Arrival & opening night
Guest arrival, pass collection, first screenings, opening moments, receptions, and the beginning of the festival weekend.
Three-Day Programme
Festival Schedule
The 16th Catalina Film Festival takes place September 25–27, 2026. This page will hold the official three-day programme once screenings, events, venues, and times are confirmed.
Programme overview
Three days of cinema, island arrival, and festival community.
This schedule is structured around the public festival journey: arrival and opening energy on Friday, full programme rhythm on Saturday, and final screenings, awards, and departure planning on Sunday.
Official times, films, venues, guests, red carpet access, ticketing details, and awards information should only be added once confirmed by Catalina Film Festival & Institute.
Main festival day
Competition screenings, filmmaker Q&As, panels, networking, red carpet moments, evening events, and full island rhythm.
Final screenings & awards
Closing screenings, final conversations, awards recognition, guest departures, and post-festival transition.
At a glance
Quick festival rhythm.
Use this as a high-level guide until the final schedule is released. Each block can later link to films, tickets, venue maps, and detailed event pages.
Opening Day
- Guest arrivals and island orientation
- Festival check-in / pass pickup TBA
- Opening screenings TBA
- Opening reception / evening event TBA
Main Programme
- Competition screenings TBA
- Panels and filmmaker conversations TBA
- Red carpet moments TBA
- Evening screenings and receptions TBA
Closing Day
- Final screenings TBA
- Audience / jury moments TBA
- Awards ceremony TBA
- Return travel and departure planning
Friday · September 25
Arrival, orientation, and opening energy.
Friday should help guests move from travel mode into festival mode: ferry arrival, check-in, venue orientation, first screenings, and the first social moments of the weekend.
Morning
TBA
Guest arrivals & island orientation
Suggested space for ferry arrivals, hotel check-in guidance, guest information, venue map reminders, and first-day orientation.
Afternoon
TBA
Pass pickup / festival information
Use this slot for ticket support, pass pickup, help desk information, accessibility support, and guest questions.
Late afternoon
TBA
Opening screening block
Add confirmed opening films, runtime, screening venue, ticket link, and filmmaker attendance once the programme is released.
Evening
TBA
Opening reception / evening event
Add official opening-night details here: access type, dress code, venue, guest information, red carpet notes, and partner acknowledgements.
Saturday · September 26
The main festival day.
Saturday should carry the strongest programme rhythm: screenings, Q&As, panels, receptions, red carpet visibility, and evening festival life.
Morning
TBA
Breakfast event / filmmaker gathering / first screenings
Use this block for confirmed morning events, industry meetups, education activity, filmmaker orientation, or first screenings of the day.
Midday
TBA
Feature / documentary screening block
Add official competition films, screening times, filmmaker Q&A information, and ticket links.
Afternoon
TBA
Industry conversation / filmmaker panel
Use this block for education, Institute programming, industry guests, masterclasses, press events, or panel discussions.
Late afternoon
TBA
Short film and animation blocks
Group short films and animation into clear blocks so audiences understand what they are booking.
Evening
TBA
Saturday night festival event
Add red carpet, special screening, reception, guest appearance, partner event, or evening programme details once confirmed.
Sunday · September 27
Final screenings, awards, and departure planning.
Sunday should help guests complete the festival experience while also managing return travel, final screenings, awards recognition, and last island moments.
Morning
TBA
Final screening blocks
Add final competition blocks, encore screenings, family-friendly programming, or community screenings once confirmed.
Midday
TBA
Final conversations / Q&As
Use this block for filmmaker conversations, closing panels, jury notes, industry feedback, or education sessions.
Afternoon / evening
TBA
Awards Ceremony
Add official ceremony details here once confirmed: award categories, honorees, jury information, venue, access, dress code, red carpet, and ticketing.
Departure
TBA
Return ferry and guest departure
Remind guests to confirm their return ferry time, travel buffer, luggage, hotel checkout, and transportation route before the final event.
Planning notes
How to use the three-day schedule.
The public schedule should be easy to scan on mobile, clear about access, and honest about what is confirmed.
Link each event clearly
Every confirmed screening or event should connect directly to the relevant ticket, pass, or access note.
Tickets & passesShow location and walking logic
Include venue names, map links, walking time where useful, and notes for accessibility or late seating.
Venue mapHelp guests save essentials
Encourage guests to download the map, fill the Guest Prep Card, and keep ticket and ferry information available offline.
Offline guideSeptember 25–27, 2026
Plan the weekend, then leave space for discovery.
Once the official schedule is released, this page becomes the public three-day guide to screenings, events, venues, tickets, awards, and island planning.