14th Annual Watsonville Film Festival

Join us March 12–21, 2026 for the 14th Annual Watsonville Film Festival featuring film screenings, live music, after-parties, artist conversations, and events across Watsonville, Santa Cruz, and Salinas.

50+ films. 20+ events. 3 cities. Countless moments to connect! 💚

Under this year’s theme, ART AS RESISTANCE, we come together to celebrate storytelling as culture, joy, and community power.

🗓️ March 12–21, 2026
📍 Watsonville, Santa Cruz & Salinas.
🎥 Theme: Art as Resistance.

🎟️ View complete program below and secure your tickets now at 2026wff.eventive.org/schedule

See video!

Schedule:

About film festival:

This year, we uphold that film and storytelling are not only art forms, but vital forces for truth, representation, and cultural resistance. At a time when communities of color are too often silenced or misrepresented, cinema becomes a powerful tool to reclaim agency, share our own stories, and inspire positive change.

For 14 years, the Watsonville Film Festival has been more than a series of screenings — it is a cultural movement, uplifting Latine, Indigenous, and underrepresented filmmakers and voices while creating space for audiences to connect, reflect, and take social action.

Join us this March as we showcase a selection of films that honor resiliency, creativity, and dignity, sparking conversation and celebrating the power of community through the arts.

🎟️ View the complete program and secure your tickets now at 2026wff.eventive.org/schedule

Video 2:

The amazing Indie Filmmakers!

Film festival details:

🎞️ Official Feature Films Selection for #WFF2026 🌵

For 14 years, the Watsonville Film Festival has been more than a series of screenings. It is a cultural movement rooted in community, intention and joy.

In a time when many of our communities face fear and uncertainty, cinema becomes a powerful way to reclaim our stories and affirm our humanity. This year’s theme, ART AS RESISTANCE, reminds us that storytelling is a force for truth, representation, and cultural resilience.

We are proud to present this year’s official feature selections:

• “Asco: Without Permission” by Travis Gutierrez Senger
• “Libertad” by Brenda Avila-Hanna
• “Following Harry” by Susanne Rostock
• “Traces of Home” by Colette Ghunim
• “Between the sun and the sidewalk” by Helen De Michiel

Join us March 12–21 in Watsonville, Salinas y Santa Cruz as we celebrate these inspiring and timely films with our community through the Central Coast.