The 2026 SFFILM Festival Wraps With The Launch Of The 'Films From the Vault' Retrospective Series

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — The 69th San Francisco International Film Festival, presented by SFFILM, finished its 11‑day run after presenting 79 programs representing more than 40 countries. This year’s edition featured premieres, special tributes, filmmaker conversations, and the launch of a new archival series drawn from the organization’s own history.

Reflecting on the festival’s mission, SFFILM Executive Director Anne Lai said, “The true gift of film is its power to help us connect and understand each other—and the guaranteed place to feel that magic is when you see it on the big screen.” Her remarks framed a program designed to bring audiences and filmmakers back into shared spaces, emphasizing discovery, community, and the enduring appeal of theatrical experience.

The festival opened at the Castro Theatre with a rare double feature that set an energetic tone for the days ahead. Kent Jones’s “Late Fame” led the program, a character‑driven drama about a once‑promising writer whose life is upended when an old manuscript resurfaces. Greta Lee and Willem Dafoe star, and both Lee and Jones were on hand to introduce the film and greet the crowd.

The evening then shifted gears with Olivia Wilde’s “The Invite,” a tense ensemble thriller about two couples whose lives collide over the course of a single, spiraling night. Wilde took the stage to present the San Francisco‑set film on 35mm, adding a dose of star power to the festival’s return to the Castro.

Two days later, the Centerpiece presentation took place at the Grand Lake Theatre with a screening of Boots Riley’s “I Love Boosters.” The new film blends Riley’s signature political satire with a playful, world‑building sensibility. An Oakland native, Riley participated in an onstage conversation, underscoring the festival’s emphasis on in‑person engagement and locally rooted filmmaking voices.

(See red carpet photo arrivals below.)

This year, SFFILM introduced “Films From the Vault,” a new archival program highlighting notable titles from past festival lineups. The inaugural selections included Leos Carax’s “Bad Blood,” Claire Denis’s “Beau Travail,” Guillermo del Toro’s “Cronos,” Agnès Varda’s “Vagabond,” and Henri‑Georges Clouzot’s “The Wages of Fear.” SFFILM said the series is intended to become a recurring part of future editions.

The Golden Gate Awards highlighted emerging filmmakers across narrative and documentary categories. “Filipiñana” received the New Directors Award, while “How to Clean a House in 10 Easy Steps” earned the Kirby Walker Documentary Award. Additional honors went to “Salvation,” “Hot Water,” and “Figaro Up, Figaro Down,” reflecting the festival’s ongoing support for global and first‑time filmmakers.

Special honors were also presented during the festival. Filmmaker Lynne Sachs received the Persistence of Vision Award, which recognizes artists whose work falls outside traditional narrative features. The Mel Novikoff Award was given to Michelle Satter, founding senior director of artist programs at Sundance Institute, honoring her long‑standing contributions to independent cinema.

The festival also showcased 11 films supported by SFFILM through grants, residencies, and other development programs. Additional special events included a Music + Film program featuring Beth Aala’s “Mysterious Bird,” accompanied by a live performance from guitarist Gabriela Quintero.

The 2026 SFFILM Festival closed with a screening of “Star Wars: Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back,” followed by an onstage conversation with Anthony Daniels and SFFILM board vice president Howard Roffman.

For more information on SFFILM, visit sffilm.org.

2026 SFFILM Festival Highlights

Olivia Wilde

Greta Lee

Eiza González

Poppy Liu

Greta Lee and Olivia Wilde

Anne Lai, Boots Riley, Jessie Fairbanks and Todd Traina

Russell Goldman and Britt Lower

Elizabeth Wolff

Merril Garbus and Nate Branner

LaKeith Stanfield

Mariella Gutierrez

Eiza González and Poppy Liu

Yemi Bamiro

Dan Cogan, Liz Garbus and Elizabeth Wolff

Boots Riley and Gabby La La