Wednesday, November 5, 2025   Crown Room at the Iconic Hotel Del Coronado 5:30 PM Hosted Champagne Reception and Red Carpet on the Vista Terrace * non-hosted bars will be open 7:00 PM Dinner & Awards Presentation 9:30  PM Industry Tribute Wrap Party

San Diego and surrounding regions are rich in talented filmmakers and remarkable storytellers! This selection of well-crafted films is a testament to our local creative talent, personalities, and artists. The films included in this showcase are The Second Sunday of May, Is It True?, Aunt Cindy and The Alchemist, Crane, Stone Garden, and Handwoven. Q&A with filmmakers will immediately […]

The entertainment landscape is evolving at lightning speed. From AI and streaming dominance to shifting audience habits and Hollywood’s new realities, industry leaders explore the forces reshaping film and television. Gain insights into the future of content creation, marketing, and distribution in this pivotal conversation. Resented by MovieMaker Moderated by : Tim Malloy, Publisher

Babette's Feast - A Culinary Classic At once a rousing paean to artistic creation, a delicate evocation of divine grace, and the ultimate film about food, the Oscar-winning Babette’s Feast is a deeply beloved treasure of cinema. Directed by Gabriel Axel and adapted from a story by Isak Dinesen, it is the lovingly layered tale of a […]

A diverse collection of documentary films capturing real lives, raw truths, and unexpected journeys. The films included in this showcase are: Shanti Rides Shotgun, Georgie, Hustle and Run, 300, and Richard Neutra's Maslon House. A Filmmaker Q&A will immediately follow the screenings.

A dynamic conversation with the women shaping the future of the industry. Meet the groundbreaking women redefining cinema’s future. This panel unites producers, filmmakers, and creative leaders to share insights, challenges, and triumphs from the set to the boardroom. A powerful discussion on leadership, representation, and the impact of female voices in shaping storytelling. Presented […]

An inspiring showcase of films that capture resilience, rivalry, and the spirit of competition—showing how the pursuit of victory reaches far beyond the field. The films included in this showcase are: Passarinho, Interloper, Starting Line, As Tough As Ice, Bike Short, and A Good Day Will Come. A Filmmaker Q&A will immediately follow the screenings.

Set in 1977 and based on a true story, Tony Kiritsis, a former real estate developer puts a dead man's switch on himself and the mortgage banker who did him wrong, demanding $5 million and a personal apology. Then join us at the Tavern for an after party!

A powerful and imaginative selection of shorts that blend artistry, emotion, and inventive storytelling across cultures and styles. The films included in this showcase are: The Little Ancestor, Wednesdays with Gramps, Budō, Hoofs on Skates, Wan, Forever, Teddy On the Edge, Stalking The Bogeyman, and Hurikán. Q&A with filmmakers will immediately follow the screenings.

Behind every jaw-dropping chase, fight, and fall is a fearless stunt team making the impossible look effortless. Seasoned stunt performers and coordinators reveal the craft behind designing action, balancing practical special effects, and the training it takes to bring high-risk, high-reward moments to the screen. Moderated by Deadline 

For the children and women of all wars, it never leaves. Land of the Mustaches is an autobiographical story of a young girl growing up in the Displaced Persons refugee camps with her mother and grandmother after World War Two left them starving and stateless, and her father's disappearance into Stalin's notorious Gulag labor camps […]

From soundscapes to visual effects, editing rhythms to wardrobe and design, discover how today’s creators harness technology and artistry to push the boundaries of storytelling and elevate the magic of cinema.

A dynamic selection of films that explore unique voices and fresh perspectives, offering powerful stories and thought-provoking themes. The films included in this showcase are Main Man, The Heart of Texas, Flavor of the Month, What It's Like To Be Okay, and Butterfly on a Wheel. A Filmmaker Q&A will immediately follow the screenings.

Back by popular demand, this panel brings together some of the most talented and diverse writers in the industry. Learn from their experience as they share how to craft and deliver a winning pitch, offering insights, strategies, and behind-the-scenes stories from the writers’ room to the big screen. Panelist include CIFF Screenwriter Competition Jury Suzanne […]

A captivating collection of films that explore chance encounters, unexpected twists, and the choices that shape our paths. The films included in this showcase are: Susana, A Guest In My Country, The Big Everything, The Errand, Soul Bird, and Chasers. A Filmmaker Q&A will immediately follow the screenings.

An eye-opening program of films that highlight the urgent need to protect our planet’s wildlife and natural habitats. The films included in this showcase are: Ramfy: The Pangolin in My Bedroom, Wild Hope: Building for Birds, Wild Hope: Significant Otter, and The Everglades: Beneath the Surface. A Filmmaker Q&A will immediately follow the screenings.

Investing in film can be as thrilling as the movies themselves. This panel pulls back the curtain on funding models, market trends, and the balance of risks and rewards in both studio and independent projects. Industry experts will share what investors look for, how data and algorithms shape decisions, and why financing films remains both […]

For the children and women of all wars, it never leaves. Land of the Mustaches is an autobiographical story of a young girl growing up in the Displaced Persons refugee camps with her mother and grandmother after World War Two left them starving and stateless, and her father's disappearance into Stalin's notorious Gulag labor camps […]

A Tribute to the 60th Anniversary of The Beatles’ 1965 Show at Balboa Stadium in San Diego Moderated by Leonard Maltin Starring Paul McCartney & Tom Frangione “The Resident Beatles Expert” for The Beatles Channel, SiriusXM A documentary film by Natalie Palumbo and Tom Frangione

A powerful and imaginative selection of shorts that blend artistry, emotion, and inventive storytelling across cultures and styles. The films included in this showcase are: Retirement Plan, Dormilón, Ovary-Acting, Ostrich, The Gun, Warm Soda, Forevergreen, God Dam, Hitchhiker, and Inside, The Valley Sings. Q&A with filmmakers will immediately follow the screenings.

Kwame Nkrumah was a towering figure of African history who inspired the liberation of the continent in the 1950s and 1960s after rising to serve as Ghana’s first President. A political theorist and prominent African leader, Nkrumah was even featured on the cover of Time magazine in 1953. Nkrumah was later toppled by a military […]

From the Oscar-nominated director of ‘Honeyland’ comes a poignant and visually arresting story set in the heart of rural Macedonia. Nikola, a farmer grappling with the harsh realities of new government policies, finds himself unable to sell his land or crops. When his family leaves in search of a better life abroad, Nikola takes a […]

A powerful collection of films that honor resilience, sacrifice, and the human spirit in the face of adversity. The films included in this showcase are: Homeward Dawn, Mismatch, Unseen Scars, and The Singers. A Filmmaker Q&A will immediately follow the screenings.

An evocative collection of films that explore connection, identity, and the enduring bonds that shape our lives and communities. The films included in this showcase are: Unholy, Beyond Silence, Hāfu, Lonely, Spit It Out, and Camp Widow. A Filmmaker Q&A will immediately follow the screenings

A heartfelt collection of films that capture the complexities of love, connection, and the unexpected bonds that shape our lives. The films included in this showcase are: Houston, We Have A Crush, Undeletable, Love Eternal, Alone Together, and Focal Point. A Filmmaker Q&A will immediately follow the screenings.

A captivating collection of films that delve into life’s unexpected disruptions, exploring how sudden events and chance encounters can alter the course of personal journeys. The films included in this showcase are Happy Snaps, Dandelion, Grind, Snipped, You & Me (& Chaz & Rodney), and A Friend of Dorothy.