Whittier Film Festival 2026

October 18th, 2026

Support local and international filmmakers!

Professor Patti McCarthy and Student Filmmakers

About the Festival

Join us as we support local visual arts college students and filmmakers from across Southern California.

This exciting festival event features film screenings, panels, red carpet moments, and live entertainment from top talent in California’s creative scene.

Welcome To Whittier, CA

Featured Films & Panels

A weekend of celebration featuring award-winning films, filmmaker panels, red carpet photo ops, raffles, and a free outdoor street festival in Uptown Whittier

Q&A with the Filmmakers of Christine

Feature Film Screening of Christine (1983) + A Live Q&A with Actor William Ostrander

Q&A with the Filmmakers of Predator

Feature Film Screening of Predator (1987) + A Live Q&A with Actor Richard Chaves

Others to be announced!...

Meet Our Esteemed Panelists

Panels all day Saturday and Sunday with directors, producers, designers, writers from all your favorite movies

James Becerra

Mayor

Colleen Bell

CA Film Commissioner

Bob Archuleta

Senator

Fiona Ma

CA State Treasurer

Henry Stern

Senator

Joe Vinatier

Mayor

Colleen Bell

Commissioner

Bob Archuleta

Senator

Fiona Ma

State Treasurer

Henry Stern

Senator

Other political panelists include:
Whittier City Councilmembers: Mayor Pro Tem Mary Ann Pacheco, Cathy Warner, Aida Macedo, Vicky Santana
Pico Rivera Mayor: Gustavo Camacho
Montebello City Council Member: Sal Melendez

Promoting young artists, filmmakers, writers, designers and future directors from:
Whittier College, Rio Hondo Community College, Cal State Fullerton, Cal State Los Angeles,
Cerritos College and Biola University.

2026 Whittier Film Festival

Official Film Selections & Festival Schedule & Awards List

2026 Whittier Film Festival — Official Selections, Schedule & Awards

October 18, 2026 • Whittier, California

Screenings · Oct 18 Awards · Oct 18

Sun Oct 18 Awards

Opening Ceremony & Gala Event

Whittier College — Ruth B. Shannon Center 13406 E. Philadelphia St, Whittier, CA 90602

6:00–7:30 PM

Silent Auction, Black Tie Event with Food, Wine & Tequila Tasters; Red Carpet Interviews - Show Starts at 7:30PM

7:30–9:30 PM

Gala Event

Special Guests

Patrick Warburton, Frazer Smith, The Great Omar, & Johana Coca among many others · Comedy Hall of Fame Award Presentations

Guest Speakers

Senator Bob Archuleta, Whittier College President Kristine Dillon, Whittier Mayor James Becerra

Get Tickets

Theatre A — Starlight Whittier Village Cinemas

7038 Greenleaf Ave, Whittier, CA 90602

10:00 AM–12:00 PM

Student Short Films

78 minute Runtime & Q&A follows each short film

View film list

ADAM'S CHOICE

THE FLIRTATION

TELL ME WHY

MI VIDA ENTERA

ANOTHER GO

BLOOD BROTHER

DEAD ONES

12:00–3:00 PM

Short Films

150 minute Runtime & Q&A follows each short

View film list

NEXT UP, LIN SUN

GET COMFY

IN THE LIGHT OF THE AFTERNOON SUN

STREAMING

EAT DUST

UNCONDITIONAL

HER LAST DAY IN US

SIGHT UNSEEN

3:00–4:30 PM

Student Short Films

76 minute Runtime & Q&A follows each short film

View film list

ALIEN LOVE STORY

LANDLINE DIVINE

ON ESCAPING

LADY APOLLO

4:30–6:30 PM

STRAY HOUSE

Feature

122-minute Runtime + Q&A with the filmmakers

6:30–8:30 PM

Short Films

100 minute Runtime & Q&A follows each short film

View film list

KICK TIME

INTERTWINED

IRREPLACEABLE

HARICHES IN 5JK

DEATH & LIFE

EVIL

THE LURE

8:30–11:00 PM

GEORGE & MONTY

Feature

121-minute Runtime + Q&A

Theatre B — Starlight Whittier Village Cinemas

7038 Greenleaf Ave, Whittier, CA 90602

10:00 AM–12:00 PM

TURNBULL CANYON: A ROAD UNWOUND

Feature

96-minute Runtime + Q&A with the filmmakers

12:00–2:30 PM

PREDATOR (1987)

Feature + Q&A with Film's Cast

107-minute Runtime+ Q&A with Guest Star Richard Chaves

2:30–5:30 PM

CHRISTINE

Feature

110-minute Runtime+ Q&A with Guest Star William Ostrander

3:30–5:00 PM

RED CARPET

Photo opportunities

5:00–6:30 PM

COMEDY HALL OF FAME & FILMMAKER AWARDS

Celebrity Inductions & Filmmaker Awards

Welcome to Whittier • Celebrity & VIP Introductions • Patrick Warburton (Comedy Hall of Fame Induction) • Fraser Smith (Comedy Hall of Fame Induction) • Filmmaker Award Ceremony

6:30–10:30 PM

RED CARPET

Photo opportunities

6:30–7:45 PM

THE MOMENT

Feature

60-minute Runtime + Q&A with filmmakers

8:00–10:30 PM

WILMA, WU AND A STRIPPER NAMED LORRAINE

Feature

120-minute Runtime + Q&A with filmmakers

Festival Awards

Feature Films

Best Comedy: "Wilma, Wu and a Stripper Named Lorraine" - Deborah Deliso

Best Mockumentary: "George & Monty" - John Schwert

Best Documentary: "Turnbull Canyon: A Road Unwound" - William Ohanesian

Best Drama: "The Moment" - James Avelar

Best Student Short Films

Best Comedy: "Alien Love Story" - Mason Eagan

Best Drama: "Another Go" - Johnna Gaines/Calvin Morganstern

Best Horror: "Dead Ones" - Cielo Valenzula-Lara

Best Fantasy: "Lady Apollo" - Meredith Lee/Blake Hunter

Best Crime Drama: "Blood Brother" - Jasper Belson/Jayden Garrett

Best Web Series/Comedy: "Adam's Choice" - Nathan Carrasco

Best Short Films

Best Comedy: "Kick Time" - Thomas Ian Griffith

Best Drama: "Her Last Day in the US" - Armando Ibanez

Best Experimental: "In the Light of the Afternoon" - Emily Babette Gross

Best Documentary: "Next Up, Lin Sun" - Jane Alcala

Best Animation: "Irreplaceable" - Samantha Lauren Reyna

Best Foreign - Comedy: "The Lure" - Neil Gordon/Kelly Eshpeter

Best Thriller: "Sight Unseen" - Jason Rhodes/Josh King

Weekend Highlights

Movies All Day: Starlight Theater

Panel Discussions: Inside Theatres A & B @ the Starlight Cinema

Over 25 Bars & Restaurants – Promo week in Uptown Whittier

Photo Ops: All weekend long

Meet the Celebrities

Our Festival Lineup includes:

Patrick Warburton

Actor & Comedian

Frazer Smith

Radio Host, Actor & Stand-up comedian

The Great Omar

Comedy Magician

Johana Coca

Comedian

Richard Chaves

Actor & Writer

William Ostrander

Actor & Producer

Ticket Pricing

Pick up raffle tickets at Starlight Cinema on Greenleaf.

Ticket
$10

Student Discount Price for Film Festival

Buy Ticket

Ticket
$10

Block or Single Screening

Buy Ticket

Ticket
$50

Sunday Film Festival All-Day Event Pass

Buy Ticket

Festival Screening Location:

The Starlight Cinema in Uptown Whittier
7038 Greenleaf Ave, Whittier, CA 90602

When:
Sunday October 18th, 2026

Event Link

Red Carpet Video Interviews from
Our 2025 Festival Gala

Actor Robert Carradine

CA State Senator Bob Archuleta

Filmmakers
Meredith and Cielo

Assistant Editor & Colorist Taylor Pool

Image Gallery from Our Inaugural Festival

Click on the images below to see what happened during our 2025 festival which lasted from Friday, Sept. 19th to Sunday, Sept. 21st!