Lights, Camera, La Jolla: The San Diego International Film Festival 2026 Wraps
Actors, filmmakers, and cinephiles gathered in La Jolla (LaJolla.com) this past weekend for the 25th San Diego International Film Festival, which was scheduled for Oct. 13 through Oct. 18.
If you’re not familiar, the San Diego International Film Festival (SDIFF) is an independent film festival that takes place in America’s Finest City. Produced by the nonprofit San Diego Film Foundation, the event promises a week where “culture, coast and cinema collide.”
This year, the festivities mostly took place in La Jolla. The Night of the Stars Tribute, which celebrates directors, honorees, and cinema enthusiasts, took place at the La Jolla Music Society’s Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center. Opening night film and launch parties took place at The LOT La Jolla, while screenings were mostly hosted at AMC 14 at Westfield UTC.
Here are some stats about what SDIFF calls its biggest year yet:
- 90 films
- 22 countries represented
- 8 world premieres
- A record-setting 3,500 total submissions
In 2026, honorees included actress Viola Davis, who was recognized with the Gregory Peck Award for Cinematic Excellence; actress Mira Sorvino, who was presented with the Virtuoso Award; and comedian Iliza Shlesinger, who took home the Trailblazer Award honor.
Additionally, the festival celebrated nine students who were named finalists in the San Diego Film Foundation’s FOCUS on Impact Student Art Exhibition.
For more information about the festival or the Foundation’s other programming throughout the year, visit this link.
Media credit: Image courtesy of sdfilmfest.com
Mike Peterson is a writer, editor, and strategist based in San Diego. When he’s not writing and editing the La Jolla news, you can often find him practicing yoga, rock climbing, or exploring the outdoors with his wife and dog.
