LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA ( March 24, 2026 ) -

San Luis Obispo International Film Festival (SLOIFF) has announced this year’s exciting film lineup, led by the Opening Night selection of the documentary “Give Me The Ball!,” and “Power Ballad,” starring Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas, as the Closing Night selection. The festival runs from Thursday, April 23 through Tuesday, April 28.

With a slate of over 100 films from 25 countries including narrative features, short films, feature documentaries, and doc shorts, the festival is known for its dedication to diversity and inclusivity, highlighting both emerging and established filmmakers from around the globe. This year brings two new categories – Episodics and a special award recognizing the Best Genre/Horror Film.

Opening Night on Thursday, April 23rd brings the West Coast Premiere of “Give Me The Ball!,” a celebration of a trailblazing figure in the world of sports and women’s rights – Billie Jean King. Directors Liz Garbus and Elizabeth Wolff masterfully weave archival footage with Billie Jean King’s own words to craft this uniquely intimate portrayal, revealing the inner turmoil behind the immense sacrifices she made to transform her sport and the world.

A reception preceding the screening of “Give Me The Ball!” kicks off the 32nd edition of SLOIFF and presents an opportunity to meet special guests, filmmakers, and major contributors, along with catered bites by Luna Red and wine from Austin Hope Wines at the historic Fremont Theater.

On Closing Night, the SLO Film Festival wraps up with the announcement of the Jury and Audience award winners, alongside a screening of “Power Ballad.” The U.S./Ireland production “Power Ballad” tells the story of how Rick (Paul Rudd), a past-his-prime wedding singer, meets fading boy-band star Danny (Nick Jonas) during a gig, and how the two bond over music and a late-night jam session. But when Danny turns one of Rick’s songs into the hit that reignites his career, Rick sets out to reclaim the recognition he believes he deserves – even if it means risking everything he cares about. From writer-director John Carney (“Sing Street,” “Once”), “Power Ballad” is a feel-good story about music, self-respect, friendship, and the price of ambition.

Also on tap are the Festival’s signature events, Surf Nite, the popular Central Coast Filmmaker Showcase, Cal Poly Short Cuts, Music Video Showcase, and Community of Skate.

Additional programs include short films curated by “R.A.C.E. Matters,” and “Filmmakers of Tomorrow,” featuring short films by those 18 and under.

San Luis Obispo International Film Festival Director Skye McLennan said, “This year our tagline is ‘Where Our Stories Live,’ highlighting that both our festival and San Luis Obispo are home to storytellers and storytelling. We believe film festivals are a powerful opportunity to showcase a diversity of perspectives and stories, and when we share them, we can truly be in community with one another.”

Other feature film highlights include the World Premiere of “How to Date Again,” with Haley Joel Osment and Kevin Nealon; the West Coast Premiere of SLOIFF Alumni Giselle Bonilla’s feature directorial debut and dark comedy “The Musical,” starring Rob Lowe; the Sci-Fi Thriller “April X,” starring Connie Storrie; the Brazilian production “The Blue Trail,” winner of the Silver Bear/Grand Jury Prize at Berlin; festival-circuit award-winning favorite “Adult Children”; Venice Film Festival and Image Awards winner “The Fisherman from Ghana”; and “Valentina,” directed by Tatti Ribeiro, winner of “someone to watch” at the 2026 Independent Spirit Awards.

There will be a special screening of “Left Handed Girl,” the directorial debut of Shih-Ching Tsou and co-written and edited by Sean Baker, her longtime creative partner. The Sunday, April 26 screening will be followed by a Q&A with the director.

Other special presentations include “Sender,” a psychological thriller starring Rhea Seehorn, Britt Lower, and Jamie Lee Curtis, and Billy Wilder’s timeless Noir about Hollywood, Sunset Boulevard (1950), newly restored.

Documentary features include “American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez,” winner of the Audience Award at Sundance for US Documentary; “Birds of War,” winner of World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award at Sundance; and award-winning “Steal This Story, Please!” which goes behind the scenes with Amy Goodman of Democracy Now!

The San Luis Obispo International Film Festival is an Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Qualifying Festival. As a result, films that win in the category of “Best Documentary Short” at SLOIFF may be qualified to enter the 99th Academy Awards (2027) making them eligible to win an Oscar. This year’s nine documentary short films include “Love Birds,” documenting the discovery of homosexuality in seagulls that ignited a cultural and political firestorm; “The Right Fit,” about a legendary jean store, its unique owner and its connection to the community; and “Swim Sistas,” a visually stunning love letter to water, sisterhood, and the enduring strength of Black women across generations.

With films from Iran, Brazil, Lebanon, Colombia, Estonia and the U.S. among other nations, the diverse Narrative Short category brings drama, fantasy, horror, science-fiction, romance and comedy to the SLOIFF screens. The French/South African production “Vultures”; “What If They Bomb Here Tonight,” from Lebanon; the romance “Never Never Never” from the U.K.; the fantasy film “I Have Wings But I Cannot Fly” from the U.S.; the drama “Summer Triangle” from Iran; and from Estonia, a horror film, “Breadsong,” are among the selected films.

New to the festival this year is an Episodic category, with five pilots scheduled to be showcased: the World Premiere of “Too Romantic” starring Rivkah Reyes; the comedies “Dick Bunny” and “Pour Decisions”; the trans drama “One For The Team”; and the world premiere of “Savage,” directed by Josh Bowman.

Surf Nite in SLO, the film festival’s signature one-of-a-kind surfing film event, is featuring “The Blind Sea.” This thrilling documentary follows the remarkable career of Australian surfer Matt Formston, a 3-time World Champion with just 3% vision, as he attempts the most dangerous challenge of his life: riding the monster waves of Nazaré. Pushing beyond prejudice and physical limits, Matt chases a world record for the largest wave ever surfed by a vision-impaired athlete. The film is both an adventure and a powerful testament, redefining what’s possible for anyone facing adversity. The evening kicks off with a set by popular local band RIFF TIDE and guests are encouraged to enjoy drinks and mingle in the Fremont Theater’s stunning art deco lobby prior to introductory comments and the screening of the film.

Complementing Surf Nite is Community of Skate, a much-anticipated event at the historic Bay Theatre in Morro Bay that starts with an exhibition of skateboard designs and live-screen printing by the San Luis Obispo High School Advanced Graphic Design class. Two films will be screened that celebrate the culture, community, and challenges of skateboarding: the documentary feature, “N-Men The Untold Story,” with Tony Hawk and Tony Alva; and the documentary short, “Pat Ngoho: A Meditation On Creativity.”

This year, the festival is delighted to present the Music Video Showcase and an opportunity to experience an eclectic mix of creative music videos with an acoustic set at the historic, and dramatic, San Luis Obispo Masonic Hall. With videos from Brazil, Austria, China and the U.S., many of the filmmakers will be in attendance to talk about their work.

Every year, a regional collective of writers, artists, historians, chefs, surfers, and philanthropists sponsors a film series grouped around a theme close to the creative spirit of the Central Coast. This year, they are presenting “Between Doubt and Devotion: Three Films in Search of the Sacred,” comprised of “The Master” (2012), “Samsara” (2011) and “The Seventh Seal” (1957).

“R.A.C.E. Matters” teams up again with the film festival to present a program entitled “Stay True.” In an intentionally confusing world, truth matters, including truth to self. These five short films tell stories of people who stay true to what motivates them, inspires them, feeds them, heals them. This program is open to SLOIFF ticket holders and the general public.

Now in its 20th year, Filmmakers of Tomorrow continues to inspire young filmmakers from around the world to share their talents with the SLOIFF audience. This year the showcase presents fifteen short films, from three to seven minutes in length, from Elementary, Middle, and High School students from Spain, Canada, New Zealand, China, Singapore, and the U.S.

The Central Coast Filmmakers Showcase highlights the work of ten talented filmmakers from Monterey, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara counties. The one feature and nine shorts range from documentary, to comedy, drama and suspense.

Cal Poly Short Cuts features six short films created by Cal Poly students under the mentorship of Professor Randi Barros and James Werner, Associate Professor of Art & Design. These emotionally charged stories explore love, loss, discovery, and unexpected moments of connection.

A slate of 58 films, in the categories of Narrative Feature, Narrative Short, Documentary Feature, Documentary Short, and Music Video will be participating in the George Sidney Independent Film Competition. Central Coast Filmmaker Showcase Films are eligible in the same categories in a separate competition. George Sidney, Central Coast and student films will also be eligible for The Audience Awards in five categories.

SLOIFF’S annual film competition continues to attract exciting new independent films from around the world. Named after director George Sidney, the Festival’s first recipient of the King Vidor Award, Sidney was a Central Coast resident and a passionate supporter of independent filmmaking.

A panel of more than 100 screeners evaluated over 2,000 submissions to finalize the SLOIFF Official Selections. The finalists in competition are juried by a panel of film and media professionals, and cash prizes will be awarded during the Closing Night Ceremony on Tuesday, April 28. Full Jury bios are available at www.slofilmfest.org.

The George Sidney Independent Film Competition Jurors include for Narrative Features: Mark Dicristofaro, SLOIFF Winner, 2025 Best Documentary, Middletown; Ben Bryan, Documentary Filmmaker; and Maya Seidler, Producer, Couples Therapy, Head of Production, Edgeline Films; and for Documentary Features: Max Geschwind, CAA Media Finance; Kathy Susca, Director of Content and Operations, Film Collaborative; and Travis Weedon, Director of Festivals and Non-Theatrical, Visit Films. Additionally, the jurors for the Episodic competition are Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, Television Critic; and Nicole Barker, Programming Manager, SeriesFest. The full list of jurors and jury bios are available at slofilmfest.org.

In addition to film programming, the festival features Behind the Scenes Panels with industry professionals. This year’s talks include “Social Impact Storytelling,” “Financing, Packaging and Distribution,” “Beyond the Farm,” and “The New Model for Low Budget Filmmaking.” Panels take place in the festival lounge and are free for SLOIFF ticket holders, with tickets available for the general public.

The following is the line up of the narrative and documentary feature films in competition this year, listed in alphabetical order. For a complete list of the other categories and description of this year’s films, and to purchase film festival passes, please visit: https://slofilmfest2026.eventive.org/welcome

Narrative Features

“Adult Children” | USA | 100 min
Older, but maybe not wiser. “Adult Children” follows as Morgan, a sheltered 17-year-old, struggles to define who she is in order to write her college entrance essay. When a family crisis provides her the rare opportunity to spend time with her significantly older half-siblings, she hopes they’ll be able to shed some light on what it means to be an adult, only to be disappointed when she discovers they’re all faking their way through it.

“April X” | USA | 96 min
Starring Connor Storrie from the recent hit series Heated Rivalry. In a crumbling near-future city, twins Bax and April struggle to survive on society’s margins, trapped in cycles of debt and moral compromise. When April disappears after crossing paths with a shadowy biotech underworld, Bax is determined to find her and descends into a fractured world of memory and illusion where truths blur. Plunged into the city’s underworld, Bax is quickly forced to reckon with identity, loss, and the ultimate cost of bringing April back.

“The Blue Trail” | Brazil | 86 min
In a near-future Amazon where the government relocates the elderly to remote colonies in the name of economic productivity, 77-year-old Tereza receives an order that will erase the life she’s always known. The colony, an isolated settlement where seniors are sent to “enjoy” their final years while the young focus on growth and progress, offers comfort at the cost of autonomy. Refusing to quietly accept this imposed fate, Tereza escapes into the vast rivers and tributaries of the rainforest to fulfill one last wish before her freedom is taken.

“The Fisherman” | Ghana | 108 min
A traditional Ghanaian fisherman who has been forced into retirement teams up with a sarcastic talking fish and a crew of Gen Z dreamers on a whimsical adventure to Accra. As they chase the unlikely goal of owning a boat, their adventure becomes a playful yet poignant exploration of tradition, generational change and navigating the modern world. Filled with laughter, magic, and the vibrant spirit of Ghanaian culture, “The Fisherman” made history as Ghana’s first official selection at the 81st Venice Film Festival.

“How to Date Again” | USA | 96 min | World Premiere
An LA-based animator, reeling from heartbreak, is pushed back into the dating world by his well-meaning friends. When he meets an emotionally intuitive record exec who matches his particular brand of weird, they take a spontaneous road trip along the California coast, including stops throughout SLO County and a stay at the iconic Madonna Inn. As they confront lingering pasts, “How to Date Again” embraces the messiness of healing, vulnerability, and choosing connection.

“If I Go Will They Miss Me” | USA | 92 min
Fresh from Sundance 2026, this magical realism film is a tender, surreal father-son story. Twelve-year old Lil Ant transforms his neighborhood beneath the LAX flight path into a living Greek mythos, where family members become gods and endless departures crowd the skies. As Lil Ant searches for connection with his recently incarcerated father, he finds support within his close-knit community that helps him to reconcile myth and reality.

“Mārama” | New Zealand | 83 min
Set in 1859 North Yorkshire, a Māori woman uncovers gruesome secrets inside an English manor. Living among her ancestors’ stolen artifacts, she uncovers Sir Cole’s horrific crimes. Embracing her Matakite powers, Mary becomes Mārama and must save Anne and avenge her family by destroying him. Blending gothic horror with cultural reclamation, the film explores the collision of heritage, trauma, and the supernatural.

“The Musical” | USA | 84 min | West Coast Premiere
A frustrated playwright turned middle school theater teacher spirals when he learns his ex-girlfriend is dating his smug nemesis, the school’s principal (Rob Lowe). Determined to sabotage the principal’s chances for the Blue Ribbon of Academic Excellence, he stages a reckless plan: produce the most outrageously inappropriate musical the school has ever seen.

“On the End” | USA | 115 min
Set at the far edge of Long Island, “On the End” follows Tom (Tim Blake Nelson), a reclusive Montauk mechanic, and Freckles, a fiercely independent outsider, as they navigate an unlikely road to falling in love. As gentrification, aging and rising tides threaten to erase their town, home and livelihood, their fragile relationship becomes a defiant act of resistance against a town and future slipping away beneath them.

“This Tempting Madness” | USA | 98 min
Starring Simone Ashley and inspired by a true story, “This Tempting Madness” follows Mia as she awakens from a coma with fractured memories, the man she loves missing, and no one providing answers. As she pieces together her past, she begins to question her own actions and perception of reality. Haunted by a love she can’t trust, Mia’s recovery becomes a battle for her soul, revealing that love and madness often spring from the same place.

“Valentina”| USA | 82 min
Set against the busiest border crossing in the U.S., “Valentina” follows a young woman navigating debts, family, part-time jobs, and daily pressures in El Paso. What begins as a simple attempt to pay parking tickets spirals into a 48-hour journey of errands, conversations, and delays, revealing the rhythms, struggles, and humor of life in an American border town. What unfolds is an intimate, honest portrait of El Paso, presented in a hybrid format—part narrative-comedy, part documentary.

Feature Documentaries

“Aanikoobijigan” [Ancestor/Great-Grandparent/Great-Grandchild] | USA/Denmark | 80 min
Trapped in museum archives, Ancestors bend time and space to find their way home. “Aanikoobijigan” follows tribal repatriation specialists as they fight to return and rebury Indigenous human remains and sacred objects from settler institutions. Blending essay and vérité, this daring film confronts the history of colonial collecting and the ongoing battle to recognize and enforce the laws meant to facilitate bringing their Ancestors home.

“American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez” | USA | 92 min
Against political resistance, “American Pachuco” follows the rise of an auteur from America’s underclass. From migrant farmworker to revolutionary artist, Luis Valdez transformed American culture by staging plays on flatbed trucks, creating the first Chicano play on Broadway, and directing the landmark film “La Bamba” that brought Mexican-American life to the world. Enduring for over 60 years, Valdez and El Teatro remain a beacon for Latinx creators. Sundance 2026 Festival Favorite Award and Audience Award Winner.

“Backside” | USA | 85 min | West Coast Premiere
Set against the backdrop of racing season at Churchill Downs, “Backside” offers an intimate, tender glimpse into the lives of immigrant workers who start their days at 2 a.m., seven days a week, caring for some of the world’s most prized racehorses. This observational, vérité film captures the symbiotic relationship between human and animal labor, celebrating the quiet beauty of unseen work and the resilience of those who sustain it.

“The Big Cheese” | USA | 88 min
“The Big Cheese” follows America’s greatest cheesemongers as they attempt the impossible: beat the French at their own game at the “Olympics of Cheese.” In Europe, cheesemongering is a prestigious career, but in America it often means minimum-wage work at a grocery counter. Determined to change that, Mr. Moo coaches a scrappy, eccentric team toward a hopeful victory, navigating cultural clashes and personal struggles in pursuit of respect, redemption, and proving that America belongs on the world’s biggest cheese stage.

“Birds of War” | UK/Syria/Lebanon | 84 min | West Coast Premiere
“Birds of War” traces the 13-year love story of a London-based Lebanese journalist and a Syrian activist-turned-cameraman who first connect during the Syrian civil war. Through intimate archives of texts, voice notes and footage from Aleppo, their professional collaboration evolves into a deep bond shaped by revolution, exile and loss, forming an emotionally moving portrait of love forged amid war and political upheaval.

“Fork in the Road” | USA | 89 min
An intimate documentary exploring the connections between people, the land, and the future of our food system. Through stories of independent farmers, chefs, and experts, “Fork in the Road,” narrated by Nick Offerman, reveals the challenges of resisting the growing industrialization of agriculture. Beyond the farm, it shows how everyday food choices impact our bodies, communities, and planet, offering a powerful vision of sustainability as a shared responsibility toward a pathway to healing the Earth.

“The History of Concrete” | USA | 101 min
After attending a workshop on how to write and sell a Hallmark movie, filmmaker John Wilson tries to use the same formula to sell a documentary about concrete. Using his unique sense of humor and documentary style familiar from his acclaimed show How To with John Wilson, this hilarious adventure is much more than a movie about concrete—it’s a fascinating ride through American life, and the characters within it.

“A Life Illuminated” | USA | 90 min
After a lifetime of unveiling the deep sea’s most elusive secrets, pioneering marine biologist Dr. Edie Widder descends 3,300 feet into the ocean’s depths on her most groundbreaking mission yet: to capture a bioluminescent phenomenon that could transform our understanding of life on Earth. Blending footage from decades of expeditions, the film illuminates the profound and hidden beauty of the ocean’s twilight zone while emphasizing the urgent need to protect these fragile ecosystems.

“Steal This Story, Please!” | USA | 101 min
Undeterred by soldiers, politicians and riot police, journalist Amy Goodman has reported some of the most consequential stories of our time. “Steal This Story, Please!” goes behind the scenes in a gripping portrait of the trailblazer whose three-decade career and unwavering commitment to truth-telling on Democracy Now! amplify the voices silenced by corporate media. Urgent, provocative, and unexpectedly funny, the film is a celebration of resistance, asking: What happens to democracy when the press surrenders to power?

“Street Smart: Lessons From a TV Icon” | USA | 84 min
Known to millions as “Maria” from Sesame Street, “Street Smart” follows Sonia Manzano’s remarkable journey from a young girl in the South Bronx finding refuge in television to becoming the first Latina with a regular role on American TV. Spanning 44 years on Sesame Street and now as the creator of Alma’s Way, STREET SMART is a vibrant portrait of Sonia, blending interviews, humor, heart, and inviting viewers to learn once again from this beloved icon.

“TheyDream” | USA | 91 min
After twenty years of documenting his Puerto Rican family, a filmmaker and his mother are confronted with devastating loss. In the wake of his grandmother’s death, grief threatens to pull them under until they turn to animation. Together, they begin re-creating their loved ones through 2D and 3D animation and archival footage, transforming memory into living, breathing art. Blending humor and vulnerability, “TheyDream” becomes an intimate portrait of intergenerational healing.

“Turtle Walker” | India/UK/USA | 75 min
A cinematic journey showcasing how one step sparked a lifetime of discovery. In the 1970s, Satish Bhaskar embarked on an exploration of India’s coastline, risking his life to uncover the hidden nesting beaches of sea turtles. His quest unraveled mysteries of these ancient ocean travelers, sparking a mission to save them from extinction. But when a devastating tsunami strikes in 2004 that erases entire shorelines, Bhaskar is forced to confront his greatest question yet: What happens to sea turtles when the beaches they depend on disappear?

“Voices: The Danny Gans Story” | USA | 102 min
Blending electrifying performances with intimate interviews, “Voices” tells the untold story of Danny Gans—a Cal Poly alumni and one of Las Vegas’ greatest entertainers. Through the eyes of his son, Andrew, on a mission to better understand the man behind the voice, the film traces Gans’ unprecedented rise, sudden death, and enduring legacy. A riveting portrait of a once-in-a-generation singing impressionist, VOICES becomes a personal investigation into legacy, mystery, and loss as Andrew retraces his father’s meteoric career.

“We Are Pat” | USA | 88 min
“We Are Pat” revisits the iconic SNL sketch, It’s Pat, in an effort to explore how gender, comedy, and cultural values have evolved since the 1990s. Tracing Pat’s origins back to an era of gender anxiety and using it to draw parallels to current culture wars around queerness, the film invites trans and non-binary comedians to reimagine and reclaim the character through comedy. By examining humor as both a weapon and a tool for change, “We Are Pat” asks: How does art age, who gets to be in on the joke, and can laughter transform pain into power?

“When a Witness Recants” | USA | 117 min
In 1983, noted author Ta-Nehisi Coates remembers learning that a 14-year old boy was murdered in the corridor of his Baltimore middle school. Revisiting the case as an adult, he learns the truth about the three innocent teenagers who were falsely convicted and incarcerated for 36 years. The film explores the collateral damage the handling of this case had on the community, the wrongfully accused, and the young witnesses pressured to betray them.

“Y Vân: The Lost Sounds of Saigon” | USA/Vietnam | 94 min
A young Vietnamese American artist sets out to recover the lost musical recordings of her late grandfather, legendary composer Y Vân. Once the soundtrack of Saigon’s golden age, his songs filled dance halls and radio waves before being silenced in the aftermath of the Vietnam War. Told across three generations, the film uncovers hidden family stories and a forgotten history shaped by displacement. An intimate act of remembrance and reclamation, the film explores the enduring power of music, memory and cultural inheritance.

About San Luis Obispo International Film Festival
Celebrating its 32nd edition in 2026, the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival is a six-day annual event, showcasing creative, diverse, and impactful works from around the world in a wide variety of venues, from the city’s classic art deco Fremont Theater to the SLO Film Center at the vintage Palm Theatre. Named to MovieMaker Magazine’s “25 Coolest Film Festivals” list, and USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers Choice Awards, the 2026 festival runs from April 23-28. SLOIFF is an Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Qualifying Festival in the category of “Best Documentary Short”. Tickets and festival passes can be purchased here.