The 18th annual Mendocino Film Festival is back, and according to a press release from festival organizers, this year’s lineup is more vibrant and star-studded than ever. Running May 29 through June 1, the beloved coastal event will showcase 67 films from 20 countries, including works by Oscar and Emmy-winning directors and producers.
The press release highlights a strong showing from Mendocino County creatives, with several local filmmakers and special guests slated to appear. Directors Ana Blanco and Natasha Benjamin will attend the premiere of Sequoias of the Sea, their documentary about kelp forests and the Noyo Harbor community. That screening takes place Friday, May 30 at 1 p.m.
Also returning home is Will Hawkes, a Mendocino local and co-writer of the Oscar-nominated short The Last Ranger. His film will screen as part of the “Making a Difference” shorts program on Friday, May 30 at 10 a.m., the release notes.
Festival organizers are particularly excited about “Reel Mendo,” the closing-night event on Sunday, June 1, which celebrates Mendocino County filmmakers with 11 original short films. According to the release, topics range from mushroom foraging and art to bootlegging and even murder, offering a diverse lens on local life and creativity.
This year’s festival places women front and center. For the first time, 55% of the films are directed by women. The press release calls special attention to the “Women Who Dare” series—six films about bold, visionary women who pursued their passions and challenged the status quo.
Music and art lovers will find plenty to enjoy, with 17 films centered on creative expression. Highlights include Coastal, a documentary about rock legend Neil Young directed by his wife, Daryl Hannah. The screening, scheduled for Friday, May 30 at 7:30 p.m., will be followed by a ’70s rock party featuring the five-piece band Moon Rabbit.
The press release also touts a range of films for nature lovers, including stories featuring sled dogs in the Norwegian Arctic, wolves in Yellowstone, and sheep in the Pyrenees. Foodies can feast their eyes on documentaries celebrating cheese, Italian cuisine, and pastries—including The Sweet Story, showing Saturday at 10 a.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.
Sixteen films in this year’s slate tackle environmental and social justice issues, the release emphasizes. Topics include climate change, LGBTQ+ rights, immigrant experiences, and the Gaza-Israel conflict—showcasing the festival’s continued commitment to timely and pressing global conversations.
Comedy also has a place at the fest. On Saturday, May 31 at 7:30 p.m., Bay Area comedian Natasha Vinik will open for the humorous and insightful documentary Anxiety Club, inviting festivalgoers to unwind and laugh.
One of the festival’s most anticipated programs, the Fourth Annual Native Cinema event, returns Sunday, June 1. This year’s showcase features Standing Above the Clouds, a Hawaiian documentary, and Our Ocean, Our Future, a short film about the Kashia band of Pomo.
For word nerds, grammarian Ellen Jovin will host her “Grammar Table” outside Gallery Bookshop in Mendocino from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday. Her film Rebel with a Clause screens later that day and again on Sunday, June 1.
To deepen the experience, the festival invites attendees to “Coffee with the Filmmakers” on Saturday and Sunday mornings at 9 a.m. in the Café Beaujolais Garden, where fans can chat with directors and producers over pastries and conversation.
Tickets are going fast, the press release warns. They can be purchased at MendoFilm.org/tickets or in person at the Mendocino Film Festival Office, located at 45062 Ukiah Street. For more details and the full program, visit MendoFilm.org or follow the festival on Facebook and Instagram.
