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.


Best of each category

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
  • Great festival in a beautiful location! The Warner Grand Theatre is a must-see! It was a pleasure to have “Curds” in the finals for the feature screenplay competition. Thanks!

    November 2023
  • Jim Norman

    Thank you so much for making "Corey's Hand" a Best Screenplay winner. It's an honor to receive such recognition at this festival.

    November 2023
  • Nicole Dizon

    Belated thank you to Ziggy Mrkich, Pamela Torrance and the rest of the Programming Team for selecting my narrative short, "Morena,” for the 2023 San Pedro International Film Festival! While I couldn’t attend in-person, they provided plenty of opportunities for filmmakers to promote their films and meet each other. Hope to submit again in the future!

    September 2023
  • The San Pedro International was an honor for Lady in Ermine. The venue, hospitality, panels and networking events were just right! Thank you San Pedro.

    August 2023
  • Christopher H.K. Lee

    Thank you for accepting our film Forgotten Victory. Everyone at Lane Victory appreciates showcasing our film as a festival-opening film.

    February 2023