The San Pedro International Film Festival was founded to celebrate the diverse culture and community of San Pedro with a wide spectrum of independent film, documentaries, and shorts. SPIFF is committed to exhibiting films that embody inspiring entertainment for all. Works that express fresh voices and differing global perspectives, with the intent that these films enlighten audiences while providing invaluable exposure for filmmakers, local and international.

In our first year, we hosted the first Los Angeles screening of Silver Linings Playbook. In our second year we hosted Ernie LaPointe, Sitting Bull's Great Grandson. In 2015 we celebrated the 20th Anniversary of The Usual Suspects with director Bryan Singer. We also had two short films either win or be nominated for an Academy Award! In 2017 we hosted the 30th Anniversary of Friday the 13th with director Sean S. Cunningham. For our 11th year we hosted Moby and screened his new documentary Punk Rock Vegan Movie. We are very excited about our twelfth year!

Prolific American writer and poet Charles Bukowski called San Pedro home for 15 years. Some of DW Griffith’s early short films were shot in San Pedro. These days you’re more likely to find film crews for NCIS, Mad Men, and Dexter. Other films shot in San Pedro include ‘King Kong’, ‘Chinatown’, ‘Point Break’, ‘Silence of the Lambs’, ‘The Usual Suspects’, ‘Pearl Harbor’, ‘Titanic’, ‘500 Days of Summer’, and a ton more. SPIFF is thrilled to present our 5th edition in a city with such a rich film history.

Awards:
Festival Grand Prize
Best Feature Film Domestic (Best Comedy, Best Thriller, Best Action, Best Horror, Best Drama)
Best Feature Film International (Best Comedy, Best Thriller, Best Action, Best Horror, Best Drama)
Best Feature Length Documentary Domestic (Best Ecological, Best Sociological, Best Philosophical, Best Biographical)
Best Feature Length Documentary International (Best Ecological, Best Sociological, Best Philosophical, Best Biographical)
Best Short Film (Best Comedy, Best Thriller, Best Action, Best Horror, Best Drama)
Best Documentary Short
Best Screenplay Un-produced (Best Comedy, Best Thriller, Best Action, Best Horror, Best Drama)

Certificates:
Best Director
Best Actress
Best Actor
Best Cinematography
Best Editing
Best Visual Effects
Best Music Score
Best Screenplay Produced

GENERAL RULES
LENGTH: Films for the competition will be in two categories and these times must include all titles and credits:
Short Film: 45 minute maximum
Feature Film: 65-150 minutes
STUDENT FILMMAKERS (22 and under) Please indicate the ages of film's writer, director, & producer in your submission.
FILMMAKERS UNDER 18 YEARS OLD: Please have a parent or legal guardian submit film on your behalf.
PREVIEW "SCREENER" FORMAT: All films should be uploaded.

PRIZES: Prizes differ each year and will be announced as soon as we secure them from sponsors before the festival takes place..
SUBTITLES: All non-English language films must be subtitled or dubbed in English.

ENTRY FEES: Are non-refundable.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • The folks at the San Pedro Film Festival communicated at every step in the process. They provide plenty of opportunities for filmmakers to mingle and network. Thank you for recognizing THE MANHATTAN PROJECT in the San Pedro Film Festival. It's awesome to be included with such an amazing selection of talent. Congratulations to all the winners.

    December 2025
  • Great experience at San Pedro FF. Organization and communication were excellent—a true independent filmmaker fest.

    November 2025
  • Ziggy is a hard working film lover with an endless amount of enthusiasm. She is always looking for ways to make the festival better and being around her makes me feel seen and appreciated. Yes, we won for best picture, but the party the night before in the Museum of Strange Objects was refreshing and a feast for the eyes. She is one of the good ones.

    November 2025
  • Regan Patterson

    The Babe crew had a great experience screening with SPIFF and would recommend!

    November 2025
  • John Martins III

    My appreciation to Festival Director Ziggy Mrkich and the entire San Pedro International Film Festival team for all of their hard work, and for honoring my screenplay, "The Fourth Psalm," as a finalist. Thank you very much. Continued success in all you do.

    November 2025