# US film festival programming announcements

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/us-film-festival-programming-announcements
> Updated: 2026-09-28T08:30:00.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2.

Various film festivals in the United States have announced their 2026 programming schedules and lineups.

In late September, announcements included the 13th annual Highland Park Independent Film Festival in Northeast Los Angeles, themed ‘Roots to Reels: A Celebration of Cinema’s Transformative Power’, and the 46th annual Hawai‘i International Film Festival (HIFF). Under new executive director Jean H. Lee, HIFF will focus on the theme ‘voyagers and visionaries’ with a lineup of 84 films and 86 shorts.

Subsequent announcements detailed festivals in the Pacific Northwest. The 11th annual Seattle Film Festival will feature works such as ‘A Fateful Weekend’ and ‘Beneath the Blue Suburban Skies’. Additionally, the 12th annual Orcas Island Film Festival will present 43 feature-length films from 25 countries, including Academy Award submissions, with the opening film being ‘The Only Living Pickpocket in New York’.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-28: Pacific Northwest film festivals announce 2026 lineups

The Seattle Film Festival and Orcas Island Film Festival have announced their 2026 lineups, featuring independent cinema, international award contenders, and emerging filmmakers.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/pacific-northwest-film-festivals-announce-2026-lineups

### 2026-09-20: Film festivals announced for Los Angeles and Hawai‘i

Upcoming film festivals in Los Angeles and Hawai‘i will showcase independent and international cinema, featuring diverse programs ranging from horror and comedy to Pacific-focused documentaries.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/film-festivals-announced-for-los-angeles-and-hawaii

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Cite as: US film festival programming announcements. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/us-film-festival-programming-announcements