SDFF is an independent film festival with a focus on films that spark deep thought and discussion. Unlike other film festivals, SDFF isn’t trying to create false competition between filmmakers, but instead give filmmakers with something to say a place to say it. It’s not about who’s the best director, cinematographer, actor, or even writer. What matters is films that are thought provoking and make the audience think, talk, and feel something.

This approach lets SDFF showcase a diverse range of themes and stories by filmmakers from all over the world. It offers a rare space to use film to expand our knowledge, open ourselves up to new concepts, talk about themes we might not usually talk about, and maybe even learn something new. The evening is packed with short films, academic presentations, open discussion and ends with a special screening of a well known feature film exhibited in a new way that you’ve likely never seen or thought of before.