The Wild & Free Film Festival returns to Goleta for its second year on November 6 through 8, 2026, with about 40 outdoor, adventure, and environmental films from 11 countries. Opening night is at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara, and Saturday’s big screening is Nuisance Bear, winner of the 2026 Sundance Grand Jury Prize for U.S. Documentary.
Most of the weekend happens at Camino Real Cinemas, where film blocks cost $12 for adults and Sunday has a free community block. That makes this one of the easier festivals to sample for a single afternoon.
The quick version
| When | Friday through Sunday, November 6 to 8, 2026 |
| Where | Ritz-Carlton Bacara (opening night); Camino Real Cinemas, 7040 Marketplace Dr., Goleta (screenings) |
| Program | About 40 shorts and features from 11 countries, including world, U.S., and local premieres |
| Focus | Outdoor, adventure, and environmental stories |
| Passes | All In Festival Pass $185 |
| Cheapest way in | Free Sunday community block; $12 adult blocks |
| Official site | wildandfreefilm.org |
The weekend, day by day
Friday, November 6: opening night
A reception at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara starts at 6:30 p.m., followed at 8 p.m. by the Central Coast premiere of The Siege of Paradise. Irish director Gar O’Rourke will be there in person. The film received a Special Jury Mention for cinematography at the 2026 Tribeca Film Festival.
Saturday, November 7: film blocks and Nuisance Bear
Film blocks start at 10 a.m. at Camino Real Cinemas, with filmmaker Q&As and panels between screenings. In the evening, doors open at 5 p.m. for the Central Coast premiere of Nuisance Bear at 5:30 p.m. Awards and a rooftop after-party at the Hilton Garden Inn Goleta follow.
Sunday, November 8: more blocks and a free one
Screenings start at 10:30 a.m. at Camino Real Cinemas. The Sunday community block is free. Across the weekend there are ten film blocks in all.
Tickets
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| All In Festival Pass | $185 |
| Opening Night | $125 |
| Nuisance Bear screening | $15 |
| Film block, adult | $12 |
| Film block, ages 6 to 14 | $5 |
| Film block, ages 5 and under | Free |
| 4-pack | $40 |
| Sunday community block | Free |
Doing the math
If you are only after film blocks, the 4-pack at $40 works out to $10 a block, two dollars less per block than buying singles. Families get a break too: a block for two adults and two kids ages 6 to 14 comes to $34 at single prices.
Who’s behind it
Wild & Free is run by a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and presented by Santa Barbara Honda and Toyota of Santa Barbara. Questions go to info@wildandfreefilmfestival.org or (805) 699-6396.
Still to come
The full film list for each block and award categories were not in the coverage we read. Check the festival site for the block-by-block schedule.
Sources
- Santa Barbara Independent: Wild & Free Film Festival listing (October 2026; dates, venues, schedule, films, prices, organizers, contact)
Featured photo: raduranga via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
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