The Ojai Film Festival starts a new chapter this fall. Its 27th edition runs Friday, November 6, through Monday, November 9, 2026, in Ojai, and it is the first under a new creative team: Theodore Melfi, the writer and director of Hidden Figures and St. Vincent, is the new Artistic Director, and producer Richard Sven Shelgren is Festival Director.
The 2026 schedule and film list have not been announced; the festival’s homepage says to stay tuned. Here is what is confirmed as of September 28, 2026, plus how last year’s festival worked, so you can plan a weekend in the valley.
The quick version
| When | Friday, November 6, through Monday, November 9, 2026 |
| Where | Ojai, Calif. 2026 venues not yet announced |
| What | Features, shorts, documentaries, and animation from more than 40 countries, plus seminars and a screenwriting competition |
| New this year | Theodore Melfi as Artistic Director |
| Tickets | Not yet posted |
| Official site | ojaifilmfestival.com |
What’s new: Melfi and a new team
The festival announced its new leadership on June 18. Melfi also produces through Goldenlight Films. Shelgren is an executive producer with work honored at Cannes, the Clios, the Emmys, and MoMA. The festival’s board also lists Paul Dektor and Kimberly Quinn as co-artistic directors.
In the announcement, Melfi said the valley’s independent spirit will be the organizing principle of the programming, with films that challenge, move, and inspire.
What’s screening
No 2026 titles yet. Submissions closed after being extended through July 15, and the festival took features, shorts, documentaries, and animated works completed after November 1, 2023. Filmmakers were set to be notified September 8.
Programs the festival describes as part of its lineup:
- Gold Coast Series: films made in the Ojai Valley and surrounding areas, traditionally screened as a group on the festival’s first Monday.
- Focus Earth: a mini-festival of films and panels on environmental issues with local filmmakers and experts.
- Diversity and Inclusion: programming centered on social impact, since 2021.
- Screenwriting competition: running since 2015.
- Student education: a full-day program for more than 200 regional high school students each year.
Tickets
Passes and ticket prices for 2026 have not been posted. Filmmakers with accepted films get VIP passes, and local hosts offer them free lodging. Watch ojaifilmfestival.com and the festival’s mailing list for the box office opening.
Last year’s setup (for planning)
The festival has not named its 2026 venues. In 2025, it centered on two main spots, and the festival’s locations page still lists them:
- Matilija Auditorium, 703 El Paseo Rd., Ojai, CA 93023, at Matilija Middle School. Gala and feature screenings. The festival notes plenty of parking on school grounds and nearby streets.
- Ojai Art Center, 113 S. Montgomery St., Ojai, CA 93023. The box office and main screenings, with street parking nearby.
- Libbey Bowl, 210 S. Signal St., hosted a 2025 outdoor movie night.
A first-timer’s cheat sheet
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How long is it? | Four days, Friday to Monday this year |
| Where’s the box office? | Last year it was at the Ojai Art Center, open throughout the festival |
| Who is it for? | Fans of independent film; the festival’s guiding phrase is “Enriching the Human Spirit Through Film” |
| Anything for students? | A full-day high school education program |
| Want to submit next year? | Submissions reopen in February for 2027 |
A little history
The idea came in 1998, when Ojai Film Society program director Steve Grumette served as a juror at the Canyonlands Film Festival in Moab, Utah, and wondered why Ojai could not do the same. The first Ojai Film Festival opened November 15, 2000, after nearly two years of work by more than 100 volunteers. It became an independent nonprofit in 2002. The festival’s own press release quotes producer Peter Guber calling Ojai “the next Telluride.”
Accessibility
The festival has not posted accessibility information. Questions can go to Sven@OjaiFilmFestival.com.
Still to come
The 2026 film lineup, schedule, venues, passes and ticket prices, social events, and accessibility details. The 824 Journal will update this guide when the festival announces them.
Sources
- Ojai Film Festival, official site
- Ojai Film Festival: After 26 Years, the Ojai Film Festival Begins a New Chapter (June 18, 2026)
- Ojai Film Festival: 2026 Festival Open for Submissions (February 18, 2026)
- Ojai Film Festival: Festival Locations (2025 venues)
- Ojai Film Festival: Social Events (2025)
- Ojai Film Festival: Festival History
- Ojai Film Festival: About Us
Featured photo: Ken Lund via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
