ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

The Hemet Film Festival is an annual celebration of independent films hosted at the Historic Hemet Theatre, a beautiful 100-year-old movie palace located right in the heart of downtown. All films and parties will be hosted at the theater so filmmakers and guests can experience this one-of-a-kind location.

Each year, there will be designated screening blocks to highlight films made in Southern California’s Inland Empire region. We will also screen works from across North America and around the world to bring a taste of international independent cinema to our community. A mix of formats are welcome, including short films, features, animations, documentaries, and the work of local students.

We are looking for creative, scrappy, and resourceful films made by filmmakers with unique visions. Our motto is: "Necessity breeds creativity." This is something the fine folks of Hemet understand well!

The inaugural Hemet Film Festival was held on November 11th, 2023. Over 150 people attended and 49 short films were screened. Beginning in 2024, the festival will be held over multiple days, allowing more films to play. Once the festival expands to multiple days in 2024, we will be accepting longer-format and feature films as well. 

If you are a filmmaker in Southern California, please keep us in mind as a possible venue for premiering your feature film next year!