Neighbor News
13th Annual Watsonville Film Festival Celebrates expands to 4 cities!
A showcase of films that celebrate the power of local storytelling on the big screen
The 13th Annual Watsonville Film Festival (WFF) will present more than 50 films about the joys, challenges and contributions of artists, farm workers, and families of immigrants. American Book Award-winning author and UCSC alum Reyna Grande will premiere They Call Me Cross The Man for the first time in California. The Festival will also feature a wide-range of films - from the personal to the political - while shining a lens on community joy and resilience.
“At a time when hard-working communities like ours are under attack, the Watsonville Film Festival provides sanctuary from that storm. WFF offers a way to watch powerful, funny and uplifting stories together on the big screen. Farmworkers, cooks, caregivers, students, artists and musicians – we all have a story to share -- and we all deserve our rights!” says WFF Director Consuelo Alba.
Highlights of WFF2025 include:
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March 6 & 14 - The Monterey Bay premiere of The Long Valley, filmed in Salinas and recently premiered at SXSW and the Sundance Film Festivals;
March 7 – Locally-made shorts, including Dear Watsonville, Mariachi Gringo and Fake it Until You Make It;
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March 8 International Women’s Day – Two films honoring the courageous women factory workers and their children in the 40th anniversary of the Watsonville Cannery Strike;
March 8 – WFF Filmmakers Summit to meet with film industry people from LA and the Bay;
March 9 – The Santa Cruz premiere of Prodigal Daughter, a poignant documentary film that challenges stereotypes about the immigrant experience co-sponsored by the 418 Project.
March 14 - A special night of films, including The Long Valley, at the Maya Theater in Salinas co-hosted by Indie Basement Cinema.
Festival screenings will be at Cine Lux Green Valley Cinema in Watsonville from March 6-8. This year, the WFF will expand its reach with special film screenings in Santa Cruz at the 418 Project on Sunday, March 9 and at the Maya Theater in Salinas on Friday, March 14. Festival after-parties featuring local bands will be at Watsonville's Buena Vista Brewery. For a full line-up of films and related events: https://2025wff.eventive.org/films.
