If I Go Will They Miss Me and A Life Illuminated were named best narrative feature and best documentary feature respectively by 2026 San Luis Obispo International Film Festival judges during closing night ceremonies April 28.
The audience awards for narrative and documentary features went to How To Date Again and Y Vân: The Lost Sounds of Saigon, with Y Vân also garnering “Best of Fest” honors from attendees.
“The 2026 SLO Film Festival will be one to remember, despite everything going on in the world,” according to festival director Skye McLennon. “For six days the festival became a beacon of light, connection and creativity, celebrating all walks of life, which is reflected in the winners this year and in the audience members, volunteers and staff that made it special.”
In the Central Coast Filmmaker Showcase ‘The Strawberry’ won best overall CCFS film (capturing the audience award as well).
Additional George Sidney Independent Film Competition award winners include Vultures, best narrative short; What If They Bomb Tonight, narrative short honorable mention; A Man Who Takes Pictures of Flowers, best documentary short; Animus Ingus, best music video; One for the Team, best episodic; and Benny’s Second Birthday, best horror film.
In the Central Coast Filmmaker Showcase, The Strawberry won best overall CCFS film (capturing the audience award as well). The Other Roe won best CCFS documentary short and May I Put You On Hold won best CCFS narrative short.
Audience award winners also include My Only Friend Is a Robot Named Beans, best narrative short; The Right Fit, best documentary short; The Thought of Me, best music video; Savage, best episodic; Mi Vida. Mi Futuro, best Central Coast narrative short; and That’s So Drag, best Central Coast documentary short.
The jury for the 2026 George Sidney Independent Film Competition included Max Geschwind, CAA; Kathy Susca, The Film Collaborative; Travis Weedon, Visit Films; Mark Dicristofaro, filmmaker; Ben Bryan, filmmaker; Maya Seidler, Edgeline Films; Chris Burkard, filmmaker; Loren Waters, Waters Media; Jessica Hester, A Journey Home Film; Shruti Parekh, filmmaker; Chelsea Christer, filmmaker; Nancy Collet, Cinema Collet; Gina Papabeis, filmmaker; Adalberto Angulo, filmmaker; Soraya Simi, 805 Film Collective; Kris Lefcoe, filmmaker; John Loken, Recording Academy; Suzanne Schonig, KZOZ & KRUSH; Angie Han, Hollywood Reporter; and Nicole Barker, Series Fest.
Winning Films Return to the Palm Theatre
You can participate in celebratory screenings of the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival’s 2026 award-winning films May 1-3 at the Palm Theatre.
Volunteer vouchers and all-access (pink) passes from this year’s festival will be accepted at the box office for screenings, and the public can purchase tickets as well.
The screening schedule is available on the Palm Theatre website.