5 Reasons to Attend the SD International Film Festival

Lights, Camera, Action! The 16th annual San Diego International Film Festival (SDIFF) will take place on Wednesday, October 4th and will run through Sunday, October 8th. SDIFF is a competitive five-day film festival aiming to shine light on films that make a difference. Not only will you see Oscar-contending films, you will also be part of the scene alongside some of today’s well-known filmmakers and celebrities! If we haven’t convinced you already, we’ve compiled five reasons why you should attend SDIFF:

 

1. Support up-and-coming filmmakers

The film festival is known to not only support award winning filmmakers but first-timers as well. By attending the film festival, you will be encouraging up-and-coming and award-winning filmmakers.

 

2. Watch films that you won’t see at a local theater

Experience films that won’t be released in local theaters. There will be a total of 117 films, including 10 Narrative Spotlight Competition films, 18 Narrative Competition films, 12 Documentary Competition films, 5 Documentary Spotlight Competition films, and 72 Short films. Many of these films won’t be released in local theaters, so you’ll experience exclusive films!

 

3. Enjoy after parties

Kick off the film festival at the Opening Night Film & After Party! The opening night film will be screened at the Balboa Theatre in downtown San Diego. You’ll be part of the scene with celebrities, filmmakers, and industry insiders. The after party will take place at the Westgate Hotel Rooftop where there will be live music, DJs, dancing, food, and beverages.

 

4. See Oscar contenders before they hit the theaters

Experience Oscar contenders before they are released to the general public! Last year, there were 14 nominations for actors and films that screened at the 2016 San Diego International Film Festival. Some of the films included Lion, Hidden Figures, Hell or High Water, Captain Fantastic, and Borrowed Time.

 

5. Tap into your emotions and spark creativity

From indie comedy to drama to science fiction, The San Diego International Film Festival will spark emotions, creativity, and new experiences. In many cases, watching others laugh, fight, love and dream sparks a connection to our personal lives. By experiencing others go through complex situations, we can learn from them and better our own.

 

If we’ve convinced you, purchase your passes or tickets at the SDIFF’s ticket checkout page. Before heading out, check out the complete SDIFF schedule  so you can plan your days accordingly! For more local events, check out Scripps Affiliated Medical Groups’ articles!