Watsonville Film Festival (WFF) celebrates bold storytelling that uplifts the community, sparks dialogue, and inspires change. Rooted in California’s Pajaro Valley and the Monterey Bay region, WFF showcases films that center Latine, Indigenous, immigrant, and underrepresented voices while welcoming stories from filmmakers around the world whose work reflects the power of culture, identity, resilience, and human connection.

At WFF, filmmakers are more than selections; they are part of a growing creative community. We believe film can build bridges, expand possibilities, and transform the way we see one another. Through post-screening conversations, filmmaker networking, youth engagement, and meaningful audience interaction, we create spaces where stories continue long after the credits roll.

Our festival proudly champions emerging and established filmmakers across narrative, documentary, animation, experimental, and youth-driven work. Whether your film explores social justice, cultural identity, family, migration, resistance, joy, or everyday humanity, we are drawn to stories that move audiences and spark conversation.

In 2027, Watsonville Film Festival celebrates its Quinceañera, our 15th Annual Festival! This milestone year will honor fifteen years of storytelling, community, and cultural impact with expanded programming, special events, filmmaker conversations, and unforgettable celebrations across the Monterey Bay region. We invite filmmakers to be part of this landmark edition as we celebrate the stories that connect the artists shaping what comes next.

15th Annual Watsonville Film Festival (Tentative Dates): March 4–13, 2027

Join us for WFF’s Quinceañera and share your story with a community that believes in the lasting power of film, culture, and creative resistance!

Awards & Prizes

WFF is a non-competitive film festival. However, each year we honor select filmmakers for their body of work, film impact, and/or history of positive engagement in the Latine community.

Rules & Terms

2026 WFF GUIDELINES
We are looking for films that are creative, inspiring, powerful, entertaining and reflect the LATINE, Indigenous experience.

SUBMITTING YOUR SHORT FILM:
Open to Latine & Indigenous, BIPOC and underrepresented filmmakers.
We strongly encourage local and Bay Area filmmakers to submit their works!

SHORT FILM TIME LIMITS:
• Indie Filmmakers: 30 min.
• College/University Students: 30 min.
• Youth Films (Elementary through High School): Under 10 minutes

• SUBMISSION FEES:
- FREE for students through University level.
- $10 - $15 per film for Indie Filmmakers

GENERAL FILM INFO:
• We accept documentary, fiction & experimental shorts and original music videos. To get an idea of what we screen, visit our past festival selections: http://watsonvillefilmfest.org/film-archive/

• You may submit more than one film, each one with its own entry form.

• We prefer new films, but we also accept films finished in the last few years (we hesitate to put a time limit on quality work).

• If you've recently graduated, you may still send in your student-produced film(s) in the student category for free.

• Films in a language other than English must have English subtitles.

• No film re-submissions from previous years.

• Please contact us if you have questions before submitting your film.

• Film Distributors: Do not use this submission form, please email us regarding screeners.

•If you have a film longer than 30 minutes that you would like to submit, please email us with your inquiry.

SELECTED FILMS:
• If accepted, we will contact you on January 9, 2026. If accepted, we will require a high-res digital file of your film and promo materials by January 20, 2026.

• WFF reserves the right to reject an accepted film if the digital file for Festival screening is not received by the above posted deadline date.

• Accepted filmmakers are strongly encouraged to attend; our in-person screenings include Q&A time and post-screening get-togethers for filmmaker/audience engagement.

• WFF also hosts year-round screenings, there is the possibility that your film may be accepted to screen at a stand-alone event outside of the annual Festival dates.

LEGAL - PLEASE READ!
• By submitting to the Watsonville Film Festival, you agree that you have the authority & rights to submit the film. You guarantee that you have obtained all rights & clearances that are necessary for a Film Festival screening and indemnify and hold harmless the Watsonville Film Festival from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses which may be incurred by reason of any type of claim whatsoever involving film entered.

• If the film is selected by the Watsonville Film Festival, you grant permission for public exhibition of the film (possibly more than once, in-person and/or online) during the Watsonville Film Festival.

• The Watsonville Film Festival is also granted the right to utilize an excerpt & stills from any film accepted for current & future promotional purposes.