The 26th Annual Nevada City Film Festival
June 26th – June 28th
The Nevada City Film Festival returns for its 26th edition — June 26–28, 2026 — and this year, it’s going deeper.
Part festival, part think tank, part creative gathering, NCFF 2026 brings together filmmakers, artists, and audiences to watch extraordinary films, exchange ideas, and reimagine what cinema can be.
The program features 50+ films across 7 curated short film programs, a special spotlight on animation — including award-winning work from Sundance, Cannes, TIFF, and beyond — creative cohorts with working artists and industry leaders, and an Artist Spotlight with world-renowned light painter Dariustwin. Thursday night kicks off with an intimate fundraising screening of CATCH, a locally-made film from Emmy-nominated director Jared Callahan. Saturday morning brings a free family program featuring a creature craft workshop with a Jim Henson’s Creature Shop fabricator and a screening of Where the Wild Things Are.
Named one of the Top 50 Film Festivals in the World by Moviemaker Magazine six times, NCFF has been a celebrated home for fiercely independent cinema since 2001.
Great cinema. Real conversation. One unforgettable weekend.
Passes from $79, Tickets $9/$11 – www.nevadacityfilmfestival.com
Organizer
NCFF
Phone
(530) 362-8601Website
https://nevadacityfilmfestival.com/Since 2001, the Nevada City Film Festival (NCFF) has brought top independent film, music, and comedy, along with attracting thousands of attendees, international filmmakers, and industry guests, to the historic town of Nevada City, California. Nevada City is known for its sophisticated and supportive arts and cultural scene and makes screening a film here a positive, encouraging, and exciting experience. NCFF is often referred to as the “Sundance of the Sierra” for its emphasis on fiercely independent cinema that showcases innovative, progressive, and exciting new voices in film. In 2019, NCFF was named for the second time by Moviemaker Magazine as one of the top 50 film festivals in the world worth the submission fee for filmmakers. In 2020, NCFF was named by USA Today as the #3 Best Festival in the US.
