The San Diego Film Festival Was The Best Film Festival I've Ever Been To, Hands Down. Great Events, Inspiring People, Fun Films And A Fantastic Filmmaker Lounge.

Schedule Of Events:

The Mariana Trench

12:45 Am - 2:12 Pm

Amc 14 Utc
4425 La Jolla Village Dr, San Diego, Ca 92122

Since Her Little Brother Tim Drowned In Trieste, Paula Has Lost The Will To Live. When She Encounters Old Helmut, A Widower Who Wants To Drive The Ashes Of His Late Wife To South Tyrol, She Sees A Way Out – To Go To Trieste And Take Her Own Life On Tim's Birthday. But During The Journey, An Unexpected Friendship Develops With Helmut – And Her Lust For Life Is Reborn.

Drive Back Home

10:45 Am - 12:25 Pm

Amc 14 Utc
4425 La Jolla Village Dr, San Diego, Ca 92122    

In The Winter Of 1970, A Cantankerous, Small Town Plumber From Rural New Brunswick, Must Drive His Beat-Up Work Truck 1000 Miles To Toronto To Get His Estranged, Gay Brother Out Of Jail After Being Arrested For Having Sex In A Public Park. The Two Men Are Then Forced To Drive Back Home Together At The Behest Of Their Hard-Nosed Mother Before They Kill Each Other. Inspired By A True Story.

For Shorts & Giggles

11:15 Am - 12:31 Pm

Amc 14 Utc
4425 La Jolla Village Dr, San Diego, Ca 92122

From Unexpected Comedy To Laugh Out Loud Situations, These Shorts Will Keep You Guessing.

B.E.C.: Three Inept Would-Be Gangsters, Ben, Eric, Charlie, Have Planned The “Perfect” Heist. The Loot: A Mysterious Yet Coveted Package. The Location: A Deli. The Mark: Uncle Andy, A Big Time Mob Boss. If Successful, They'd Finally Earn The Respect They Have Alway Craved. But When The Plan Starts To Unravel, They Are Faced With A Decision. Do They Commit And Go For The Ultimate Prize? Or Have They Bitten Off More They Can Chew?

Portland Is The New Portland: A Lonely Musician In A Small Town Creates A Thriving Underground Music Scene By Inventing And Posing As A Multitude Of Bands. When Rolling Stone Magazine Takes Notice, His Life Unravels As He Struggles To Maintain The Facade Of His Fictional Bands.

Summons: When Two Anxious Strangers Are Summoned By The Government, They Become Increasingly Worried That Their Lives Will Never Be The Same.

O.C.D.: A Neurotic Delivery Driver Named Owen Battles His Ocd At A Local Convenience Store While His Tiktoker Girlfriend Plans An Exposure Therapy Dinner Date At Home. But When She Helps Him Resist His Compulsion, It Subsequently Triggers The Apocalypse.

H.A.U.N.T.: A Girl Moves In With A Ghost Roommate As Part Of An Experimental Government Program In Order To Save Money On Rent.

Dirty Towel: A Teenage Girl Grapples With Feelings Of Shame And Guilt After Having Sex For The First Time, Leading To A Thoughtful Exploration Of Generational Shame, Societal Expectations, And Self-Worth.

Johnny Malibu: Johnny, A Dedicated Single Father, Is Struggling To Provide For His Daughter When He Accidentally Meets Ron, His Former Agent, Who Invites Him To Come Back To The **** Industry To Live His Glorious Days Again.

Moses - 13 Steps

11:30 Am - 1:20 Pm

Amc 14 Utc
4425 La Jolla Village Dr, San Diego, Ca 92122

Moses – 13 Steps Explores The Life And Legacy Of Edwin Moses, A Visionary Athlete Whose Triumphs On And Off The Track Inspired Generations To Hurdle Over Barriers Of All Kinds. Growing Up As An African-American In Segregated America, Moses' Passions Were Engineering And Physics, Leading Him To Athletics Almost By Chance. Self-Taught And Without A Coach, He Mastered The 400-Meter Hurdles With A Unique 13-Step Technique, Dominating The Event For Years. His Unprecedented Winning Streak Of 9 Years, 9 Months, And 9 Days Puzzled Rivals, Fans, And Journalists Alike. The Documentary Intertwines His Remarkable Story With Key Historical Moments.

The Bitter Pill

11:45 Am - 1:25 Pm

Amc 14 Utc
4425 La Jolla Village Dr, San Diego, Ca 92122

With His Hometown Ravaged By The Opioid Epidemic, Plaintiff Attorney Paul Farrell Jr. Sets Out To Take On Giant Pharmaceutical Companies To Recover Enough Money To Make A Lasting Impact For The Area. When His Legal Strategy Catches The Attention Of Lawyers Across The Country, All Of The Cases Get Rolled Into The Biggest Civil Litigation In Us History. Will The Case Become Too Big For This Small-Town Lawyer, Or Will He Rise To The Occasion And Effect Change Not Just For His Hometown But For The Entire Nation?

Animation Filmmaking

1:00 Pm - 2:15 Pm

Amc 14 Utc
4425 La Jolla Village Dr, San Diego, Ca 92122

Immerse Yourself Within The Animated Realm Through Incredible Narrative, Experimental Technique And Literal Moving Art.

Bottle George: George, A Strange Caterpillar-Like Creature Stuck In The Bottle Of Alcohol, Meets A Girl And Her Cat. 13 Minute Stop Motion Animated Short Film About Darkness Of Addiction And Strength Of Family.

Le Charade: A Stop-Motion Psychological Comedy Set In A Run-Down 1950s Diner. Le Charade Follows The Final Performance Of A Lonely Mime And The Psychotic Episode That Ensues After His Imaginary Friend Breaks Up With Him And He Is Forced To Re-Enter Society.

Nix's Symphony: Nix's Mother, Possessed Exceptional Abilities. She Not Only Excelled In The Fields Of Science And Engineering, But Also Gained Fame As A Distinguished Inventor And Composer. At A Tender Age, Nix, An Aspiring Musician And Inventor In Her Own Right, Is Now Burdened With The Responsibility Of Upholding This Legacy.

Tennis, Oranges: A Robotic Vacuum Suffering From Burnout Quits Its Job At A Hospital And Sets Out To Find Community And A Greater Purpose On A Quiet Street Where Two Lonely Rabbits Are Stuck In Perpetual Loops.

Vanglorious: Sebastien Abou-Chakra Is A Dynamic Producer Specializing In Animated Films And Video Games. As The Founder And Head Of Stl Productionz, Sebastien Channels A Deep Passion For Storytelling Into The Creation Of Immersive Worlds Across Various Mediums, Ranging From Led Volumes To Intricate Frame-By-Frame Animation. Hailing From Lebanon And Raised In Nigeria, Sebastien Brings A Unique Cultural Perspective To Their Work. With Extensive Experience Leading Multiple Productions And Collaborating With Industry Giants, Sebastien Continues To Push The Boundaries Of Creative Expression In The World Of Animation And Gaming.

Dandelion: In A Dystopian World, A Coal-Burning Robot Working On A Mine One Day Finds Something That He Has Never Seen Before - A Dandelion.

The Dogs' Highway: At The Edge Of A Dusty Road, An Abandoned Dog Desperately Tries To Return To His Owner. Injured And Unable To Survive In The Shadow Of His Melancholic Memories, He Will Find Refuge Among Forgotten Pets Hidden In The Waste Of Humanity.

Bridge My Little Friends: I'll Take You To See Shiro. That's A Promise!Jin's Grand Mission To Reach The Rainbow Bridge Begins!

Luki And The Lights: Luki, A Charming And Upbeat Robot Known For Living Life To The Fullest, Is Diagnosed With The Life-Altering Disease Als. He Must Choose How To Face Life Going Forward.

Twisted Humor

1:15 Pm - 2:55 Pm     

Where Funny And Irony Meet Up Fully Armed And Swagger On To The Dark Side.

Olga's Eyes: Olga, A Music-Loving Octogenarian, Is Tired Of Killing Humans. Could It Be The Vampire Blues? For Her Daughter Simone, She's Just Being Picky! Olga Is Placed In A Care Home Where She Can Deal With Those “Who Have One Foot In The Grave”...

Under The Influence[R]: Two Gen Z Guys Go All-In On A Wild, Illegal Stunt To Go Viral. The Film Dives Into The Crazy Gap Between Our Online Personas And Real Lives, Challenging What We Really Value In A World Hooked On Digital Clout.

Still Scattered: (Dark Comedy) After Losing His Wife, A Failing Gallery Artist Returns Home To His Small Town, Looking For Support From The Very People He's Fought So Hard To Escape.

Cherry Pie: When A Man Dies In The Bar, Lana, The Bar Manager, And Marty, A Bartender, Find Themselves In A Moral Dilemma That Quickly Turns Deadly.

What You Left In The Ditch: Wylitd Is A Dark Comedy About A Woman Facing A Lack Of Attraction To Her Husband, After He Comes Back From A Future War Without Any Lips. This Causes Her To Explore An Affair With A Much-To-Young, Plump Lipped Grocery Clerk. It's A Film About Guilt, Redemption, Culturally Unspoken Vanity And The Selfish Struggles With Empathy.

One Note: A Dark Comedy About A Neurotic But Driven 17-Year-Old Chinese-American Violinist On A Mission To Get Admitted To Harvard At Any Cost.

Amalock

1:30 Pm - 3:35 Pm

Amc 14 Utc
4425 La Jolla Village Dr, San Diego, Ca 92122

Amalock, Japan's Greatest Lock Gate, Protecting The Town Of Amagasaki From Flood Damage. Despite Being The Greatest In Japan, Nobody Knows About It. It Resembles A Clumsy Father Trying To Protect His Family. This Film Marks The 30th Anniversary Of The Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake By Relating The Story Of A Family Rising Out Of A Difficult Situation.

Seen

2:00 Pm - 3:28 Pm

Amc 14 Utc
4425 La Jolla Village Dr, San Diego, Ca 92122    

A Socially Awkward Outcast Becomes Obsessed With A Girl He Meets Online. As Their Connection Deepens, He Falls Into A Dangerous Spiral Of Unintended Consequences.

Actors Roundtable: Stories From The Set And Beyond

2:30 Pm - 3:15 Pm

Fest Lounge
4425 La Jolla Village Dr, San Diego, Ca 92122

Join Us For An Engaging And Insightful Panel Discussion With A Diverse Group Of Accomplished Actors. “On
Screen And Beyond” Offers A Unique Opportunity To Hear Directly From Performers Who Have Made Their
Mark In The World Of Acting.

In This Captivating Session, Our Panelists Will:
- Share Their Journeys: Explore The Personal And Professional Paths They've Navigated, From
Auditions To Securing Roles.
- Discuss Career Management: Gain Insights Into How They Successfully Manage Their Careers In A
Highly Competitive Industry.
- Reveal Behind-The-Scenes Stories: Discover The Experiences And Challenges They Face In Their
Craft And Collaboration With Directors And Writers.

Whether You're An Aspiring Actor Or A Film Enthusiast, This Panel Promises Valuable Perspectives And
Inspiration From Those Who Bring Stories To Life On Screen.

San Diego Scene    

3:00 Pm - 4:14 Pm

Amc 14 Utc
4425 La Jolla Village Dr, San Diego, Ca 92122

Local Artists And Filmmakers Tell Their Stories From Within The Great City Of San Diego.

Canta Santiago: A Young Mariachi Faces His First Performance Alone But Discovers His Brother Has Always Been By His Side.

Once There Was & Once There Was Not: A Short Film Adapted From Fairy Tales And Allegories As Told In "Women Who Run With The Wolves" By Clarissa Pinkola Estes: "Vasalisa The Wise", "Skeleton Woman", "The Crescent Moon Bear", "The Red Shoes".

Ghost Tours: A Quirky San Diego Tour Guide Teams Up With A Former Sitcom Star To Lead Comedic City Tours That Intertwine Local History With Their Own Dysfunctional Romantic Past.

Locals Only: When The Body Of A Missing Girl Washes Ashore, A Lifeguard Must Act Fast To Hide The Truth About What Real Predators Are Lurking At The Water's Edge.

Ambush At St. Mary's: Two Outlaws Disguise Themselves As Priests For A Robbery At A Desert Chapel, But Their Plan Is Disrupted When Hannah, A Parishioner, Comes By Looking For Help.

Milestone: Fueled By The Determination To Chase His Passions And Create Community, Greg Lemon Co-Founded Milestone Running Ten Years Ago In San Diego, Ca. Exuding Nothing But Positivity And Authenticity, He Has Built A One-Of-A-Kind Space In North Park, A Neighborhood Not Historically Known For Running, Where Anyone Who Walks In The Door Immediately Feels Like Family. Whether Leading Run Clubs With 100+ People In Tow Or Hosting Electric Community Events, Milestone Exudes Belonging And Defies Convention At Every Stride.

Weeklong: Weeklong Follows The Transformative Journey Of Foster And Underserved Young Adults From The San Diego-Based Non-Profit Foster The Earth As They Embark On An Ambitious Mission To Summit One Of Southern California's Most Grueling Peaks – San Gorgonio. This Story Explores Inequities In The Outdoors, The Barriers We Push Past To Achieve Our Goals, And The Common Footing We Find On The Trail.

Lost On A Mountain In Maine

Amc 14 Utc
4425 La Jolla Village Dr, San Diego, Ca 9212

3:15 Pm - 5:15 Pm

Based On The Book By The Same Name, The Film Tells The Inspiring Story Of A 12-Year-Old Boy, Who, Separated From His Family By A Fast Moving Storm, Must Fight To Stay Alive During His Nine-Day Adventure Lost In The Backwoods Of Maine.
    
Filmmaker Happy Hour

3:30 Pm - 5:30 Pm

Fest Lounge
4425 La Jolla Village Dr, San Diego, Ca 92122

The Festival Lounge Is The Place To Be For The Filmmaker Happy Hour Before Hopping Into Your Next Film Screening! This Is Your Opportunity To Network With The Filmmakers, Engage In Stimulating Conversation And Learn About Other Films To Go See!

Pass Access: Vip, Fest Pass, Weekend & Patron Passes Access Into Lounge Or There Is A Fest Lounge Day Ticket ($25/Day). The Ticket Gives You Access To The Lounge For That Day. Day Access Includes Lounge Activities For That Day Including Panels, Alcoholic And Nonalcoholic Drinks, Bites, Red Carpet, Coffee & Donuts, And Much More!

Dramedy

3:30 Pm - 4:55 Pm

Amc 14 Utc
4425 La Jolla Village Dr, San Diego, Ca 92122

Where Drama And Comedy Collide To Create A Masterpiece That Will Keep You Guessing.

4th Dementia: In This Multiverse Comedy, A Woman With Alzheimer's Travels Through Alternate Dimensions And Encounters Strange Families She Doesn't Remember, All In Search Of Her Husband.

Camping In Paradise: A Philosopher And His Girlfriend Involuntarily Must Spend A Night At A Nudist Campsite, Which Is Far Beyond Their Comfort Zone.

Good Grief: What Should Be A Sober Memorial Devolves Into A Chaotic Frenzy As A Young Woman's Attempt At Coping With Her Father's Suicide Is Derailed By Her Self-Centered Family.

Mature Parts: An Aging Actress Struggling With Her Career Is Offered An Unexpected Role.

Donor: When Faced With The Financial Strain Of Ivf, How Far Will A Desperate Sister Go To Get Her Wife Pregnant When She Needs Her Brother's Sperm To Get The Job Done?

Pathos: Juan And Gonzalo Have Been Journalists And Friends For A Long Time. Both Enjoy A Good Position Within The Newspaper, But The "Midday Demon" (Or Midlife Crisis) Lurks. Especially Today, Coming From A Funeral Where They Had To Say Goodbye To A Former Colleague. They Stop To Have A Coffee Before Going To Work And, Suddenly, Juan Starts A Confrontation With His Friend For Feeding Bread To The Ducks.

The Uninvited

4:00 Pm - 5:52 Pm

Amc 14 Utc
4425 La Jolla Village Dr, San Diego, Ca 92122

The Uninvited Is A Story About The Passing Of Time, Love, Regret And Aging. This Comedic Drama Centers On Rose, A Former Actress Now Living As A Stay-At-Home Mom, Who Faces A Night Of Chaos When An Elderly Woman Named Helen Arrives At Her Home, Claiming It As Her Own. This Unexpected Encounter, Along With The Presence Of Other Complicated Characters From Her Past And Present, Forces Rose To Confront Her Insecurities And Reflect On Her Journey As A Woman. The Film Humorously Critiques Hollywood's Beauty Standards While Celebrating The Complexities Of Womanhood And Explores The Themes Of Motherhood, And Self-Discovery In Los Angeles.

Lights, Camera, Friendship

4:45 Pm - 5:55 Pm

Amc 14 Utc
4425 La Jolla Village Dr, San Diego, Ca 92122

Lights, Camera, Friendship - Valdosta! Is The Second Season Of The Docuseries. It Examines Friendship, Connection And Common Ground Through The Perspective Of 12 Young Adults On The Autism Spectrum Spending A Week Together In Valdosta, Georgia. The Filmed Workshop Focuses On Creating Fun Connections With Others, Making Friends And Practicing Money Management Through Improvisation, Relationship Coaching, Dance Classes And Friendship Gatherings. The Community Of Valdosta Plays A Major Role As The Young Adults Share Their Journey Exploring The City. 10 Of The 16 Lcf Crew Members Have Developmental Differences And Were Trained By Joey Travolta's Inclusion Films Or Their Partner Programs. All Of The 12 Cast Members Have Developmental Differences.

Gala Screening    

5:00 Pm - 7:00 Pm

Amc 14 Utc
4425 La Jolla Village Dr, San Diego, Ca 92122    

The Future Of Film And Entertainment: Industry Insights

5:30 Pm - 6:15 Pm

Fest Lounge
4425 La Jolla Village Dr, San Diego, Ca 92122

Join Industry Experts As They Discuss The Evolving Film And Entertainment Landscape. This Panel Will Explore: The Impact Of Streaming Media And Shorter Theatrical Releases. The Latest Industry Changes And Trends And What's Next For Film And Entertainment. Gain Valuable Insights Into How The Industry Is Transforming And What Lies Ahead.

Heart Strings

5:45 Pm - 7:13 Pm

Be Warned. After Viewing These Charming Shorts, You Will Feel A Loving Warmth Swell Within Your Chest.

An-De-Lu A Young Chinese-American Baseball Player Must Confront His Internalized Racism After His Overbearing Father Comes To His Rescue.

And The Ocean Agreed: Vina Is Fading Away, Lost To Dementia, But On A Rare Outing To The Ocean, She Finds Herself And A Chance For Freedom.

Hey Dad: “Hey Dad” Is A Fast-Paced, Semi-Autobiographical Exploration A Young Man's Thoughts As He Processes The Loss Of His Father.

Il Taglio Di Jonas / Jonas' Haircut: Jonas Takes A Journey To Reach A Beauty Salon. Patty, The Owner, Will Cut His Hair. A Haircut That Will Change Both Of Their Lives.

The Last Ranger: When Young Litha Is Introduced To The Magic Of A Game Reserve By The Last Remaining Ranger, They Are Ambushed By Poachers. In The Ensuing Battle To Save The Rhinos, Litha Discovers A Terrible Secret.

Buscando Alma: Cristina Is A Transgender Honduran-American Woman Who Was Separated From Her Mother Alma When She Was A Small Child, An Event That Caused Deeply Rooted Trauma For Both Mother And Daughter. Twenty Years Later Cristina Has Managed To Locate Alma And They Will Have The Opportunity To Reunite. Only Since Their Separation, Cristina Has Affirmed Her Female Gender. If She Presents As Her True Self

Sono Lino

6:00 Pm - 7:20 Pm

Amc 14 Utc
4425 La Jolla Village Dr, San Diego, Ca 92122

Lino Tagliapietra Is Widely Held As The Greatest Master Glassblower In History, Beloved By Millions Across The Globe. He Began His Journey With Glass At The Age Of 11 As A Factory Worker In Murano, Italy, And Now At 88, He Prepares For His Final Hot Shop Session While Grappling With Age, Identity And The Struggle Of Watching His Protégés Continue His Legacy As His Famed Career Comes To A Close. A Master Amongst Masters And One Of One Artist In History.

Centerpiece Screening

6:30 Pm - 8:30 Pm

Amc 14 Utc
4425 La Jolla Village Dr, San Diego, Ca 92122

We Were Dangerous

6:30 Pm - 7:45 Pm

Amc 14 Utc
4425 La Jolla Village Dr, San Diego, Ca 92122

Nellie, Daisy And Lou Attend An Institution For Delinquent Girls On An Isolated Island In 1954 New Zealand. The Trio Rail Against The System, Finding Strength In Their Friendship. But This Is Challenged When The School's Matron Divides Them.

The Collaborator

7:00 Pm - 9:09 Pm

Amc 14 Utc
4425 La Jolla Village Dr, San Diego, Ca 92122

As War Rages In A Border Conflict Zone, A Young Man From A Nearby Village Is Recruited By An Army Officer To Perform A Grim Task, To Go Into The Valley Where Militants Have Been Killed And Retrieve Their Weapons And Id Cards.

On Pins And Needles

8:00 Pm - 9:23 Pm

Experience Stories Fraught With Fear And Tension, Bubble, Boil And Burst. You Won't Be Able To Take Your Eyes Off The Screen...Unless You're Shielding Them In Fear.

Caller 102: A Ballad Of Cyberspace: When A Blackhat Hacker Gets Hit With A Coincidentally-Timed Power Surge While Attempting To Defraud A Radio Contest, He Begins To Unravel A Web Of Conspiracy That Threatens To Bring Down His Life's Work And Send Him Spiraling Into Oblivion.

Grieving: An Aspiring Actress Is Pushed To Her Limits When She Lands An Unconventional Role Helping Grieving Clients Mourn Their Departed.

Missing: A New Mother Struggling With Postpartum Anxiety Becomes Convinced Her New Neighbours Are Harboring A Dark Secret That She Must Investigate.
The Door: A Year After Their Daughter's Disappearance, Kara And Felix Struggle To Move On In Their Own Ways As Their Marriage Falls Apart Around Them. But When A Mysterious Door Appears In Her Kitchen, Kara Becomes Obsessed With Uncovering What Lies Behind It At Any Cost. Even As It Threatens To Reopen Old Wounds.

Mean Ends: A Buried Body, A Missing Sister And An Inquisitive Neighbour Makes For A Hell Of An Evening. And The Sun Isn't Close To Setting On Eric's Day.

Amc 14 Utc
4425 La Jolla Village Dr, San Diego, Ca 92122

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