Central Coast Film Society representative Carlos Plummer introducing “Jack & Lou.”

The 2025 Cambria Film Festival’s first full day of events featured screenings of two full-length feature films in competition, On My Way and Everybody Wants To Be Loved, as well as several blocks of short films.

The day’s focus, however, was on emerging filmmakers, and the evening saw a world premiere screening of a full-length student film, Jack & Lou: A Gangster Love Story, which features 11 different directors telling one continuous story. It was preceded by The Butterflies of Love, a 16-minute film from festival alum Aiden Glikmann.

Following the feature film presentation, actor and producer Suanne Spoke—who served as one of the festival’s student competition judges along with Randi Barros and Alex Zavala—led a Q&A with representatives of Jack & Lou’s directing, acting, and music team.

The night’s reception was sponsored by San Simeon Beach Bar & Grill, with support from Cayucos Cellars and Harmony Cellars. The screening was sponsored by Central Coast Film Society.

Next Up on February 7 & 8

Friday at the festival focuses on the filmmakers, with a welcome reception and screening of one of the feature films in competition, Breakup Season.

Saturday culminates with an Awards Night reception and presentation honoring the films, the filmmakers, and of course the festival’s winners.

And on either or both days, don’t miss one of this festival’s many firsts: Late Nite Cinema, a collection of short films designed to showcase everything that “goes bump in the night.”

By Charlotte Alexander

Charlotte Alexander is an award-winning author, editor, and publisher, with experience in media, higher education, and nonprofit settings. She has been writing reviews of local theatre productions since 2010, and her work has appeared in SLO Life Magazine, SLO Journal Plus, SLO City News, Two for the Show {Central Coast}, and most recently on her website WiseToTheWords.com. She is the co-author of "When Your Pet Outlives You: Protecting Animal Companions After You Die" (New Sage Press 2002; reprinted 2004), which won a Muse Medallion Book Award from the Cat Writers’ Association. She owns and operates C|C Imprint.