The 2025 SFFILM Festival lineup is finally here!
The SFFILM Festival will take place April 17 to 27 in theaters across San Franciscoʼs Marina and Presidio neighborhoods, the Mission, and in Berkeley. The festival lineup includes over 150 films from more than 50 countries including 11 World Premieres, 10 International Premieres, 10 North American Premieres, and six US Premieres. All feature films in competition, special events, and Marquee sections are California premieres. There are also 11 SFFILM Supported titles which are projects that received support from the organizationʼs youth education and artist development programs as grants, residencies, or funding, reflecting the year round mission of SFFILM. This is the largest-ever showcase of SFFILM Supported projects ever in the festival.
“I am over the moon that we are back with 11 days of screenings, special Tributes, Awards, free talks, our annual Industry Days Conference, parties, city tours, and much more. It has been a delight to curate over 150 films for this year’s festival and we cannot wait to welcome local and international creatives to the city by the Bay,ˮ Jessie Fairbanks, SFFILMʼs Director of Programming, said. “The program is packed with discovery titles, emerging storytellers, buzzy new films, A-list talent, and a special horror retrospective — that will be sure to delight audiences and filmmakers alike.ˮ
The longest-running film festival in the Americas marks its 68th edition with Opening Night selection “Rebuilding.” The film, which debuted at Sundance, stars Josh OʼConnor as a man determined to restore his familyʼs ranch and rediscover his purpose. Max Walker-Silverman makes his feature debut with the film that is dubbed a “poignant exploration of communal love and resilience in the wake of devastating wildfires.”
The Centerpiece presentation is Rachael Abigail Holderʼs “Love, Brooklyn,” a layered romantic comedy exploring urban isolation and Black life in the modern age. The film is executive produced by Steven Soderbergh and starring André Holland, Nicole Beharie, and DeWanda Wise. The Centerpiece film is presented alongside a Festival Tribute celebrating the career and craft of André Holland, who also stars in another San Francisco International Film Festival-selected feature, Andre Gainesʼs “The Dutchman.”
The Closing Night feature is “Outerlands,” Elena Oxmanʼs tale of discovery and acceptance, starring a cast of exciting emerging talents, including Asia Kate Dillon and Ridley Asha Bateman, as well as iconic queer comic Lea DeLaria. “Outerlands” was filmed in San Francisco and supported by SFFILM through its FilmHouse Residency and SFFILM Invest program. In a dedicated Festival Talk, director Elena Oxman and producer Marc Smolowitz, along with Film SF Executive Director Manijeh Fata and Deputy Director Sofia Alicastro, will discuss the opportunities and challenges of filming in San Francisco.
SFFILM will also celebrate legendary writer, director, and producer Chris Columbus with a Festival Tribute, featuring an extended onstage conversation that spans his decades-long career, including a special 35 mm screening of the musical classic “Rent.”
John Carpenterʼs filmography will be honored with a Sundown Cinema Outdoor Screening of “The Fog” in partnership with the SF Parks Alliance. Carpenterʼs “They Live” will also screen in the “Retrospectives: The Horror!” section.
“San Francisco’s revitalization is in full swing, and we’re proud to host filmmakers from around the world to connect with thousands of moviegoers of all ages over 11 wonderful days,ˮ Anne Lai, the Executive Director of SFFILM, said. “This year is a true celebration of the Bay, with so much homegrown talent as well as collaborations with fellow arts and culture organizations. We’re thrilled to partner with the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, the Lee Neighborhood Theatres in the Marina, the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive in Berkeley, and — in the historic Presidio — the Premier Theater at One Letterman, the Walt Disney Family Museum, and the SF Parks Alliance and Sundown Cinema. Weʼll also be honoring the historic Roxie Theater in the Mission. Seeing films together is one of the most vibrant human experiences, which is what our Festival is all about.ˮ
