make you laugh, cringe, empathize and perhaps hit a little to close to home. Q+A with Filmmakers immediately following screenings:

Compassion and empathy open the door to our shared understanding of others. This collection of films showcases people who are making a difference and changing lives. Q+A with Filmmakers immediately following screenings:

San Diego is rich in filmmakers and remarkable storytellers. This selection of well crafted films is a testiment to our local creative talent, personalities and artists. Q+A with Filmmakers immediately following screenings:

Life throws curve balls and unexpected situations usually out of our control. These films will take you along for the journey. Q+A with Filmmakers immediately following screenings:

Some people compel us to want to know more about them and where they come from. These films introduce you to such individuals and their unique stories. Q+A with Filmmakers immediately following screenings:

A curated showcase of the next generation of cinematic storytellers. Comprised of students at all levels of their craft these films explore compelling stories, topics and diversity. Q+A with Filmmakers immediately following screenings:

A curated showcase of the next generation of cinematic storytellers. Comprised of students at all levels of their craft these films explore compelling stories, topics and diversity. Q+A with Filmmakers immediately following screenings:

A curated selection of shorts that explore our relationship with food. Q+A with Filmmakers immediately following screenings:

Some things are not always as they seem, everyone has a backstory. These curated shorts bring context and perspective in unexpected ways. Q+A with Filmmakers immediately following screenings:

A curated selection of whimsical, dramatic, artistic and creative shorts that use animation techniques that challenge and delight the imagination. Q+A with Filmmakers immediately following screenings:

November 12, 2023
Coronado Performing Arts Center

Pre-Party:
Stave Van Doren, VP Marketing and Special Events | Vans (cast member)
Wing Lamb, Co-Founder, Wahoo’s Fish Tacos (cast member)
Tony Alva, cast member
Lizzie Armanto, cast member
Michael Ien Cohen, Producer, Director
Ian B. Gibson, Director of Photography/Editor

Q & A:
Tony Alva, cast member
Lizzie Armanto, cast member
Michael Ien Cohen, Producer, Director
Ian B. Gibson, Director of Photography/Editor

A documentary about the beauty in overcoming fear and other challenges facing humanity, as seen by icons of pro skating, science, art, music, activism, and education, all of whom share experiences and perspectives shaped by their love of skateboarding

Humanity Stoked is in the middle of its global film festival run, with over 18 WINS in 8 countries, and over 40 official selections in 16 countries thus far.

Humanity Stoked is a feature length documentary featuring world-famous skateboarders, scientists, artists, musicians, activists and educators, all of whom share a love of skateboarding. The iconic cast, respected as leaders in their fields, reveal their unique experiences and insights on being human. Their perspectives on issues that affect humanity’s ability to move forward together are shaped by their own backgrounds, and often inspired by their love of skateboarding. The conversations focus on understanding fear, depression, addiction, education, activism, philanthropy, racism, sexism, homophobia, and the environment. The film’s purpose is to inspire deeper thinking, and more empathic perspectives about people and the world around them.

Humanity Stoked was produced entirely for free by team of dedicated volunteers.  The film’s Producer/Director, and life-long skater, Michael Ien Cohen, the entire crew of Revere 8 Films / WhatStopsYou.org Foundation, and all 3^rd parties involved have refused salary and compensation of any kind. As result, 100% of the revenue from the film and merchandising goes directly to charity, to help make positive and long-lasting change in the lives of children and young adults around the world, especially in low socio-economic areas.  This film is a mission of love and everyone involved is passionate about inspiring deeper thinking and positive change in the world.

November 11, 2023
Loews Coronado Bay Resort & Spa
Commodore Ballroom 

6:00 PM
Hosted Champagne Reception by the Bay  |  * non-hosted full bars will be open

7:00 PM
Dinner & Awards Presentation | Hosted Wine Service at Table 

4000 Coronado Bay Road, Coronado, 92118

Honorary Chair, Carolynn Berardi Towbin, CEO, Dealer/Principle of Towbin Motorcars 

The Stars Come Out To Shine!

A benefit gala evening honoring industry luminaries for their contribution to the Art & Science of Cinematic Storytelling. Festival Host and Honorary Jury President, Leonard Maltin, will preside over the evening Tributes. Considered one of the most well respected film critics and historians, Mr. Maltin will engage with honorees as they take the stage to accept their awards. 

Recognizing the creative contributions of those who have brought their respective genius to the big screen for generations to enjoy. Honorees are recognized for music, artistry, cinematography, cultural impact and legacy - respected by their peers and loved by audiences worldwide!

Past honorees have included: Geena Davis, Jacqueline Bisset, Ron Shelton, Charles Fox, Elegance Bratton, Vanessa Roth, Chloé Zhao, Richard Dreyfuss, Nancy Utley, Alexandré Desplat, Mayes Rubeo, Gabriel Beristain and Ann Blyth.

MEET Carolynn Berardi Towbin

Carolynn is the Chairman/CEO of Towbin Automotive.  She began her automotive career in 1990 with the launch of Towbin Infiniti. Towbin Automotive is currently comprised of Towbin Motorcars (which includes Rolls Royce, Bentley, Aston Martin, and Karma), Ferrari • Maserati of Las Vegas. Carolynn has become the first female Ferrari dealer in the nation and operates the only licensed Ferrari and Maserati dealership in Nevada.

Carolynn is a loving mother of two children and four grandchildren. She and her family are dedicated to serving the community and play an active role in supporting numerous worthwhile foundations and charities; and is a founding member of Three Square Food Bank and Make a Wish of Southern Nevada.

Carolynn is a graduate of the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Academy and has served as Secretary of the Nevada Franchised Auto Dealers Association. In 2013, she was the “Time Dealer of the Year” nominee from Nevada and was listed among Nevada Business Magazine’s “Women to Watch” for 2016.

Carolynn enjoys, practices, and teaches meditation and is a Certified Meditation Instructor and innovative coach through the Chopra Center.

As the Honorary Chair for the Leonard Maltin Industry Tribute Awards gala, I am humbled by the creative talent of the Honorees. My support of the Coronado Island Film Festival started in year one. The festival celebrates cinema in a way that connects us all through stories, imagination and entertainment. The impact is indelible and I am honored to invest into a vision that changes and impacts lives. I hope to see you there !

November 8, 2023  5:30-7:30
Nautilus Ballroom and Patio
Coronado Community Center 

The official KICK OFF BASH of the 2023 Coronado Island Film Festival--- Come ready to mix, mingle, sip and savor! A blow-out celebration. 

The evening includes our annual Taste of the Festival featuring culinary bites from top chefs and restaurants, and signature festival cocktails from our featured spirits, wine and beer vendors. 

Enjoy previews reels of festival films and dance the night away to the sounds of the New Catililacs

This event is free and open to ALL badge holders. 

Limited tickets for purchase online for non-badge holders on a  first-come basis. 

No tickets will be sold at the door.

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