EVENT OVERVIEW
In association with the Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation (TOCA), the Riptide Film Festival will be held at the James R. Armstrong Theatre in Torrance, CA, on Saturday, October 17th, 2026.

Organized by Riptide Films, Aureate Productions, and Evol Dog Productions, the festival will be held in a 500-seat venue and feature multiple screening blocks and one grand award ceremony.

Experience a night at the movies like never before! This exclusive showcase brings together a curated selection of boundary-pushing, up-and-coming independent filmmakers across California, presenting bold, cinematic works that command the big screen. Join film lovers and industry insiders for an evening of striking storytelling, artistic risk, and unforgettable visuals.

Then, at the end of the night, find out who will take home the distinguished awards honoring the festival’s most exceptional films!

Take advantage of admission to all screenings with one simple festival ticket. Or enjoy the full, red-carpet experience with our VIP Festival Pass, offering the complete experience with unique benefits like professional red carpet photos, early seating, and a chance to network with filmmakers and film-lovers alike in our VIP lounge. Come see Hollywood take root in Torrance!

This event will include: Multiple Screening Blocks, one award ceremony, a red carpet, a VIP area, Concessions/Merchandise sales, and more!

GENERAL FESTIVAL INFORMATION
Saturday October 17th, 2026
4 pm to 10 pm

LOCATION INFORMATION
James R. Armstrong Theatre
3330 Civic Center Dr, Torrance, CA 90503

PARKING AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
Parking is FREE and plenty!
The location is close to many bus stops and near a regional transit center. Transportation app drop off and pick up--easy too!

SEATING
500 Seats

SEATING ACCOMMODATIONS
The Arts Center staff makes every effort to accommodate patrons with special needs. Wheelchair seating is available in a variety of locations in both the Armstrong and Nakano Theatres. Please indicate any special needs on the order form, or call the box office 48 hours before the performance. This can be done at the time of ticket purchase.

TICKETING AND PURCHASING INFORMATION
Tickets to attend the festival will be available on TOCA’s website, in person, and linked to our website. Link coming soon…

A limited number of tickets will be sold at the door on the day of the event.

Selected films will receive 1 VIP ticket per film.

Attendees of all ages will be required to buy a ticket to attend and will not be admitted without one.

The Award Ceremony is included with your ticket.

1 GA ticket gets you all-day access to the screenings and the award ceremony.

PRODUCTION COMPANY BIOS
Aureate Productions, We craft immersive, community-driven experiences that inspire and engage. With a passion for innovative storytelling, we create high-quality content that fosters meaningful connections, blending narratives with social causes to leave a lasting impact on both entertainment and the communities we serve.

Instagram: @apvizions
YouTube: @aureateproductions
Website: www.aureateproductions.com

Riptide Films, explores the emotional and moral complexities of human nature through compelling storytelling. From action to rom-coms, we showcase the vulnerabilities and strengths of everyday people, inspired by modern cultural conversations and timeless themes.

Instagram: @riptide.films
YouTube: @riptidefilmstv
TikTok: @riptide.films

Evol Dog Productions, was founded in March 2021 by friends from the Torrance/South Bay, California area, forging a unique path in the industry by embracing the indie and film festival route. The company creates compelling short films and episodic content that push creative boundaries. As a bold alternative to traditional film and television, it champions authenticity, collaboration, and resourceful filmmaking—telling human stories across diverse genres and capturing life’s complexities with creativity and innovation.

Instagram/Tiktok/YouTube/Vimeo: @evoldogproductions
Landing Page: https://evoldogproductions.carrd.co/
Website: https://beacons.ai/evoldogproductions

Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation (TOCA), The shared vision of the Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation is to enrich the lives of all those within the City of Torrance and surrounding communities through the performing arts. By presenting relevant, accessible, and quality performances of all genres, we bridge cultural divides, inspire the young, support economic development, and begin conversations relevant to the human condition. To connect our community through culturally enriching experiences.

Instagram: @torrancearts
TikTok: @torrancearts
YouTube: @Tocalive
Website: https://www.torrancearts.org/

EVENT ORGANIZERS AND TITLES/ROLES
Dahlia Pacheco (Evol Dog Productions), based in Torrance, CA, graduated from West Torrance High School and later earned her B.A. in Entertainment Media Management at CSU Northridge. She is completing her M.S. in Entertainment Leadership and Management from Loyola Marymount University. A co-founder and producer at Evol Dog Productions, she manages various projects and was a Production Management intern for The Bachelor franchise through the Television Academy Foundation, and this past Spring, a Physical Production intern at Blumhouse.

Isaak Nsuangani (Aureate Productions) is a Congolese-American filmmaker, executive producer, and founder of Aureate Productions. Specializes in campaigns for bars, restaurants, and fashion brands. CSULB Film Screenwriting graduate with award-winning films recognized by Mometu’s Best Comedy, CSU Media Arts Festival, and more.

Niccolo Sohn (Riptide Films) is a Mexican-born, LA-based screenwriter, filmmaker, and videographer. A 2019 West High graduate, he earned a Film and Electronic Arts degree with a screenwriting focus from CSULB. Niccolo directed the award-winning short The Lie Count (2023), part of his Swipe Right anthology series, and co-founded a film production company in 2024.

SPECIAL EVENTS
Stay tuned for some pre-festival screenings and networking events. We are currently scheduling panels for before and after the festival.

Awards & Prizes

The following awards and prizes will be awarded at the 2026 Riptide Film Festival. This list includes awards and prizes granted or determined by the selection committee and our esteemed judges.

Award categories, award names, and possible prizes are subject to change and are up to the discretion of the judges, screeners, and programmers. By discretion, special awards may be given at the jury's discretion to recognize exceptional talent, innovation, or impact beyond the listed categories.

Learn more about our award sponsors and awards: https://riptidefilmfest.com/#awards

HIGH SCHOOL AWARDS

Best Short Wave (Best Overall Film) – Awarded to the most outstanding high school short film, recognizing excellence in storytelling, creativity, and technical execution.

Breakout Filmmaker (Best Young Director) – Celebrating a high school director who demonstrates exceptional filmmaking vision, leadership, and innovation.

A Cut Above (Best Storytelling) – Honoring a high school film with the most compelling narrative, character development, and emotional impact.

INDIE FILMMAKER AWARDS

Golden Crest Award (Best Overall Film) – Recognizing outstanding achievement in all aspects of filmmaking.

Heart of the Tide (Best Screenplay) – Awarded to the most well-crafted screenplay, showcasing originality, structure, and powerful storytelling.

Rising Tide Filmmaker (Best Director) – Celebrating an independent filmmaker whose direction brings a unique and compelling vision to life.

Shoreline Spectacle (Best Cinematography) – Recognizing excellence in visual storytelling, composition, and cinematography.

Rules & Terms

All submissions must have been completed after January 2024.

Films must not exceed 10 minutes in total length.

The festival will only communicate with the project submitter. Please make sure your contact information is correct and monitored regularly, as we will only communicate with you through email.

All films must be the original work of the filmmakers, and all filmmakers must have the necessary rights. The festival will not be responsible for any copyright-related issues.

All films must be submitted through FilmFreeway; no physical, emailed, or mailed submissions will be allowed.

Filmmakers are required to submit their films through an online screener. Please note that we do not accept new or updated versions of the submitted films unless a request is made to our email. Changing or updating the originally submitted link is not allowed, unless permission is granted. Our programmers will only review one version of your film.

Filmmakers may submit multiple films. However, each film must be accompanied by a separate entry form and submission fee.

Selected films must acknowledge that the festival reserves the right to promote the films on Riptide Films, Aureate Productions, Evol Dog Productions, and the Riptide Film Festival website and social media pages, using both images and videos that you provide. By submitting, you permit us to use clips, stills, and trailers for promotional purposes. The submitter agrees that the festival will use the trailer, poster, stills, and promotional material upon selection for festival promotional purposes.

If your film was selected and screened at previous Riptide Film Festivals, it will not be accepted for this iteration.

Films in a language other than English must include English subtitles that are visible on a big screen.

Entry fees are non-refundable.

IF SELECTED:

Selected films will receive 1 VIP ticket for free. We are unable to provide additional tickets for co-directors or additional crew members.

Selected filmmakers will be a part of our media/press opportunities, such as our filmmaker interview series, our red carpet interviews, and our in-theatre interviews. Other media opportunities will arise, and we will share information with interested filmmakers. Selected films and directors will be included in pre-event director interviews, in our marketing, and in promotional materials.

Nominated filmmakers will be required to attend the festival to be screened and to accept/received their awards, nominations, and certificates. Please note you will be asked to confirm your attendance at the festival; not attending will result in the retraction of your nomination. This is an effort to have filmmaker support their fellow nominees and winners.

NOTIFICATION DATE
Early August

QUESTIONS
Please contact (contact@riptidefilmfest.com) with any questions related to the festival or festival submissions.

1 Review
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Zack Abdulbaki

    The Riptide Film Festival was an incredible experience. Communication was clear and supportive from start to finish, and it was obvious that filmmakers were valued and celebrated.

    I’m honored that my film HELIUM screened at Riptide 2025. The festival was well-organized, with a fantastic venue, red carpet photos, press opportunities, and a welcoming community of filmmakers and audiences.

    Riptide truly champions creativity and treats filmmakers with genuine hospitality. I highly recommend this festival to anyone looking for a meaningful and professional showcase for their work.

    — Zack Abdulbaki, filmmaker of HELIUM

    September 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much for the kind words! It was a great pleasure to feature your film and have the opportunity to meet you in person! We are so glad you had a great time and were able to enjoy your time at Riptide Film Festival.

    We hope to see you again in 2026!

    -Dahlia Pacheco, Film Programmer