All are invited to attend the 11th edition of the San Diego Underground Film Festival (SDUFF), organized by San Diego Underground Arts, and held at UC San Diego in the Suraj Israni Center for Cinematic Arts (co-sponsor and venue host).

The event spotlights an elite collection of international feature films and the festival's inaugural film competition. From Spirit Award-winning documentaries to formally adventurous narratives, the festival presents some of the most cutting-edge independent cinema in sunny San Diego. This festival has quickly risen through the ranks to become one of the nation's most challenging, nurturing, and down-to-earth film festivals. Known for taking risks on young talent alongside showcasing legendary filmmakers, it prides itself on being a festival by and for disciples of the moving image.

San Diego Underground Film Festival is entirely volunteer-run and is co-directed by UC San Diego Alumnus and Cinematic Arts lecturer Ryan Betschart and his wife Rachel Nakawatase and includes members at large Sterling Anno, Tyler Betschart, Sam Hinsvark, Karl Miller, Lois Munos-Merka, Jason Nichols, Meredith Sward, Paolo Zuñiga, and Leehza Caragay.

• DATES: Friday, May 1 / Saturday, May 2 / Sunday, May 3 / Tuesday, May 5, 2026
• TICKETS: Free - Reserve your seat: https://filmfreeway.com/SanDiegoUndergroundFilmFestival
• SCREENING SCHEDULE: https://sdundergroundarts.org/2026-screening-schedule

• QUESTIONS? contact@sdundergroundarts.org

• PARKING: The closest parking can be found at the Scholars Drive Parking Garage: 9500 Exploration Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093 (Google Maps) *Please note that all parking at UC San Diego requires a permit, purchased via the kiosk or the parkmobile app.  

• RIDESHARE:Suggested drop-off location is next the The Jeannie Hall (9615 Scholars Dr N, La Jolla, CA 9209). Walk around Jeannie, past Fan-Fan Chinese, towards the courtyard and the Center is directly behind the Jeannie on the 1st floor.