The San Diego International Film Festival turns 25 this year. The 2026 edition runs October 13 to 18, with a star tribute night and an opening night premiere in La Jolla, then four days of screenings at the AMC UTC 14 at Westfield UTC.
The lineup has 90 films from 22 countries, picked from a record 3,500 submissions, including 8 world premieres. Gala titles include new work from Martin McDonagh, Peter Farrelly, Anton Corbijn, and Mike Leigh. Here is what the festival and its lineup announcement have posted as of September 28, 2026.
The quick version
| When | Tuesday, October 13, through Sunday, October 18, 2026 |
| Where | Screenings at AMC UTC 14, Westfield UTC, La Jolla. Events at The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, THE LOT La Jolla, and the Belly Up in Solana Beach |
| Opening night | The Debut, Wednesday, October 14, at THE LOT La Jolla |
| Galas | Wild Horse Nine, I Play Rocky, A Talent for Murder, Tender Loving Care, The Leader, See You When I See You |
| Tickets | $20 per screening; VIP pass $575 (as reported at the lineup announcement) |
| Official site | sdfilmfest.com |
What’s screening
The galas
The big titles, with the stars attached to each:
- Wild Horse Nine (Martin McDonagh): John Malkovich, Sam Rockwell, Steve Buscemi, Tom Waits, Parker Posey.
- I Play Rocky (Peter Farrelly): Anthony Ippolito, Matt Dillon, AnnaSophia Robb. The story of Sylvester Stallone and his Rocky screenplay.
- A Talent for Murder (Anton Corbijn): Helen Mirren, Edward Ridgeway, Olivia Cooke.
- Tender Loving Care (Mike Leigh): Kate O’Flynn, Marion Bailey, Paul Jesson.
- The Leader (Michael J. Gallagher): Vera Farmiga, Tim Blake Nelson, Jim Parsons, Simon Rex.
- See You When I See You (Jay Duplass): Kaitlyn Dever, David Duchovny, Hope Davis, Lucy Boynton, Kumail Nanjiani.
World premieres and local stories
The eight world premieres include High Ground, Sam, Watch Out For Bullets, Adelaide, Midnight Snack, Yo Soy Mariachero, Post Mortem, and Ransom. Padres fans should circle Alone on the Mound: The Tortured Life of Eric Show, a documentary about the former San Diego pitcher. Also on the program: The Six Billion Dollar Man, a WikiLeaks documentary, and Gringo Champion, adapted from a 2017 novel.
Shorts
There are 61 shorts, sorted into programs including Between Worlds, Dramedy, Dramatic Lens, Heart Strings, San Diego Scene, Short & Sweet, Student Showcase, and Stranger in a Strange Land.
The big nights
- Night of the Stars, Tuesday, October 13. The festival’s tribute evening at The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. Red carpet and pre-reception at 5:30 p.m., awards show at 7 p.m., then an after-party. The main honor is the Gregory Peck Award, whose past recipients include Laurence Fishburne, Annette Bening, Adrien Brody, Patrick Stewart, Marlee Matlin, and Mark Hamill. The 2026 honorees have not been announced.
- Opening Night, Wednesday, October 14. Pre-party at 5:30 p.m. with DJ Valentina, then the premiere of The Debut at 7 p.m. at THE LOT La Jolla, followed by an after-party. The film follows a housewife who is unexpectedly cast in a community theater production and loses herself in the role.
- Panels, October 16 and 17. Friday brings “Women in Film: Breaking Barriers and Shaping the Industry” and “A Conversation with the Artists Behind the Story.” Saturday has “Indie Film Distribution” and “Behind the Headlines.”
- 25 Years After Dark, Saturday, October 17. The anniversary party and filmmaker awards, with music and dancing, at the Belly Up in Solana Beach.
- Culinary Cinema, Sunday, October 18. A food-themed screening with a gourmet buffet and wine and cocktail pairings at Westfield UTC, hosted by Shawn Styles of CBS 8’s Cooking with Styles.
- Fest Lounge, Friday through Sunday. Complimentary wine, beer, and light bites.
Passes and tickets
Passes and tickets are sold on the festival’s passes and tickets page, which lists VIP, Festival, and Weekend passes plus separate tickets for Night of the Stars, Opening Night, the After Dark party, and Culinary Cinema. At the lineup announcement, Behind The Lens Online reported these prices:
- Individual screenings: $20
- 10-ticket bundle: $175
- VIP pass: $575
One rule to know: a pass gives you access, but the festival requires advance reservations for films and events, and seats are subject to availability. Reserve early, especially for galas. The online schedule marks each screening as on sale, limited, or sold out.
Venues
- AMC UTC 14, Westfield UTC, 4425 La Jolla Village Dr., San Diego, CA 92122. The main screening venue.
- The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla, CA 92037. Night of the Stars.
- THE LOT La Jolla, 7611 Fay Ave., La Jolla, CA 92037. Opening Night.
- Belly Up, 143 S. Cedros Ave., Solana Beach, CA 92075. 25 Years After Dark.
Getting there
The festival has not posted 2026 parking details. Westfield UTC has on-site parking, and the UC San Diego Blue Line trolley stops at the UTC Transit Center. The Conrad and THE LOT are both on Fay Avenue in the village of La Jolla, so for Tuesday and Wednesday, plan for village street parking or a rideshare.
Accessibility
The festival has not published accessibility information for 2026. Reach out through the festival’s contact page with seating or access questions before you reserve.
A little history
The festival is produced by the San Diego Film Foundation, led by CEO and artistic director Tonya Mantooth. The 2026 edition is its 25th.
Still to come
The Night of the Stars honorees, the full day-by-day screening schedule, the closing film, and parking details have not been announced. The 824 Journal will update this guide when they are.
Sources
- San Diego International Film Festival, official site
- SDIFF: Opening Night
- SDIFF: Night of the Stars
- SDIFF: Passes and tickets
- BroadwayWorld: San Diego International Film Festival announces 25th anniversary lineup (September 11, 2026)
- Behind The Lens Online: SDIFF announces full festival lineup
- Film Factual: SDIFF unveils 2026 lineup
- Times of San Diego: San Diego International Film Festival (September 23, 2026)
Featured photo: JiriMatejicek via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
