Now in its 14th Season, the Watsonville Film Festival (WFF) returns with a bold and timely theme: “Art as Resistance.” This year’s Festival will feature more than 50 films and 20 cultural events, bringing together award-winning films, local premieres, filmmaker meet-ups, live performances, and community celebrations across the region.

“What distinguishes the Watsonville Film Festival is our commitment to creating a local Eco-System that supports artists and creators from our community and the Central Coast region,” says Consuelo Alba, Director of the Watsonville Film Festival. “For the past 14 years, we have been investing in local filmmakers, providing opportunities to screen their work and helping them with grants and mentorships. At a time when immigrants and communities of color are under attack, independent films told through the lens of filmmakers who come from impacted communities are a powerful tool to reclaim agency, share stories, and inspire positive change.”

Audiences can expect an exciting lineup of films that premiered and won awards at major festivals including South by Southwest, Tribeca, New York Documentary Film Festival, the LA Latino International Film Festival, the SF Latino Film Festival, and the NY Latino Film Festival.

In addition to acclaimed national selections, the Watsonville Film Festival continues its longstanding commitment to uplifting local productions. This year’s program includes highly praised local shorts that premiered at the New York Film Festival and the Mill Valley Film Festival, “Libertad” and “The Long Labor,” both powerful documentaries featuring local changemakers.

Along with the Film Screenings, WFF will host a regional filmmaker summit, lively after-parties with local bands, and the Festival’s own signature beer crafted in collaboration with the local family-owned Buena Vista Brewing Company. The Festival will also showcase a Vibrant Lineup of Local Artists, including Watsonville’s Poet Laureate Vicky Bañales and DJ’s The Mothership Connection; Flor de Caña, Senderos Musical Ensemble and Ole Mano of Santa Cruz; QienSave and Kaefan of Salinas.

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DATES & LOCATIONS:
• March 12th - 15th // Festival-hosted Screenings at the CineLux Green Valley Cinema in Watsonville (1125 S Green Valley Road) with After-Parties at the Buena Vista Brewery (65 Hangar Way, Suite D)
• Salinas March 19th -20th // Festival-hosted Screenings at the Maya Cinemas in Salinas (153 Main Street) with After-Parties at XL Public House (127 Main Street)
• Santa Cruz March 21st // Festival-hosted Screenings and After-Party at the 418 Project in Santa Cruz (155 River Street)

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Founded in 2012, the Watsonville Film Festival is a Nonprofit Arts Organization dedicated to celebrating Latine and Indigenous stories and building a thriving creative Ecosystem on California’s Central Coast. Through year-round Programming, Grants, and Mentorship opportunities, WFF creates Spaces where Art, Culture, Joy and Community converge.