SIGN UP FOR MY EMAIL TO RECEIVE YOUR FREE SAN FRANCISCO PLANNING GUIDE.
San Francisco Film Festivals 2024 & 2025
Written by: Jill Loeffler • Published: January 22, 2014 • Updated: December 13, 2024
If you enjoy movies like me, you will love the diversity of films at this year's San Francisco film festivals.
Each year, you will find almost fifty festivals that range from the large International Film Festival in April to the smaller Dance Film Festival in November.
One of the things I love about living in San Francisco is that we also have new festivals all the time.
They take on new and often talked about subjects that are not often covered in other theater settings.
I'll add these new ones as they are announced throughout the year.
This year's San Francisco film festivals show their masterpieces at theaters throughout the city.
Disclaimer: I receive a small commission from some of the links on this page.
December 2024
Another Hole in the Head (December 1 - 25): The annual Another Hole in the Head Genre Film Festival features horror, sci-fi, dark fantasy and exploitation films. It offers you the chance to see engaging pieces that are not typically shown in local theaters. This film festival offers both in person and on demand viewings.
January 2025
Noir City (1/24 - 2/2): Enjoy classic noir creations from around the world at this year's Noir City Film Festival. Most of these works are from the 1940s and 1950s.
Each night, you get the chance to see two of the best works from a specific country such as France, Argentina and the United States.
This year's event is in Oakland at the Grand Lake Theater.
February 2025
None at this time.
March 2025
San Francisco Greek Film Festival (3/13 - 3/23): All pieces shown during this festival showcase works from Greek filmmakers. All 20 productions include English subtitles. In addition, producers from Greece will be on hand to interact and answer questions about the Greek film industry.
April 2025
SF Urban Film Fest (TBD): We all know San Francisco is a big, beautiful, complex city. But what does that mean? Let yourself delve deeper into this urban world with the 10th annual week-long SF Urban Film Fest, whose film screenings, panel discussions, and storytelling workshops are designed to inspire and awaken civic engagement.
Ocean Film Festival (4/11 - 4/13): This year marks the 22nd anniversary for the Ocean Film Festival. Over the course of five days, you get the chance to see more than 50 works that celebrate the oceans around it. They include pieces on our oceans' fragile ecosystem, stories about those that explore its depths and surfers that use it to make a living.
San Francisco International Film Festival (4/17 - 4/27): This is one of the largest San Francisco film festivals. It's also the longest running film festival in the Americas. For five days in the spring, it features dozens of films from countries around the world.
Silent Film Festival (TBD): This unique festival celebrates silent movies as an art form. For four days, you get the chance to see 18 beautiful pieces set to music. All films show at the gorgeous Palace of Fine Arts Theatre in the Marina District.
Berlin & Beyond (TBD): This year marks the 28th Anniversary for this popular SF event. All productions are from Germany, Austria and Switzerland. This one showcases the amazing talent from this part of the world.
May 2025
CAAM Fest (TBD): Presented by the Center for Asian American Media, CAAM Fest (formerly the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival) presents works by the world's most innovative Asian and Asian American artists. The 120 pieces for this year celebrate film, music, food and digital media.
June 2025
SF Doc Fest (5/29 - 6/8): This annual event dedicates itself to documentaries. It started in 2001. This two week event showcases real live stories that give us a look inside the beautiful and chaotic world we live in.
San Francisco Black Film Festival (TBD): Enjoy four days of films created by Black filmmakers, writers, and actors this June in San Francisco. This festival includes both feature length films and shorts. Most are shown at the African American Arts and Cultural Complex at 762 Fulton Street.
FRAMELINE (TBD): Frameline is SF's International LGBT Film Festival. Pieces include documentaries that capture the spirit of the community, world cinema with international themes and shorts that provide a quick look at stories about this community.
Queer Women of Color (TBD): This year's Queer Women of Color Festival heads into its 20th year. See more than 50 shorts dedicated to educating the community about this diverse and sometimes misunderstood community.
July 2025
SF Frozen Film Festival (TBD): This is one of the San Francisco film festivals that offers the chance for independent filmmakers, youth, and artists in under served communities to showcase their creations. All films play at the Roxie Theater in the heart of SF's Mission District. This year's schedule.
LABORFEST (TBD): For over 25 years, this is one of the San Francisco film festivals that showcases the history and culture of working people. It tells the real story of those working hard to make a living including people in unions, unorganized workers and those that support them. It includes films, but also walking tours, talks, and other important events throughout SF. Here is where you will find this year's shows.
San Francisco Jewish Film Festival (TBD): This event introduces you to documentaries, feature films and narrative shorts produced by members of the Jewish community. All entries are from independent filmmakers that create pieces reflecting the traditions, history and thoughts of this community.
August 2025
TBD
September 2025
Ocean Beach Surf Film Festival (TBD for 2025): Making its debut in 2024, this film festival is all about the San Francisco surf scene. It features just a few films over three days in mid-September.
October 2025
Latino Film Festival (TBD): This annual festival showcases works from both up-and-coming and well known filmmakers from the US, Latin America, Spain, and Portugal. The festival includes documentaries, fiction, and short films. All focus on the Latino culture and communities.
Arab Film Festival (TBD): This is one of the San Francisco film festivals designed to raise the awareness of the Arab community. It features productions with an alternative view of real life Arab people and their culture, history, art and politics.
SF International South Asian Film Festival (TBD): This fest offers the best independent cinema from South Asia and the Diaspora. It's the oldest South Asian film festival in the US. Enjoy everything from documentaries to Bollywood over three days of screenings at the Roxie and Castro Theatre.
UNAFF (United Nations Association Film Festival) (TBD): For eight days, you get the chance to catch a variety of documentary films dealing with human rights, environmental issues, population, and migrations. Other film topics include women's issues, refugees, homelessness, racism, health and more. Films are from independent film makers from around the world.
SF International Festival of Short Films (TBD): If you like your movies in bit size chunks, then this is the festival for you. All movies shown during this event are less than 30 minutes. It's one of the best as they offer a diverse range of engaging materials in a short amount of time that will really make you think.
Dance Film Festival (TBD): This light-hearted festival showcases interesting dance based films. The large range of dance films shown here highlight the diverse talent and innovations of this talented group of artists.
November 2025
American Indian Film Festival (TBD): All pictures shown during this event highlight the people, artists and activities of the American Indian community. Works presented are from both Indian and non-Indian filmmakers. Many showings offer a conversation with the director at the end.
Transgender Film Festival (TBD): This is a San Francisco film festival that offers an opportunity for the transgender community to get their story out to the rest of the world. For three days in November, it features award winning flicks by transgender and gender variant artists from around the world. This year's event will be at the Roxie in the Mission.
Comments? Questions? Suggestions?
I would love for you to join me in my private Facebook group!
It's a great place to interact with me and others who know the area well.
You can ask questions, get advice for your upcoming stay, and then share your photos and advice with others when you return home. It's a great community and the fastest way to get answers to those nagging questions about your visit!
