Dana Point Film Festival

Rio Waida in Quiksilver’s Young Guns

Dana Point Film Festival returns Oct. 29 to Nov. 1 with more than 30 films, filmmaker events and community celebrations.

The Dana Point Film Festival returns for its fourth year, bringing four days of film, surf culture and community gatherings to the coast. More than 30 films will explore ocean life, coastal culture, environmental stewardship, surfing and the connection between people and the sea.

Screenings will take place at the Porthole Theater at Dana Hills High School, offering an intimate, 210-seat setting for experiencing ocean-inspired stories on the big screen. Events will also extend throughout Dana Point with gatherings at White Rooster, Killer Dana Surf Shop and Craft House.

FOUR DAYS OF FILM + COMMUNITY
The festival kicks off Thursday, Oct. 29, with Meet the Filmmakers, an evening reception featuring light bites and a cash bar.

Friday’s opening-night feature, The OC Effect, will be followed by a celebration at White Rooster. Saturday and Sunday bring five curated shorts programs featuring emerging and established filmmakers.

On Halloween, the Saturday Night Spotlight features Don’t Be Prey, followed by SURFER’s “Hauntolulu” surf and ocean movie costume party at Killer Dana Surf Shop.

Sunday turns the spotlight toward marine life and environmental awareness with a special presentation of The Right Whale paired with Changing Seas: Whales in a Plastic Ocean. Young filmmakers will also take center stage during the Boys & Girls Club Awards at Craft House, recognizing youth filmmaking and creative achievement.

The festival concludes Sunday evening with Harbour Chronicles, a cinematic celebration of harbor life, the people who shape it and Dana Point’s enduring connection to the sea.

CELEBRATING THE SEA THROUGH FILM
“This fourth year marks a turning point for the Dana Point Film Festival, with an outstanding lineup of films from around the world and a rare opportunity for our community to step away from smartphones, gather in a theater and celebrate the art of filmmaking,” said Festival Director Riki Kucheck.

With only 210 seats available for screenings, advance reservations are encouraged. For tickets, the complete schedule and festival information, visit danapointfilmfestival.org.