The Santa Fe International Film Festival takes place October 14 to 19, 2026. It is an Academy Award qualifying festival in the categories of Documentary Short, Narrative Short, and Animated Short.
SFiFF was founded in 2009. Today it is the largest event of its kind in New Mexico, with more than 300 hours of programming each season.
Visionary Award: Zahn McClarnon
The festival will present its Visionary Award to actor Zahn McClarnon on Friday, October 16, 2026, at the Lensic Performing Arts Center in Santa Fe. The ceremony is on the schedule for 6:30 pm.
After the award ceremony, producer and director Chris Eyre hosts a discussion with McClarnon. Eyre's credits include Smoke Signals and Dark Winds.
Following the discussion, the festival plays McClarnon's directorial debut, Dark Winds Season 4, Episode 2.
Lifetime Achievement Award: Pam Grier
Actress and singer Pam Grier will be awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at 6 pm at the Lensic Performing Arts Center in Santa Fe.
After the award ceremony, there will be a Q&A with Grier hosted by Emmy Award winning screenwriter and producer Kirk Ellis, of Apple TV's Franklin.
The Lensic Performing Arts Center is at 211 W. San Francisco Street.
Centerpiece: I Play Rocky and Wild Horse Nine
The festival's Centerpiece program features two films. One is Peter Farrelly's I Play Rocky. The other is Martin McDonagh's Wild Horse Nine, which stars John Malkovich, Sam Rockwell, Steve Buscemi, Mariana di Girolamo, Ailín Salas, Tom Waits and Parker Posey.
On Friday, October 16, Centrepiece: I Play Rocky screens at 4:30 pm at Railyard Sky Cinemas. Centrepiece: Wild Horse Nine screens at 7:30 pm at Railyard Sky Cinemas.
Spotlight Film: Elsinore
Simon Stone's Elsinore with Andrew Scott and Olivia Colman will be featured at The Spotlight presentation. Spotlight Film: Elsinore is on the schedule for Saturday, October 17, at 4 pm at Railyard Sky Cinemas.
Heirs of the Perisphere and Closing Night: Paper Tiger
On Sunday, October 18, at 1 pm, Railyard Sky Cinemas shows Heirs of the Perisphere, produced by George RR Martin.
The festival closes with James Gray's Paper Tiger, starring Adam Driver and Miles Teller.
Variety's 10 Screenwriters to Watch
On Thursday, October 15, at 6 pm, Variety's 10 Screenwriters to Watch takes place at CCA. SFiFF says it is the only 10 to Watch event in the Southwest Region.
The schedule, day by day
Thursday, October 15: Variety's 10 Screenwriters to Watch is at 6 pm at CCA, and Coffy screens at 8 pm at Sky Cinemas Railyard.
Sunday, October 18: Heirs of the Perisphere, produced by George RR Martin, screens at 1 pm at Railyard Sky Cinemas. Closing Night: Paper Tiger screens at 6:30 pm at Railyard Sky Cinemas.
Academy Award qualifying shorts
SFiFF is an Academy Award qualifying festival in three categories: Documentary Short, Narrative Short and Animated Short.
Partnering theaters
The Lensic Performing Arts Center is at 211 W. San Francisco Street. Sky Cinemas Railyard is at 1606 Alcaldesa Street, and Sky Cinemas Midtown is at 1020 Midtown Calle Central.
Jean Cocteau Cinema is at 418 Montezuma Avenue. CCA Santa Fe is at 1050 Old Pecos Trail. The festival also lists the Kathryn O'Keeffe Theater on Museum Hill as a partnering theater.
The festival's after-parties take place at various venues in downtown Santa Fe.
Eventive, passes and the box office
Eventive is SFiFF's ticketing system. Create an account or login to purchase tickets, passes, memberships or ticket packages.
A Festival Pass includes Opening Night, Closing Night and all screenings, plus the ability to reserve tickets in advance. A Patron Pass includes everything in the Festival Pass, plus priority seating without a reservation.
The festival offers a package of 6 tickets or a package of 8 tickets.
You can also buy tickets to shows online or at the door, and the festival says there will be several free screenings open to the public.
Tickets are non-refundable, and no late entry is allowed.
The box office is in the Drury Plaza Hotel's Meem Room at 828 Paseo de Peralta, and the phone number is 505-397-0138. Box office hours are 9:30 am to 5:30 pm from October 12 to 16, and 10 am to 5 pm on October 17 and 18.
FAQ: dates, box office, awards and tickets
When is the Santa Fe International Film Festival 2026?
October 14 to 19, 2026.
Where is the box office?
Eventive is the festival's ticketing system. The box office is in the Drury Plaza Hotel's Meem Room, 828 Paseo de Peralta, Santa Fe.
Who receives the Visionary Award and the Lifetime Achievement Award?
Zahn McClarnon receives the Visionary Award on Friday, October 16, 2026, at the Lensic Performing Arts Center. Pam Grier receives the Lifetime Achievement Award on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at the Lensic Performing Arts Center.
What is the closing night film?
James Gray's Paper Tiger, on Sunday, October 18, at 6:30 pm at Railyard Sky Cinemas.
Are tickets refundable?
Tickets are non-refundable, and no late entry is allowed.
Where do the screenings take place?
Screenings take place at the festival's partnering theaters: the Lensic, Sky Cinemas Railyard, Sky Cinemas Midtown, the Kathryn O'Keeffe Theater on Museum Hill, CCA Santa Fe and the Jean Cocteau Cinema.
What does a Festival Pass include?
A Festival Pass includes Opening Night, Closing Night, all screenings and the ability to reserve tickets in advance. A Patron Pass includes all of the benefits of a Festival Pass, plus priority seating without a reservation.
Are there free screenings?
The festival says there will be several free screenings open to the public, and you can buy tickets to shows online or at the door.
Who hosts the conversations after the award ceremonies?
Producer and director Chris Eyre, whose credits include Smoke Signals and Dark Winds, hosts the discussion with Zahn McClarnon. Emmy Award winning screenwriter and producer Kirk Ellis, of Apple TV's Franklin, hosts the Q&A with Pam Grier.
Which shorts categories are Academy Award qualifying?
Documentary Short, Narrative Short and Animated Short.
Can I arrive after a screening starts?
The festival says no late entry is allowed.
Where are the after-parties?
SFiFF after-parties will take place at various venues in downtown Santa Fe.
What are you seeing?