For five star filled days San Diego will steal some glitter from Hollywood as the annual San Diego Film Festival hits the Gaslamp this Wednesday, September 23 through Sunday, September 27. The San Diego Film Festival celebrates its eighth anniversary this year and promises to be another stellar event.

Throughout the festival over 85 shorts and features will be showcased from new comers to films that go on to win Academy Awardsä. Past San Diego Film Festival premiers have been “Garden State”, “Napoleon Dynomite”, “SuperSize Me”, and many more. Aside form the screenings the event also offers educational panels, intimate filmmaker and celebrities gatherings and nightly parties. Previous celebrity sightings include the likes of Joaquin Phoenix, James Woods, Zach Braff, Jennifer Tilly to name just a few.

A Packed House

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The screenings themselves offer unique formats and perspectives like “Fresh Features” which showcases world premiers mixed with award winning narratives. “Local Love” spotlights filmmakers that currently live in San Diego, are native San Diegans or films shot in San Diego. “Little Critics” is an interactive showcase for independent children’s films geared towards kid’s ages 3-10. Kids can learn fun history lessons, see enchanting features, and enjoy giveaways and sweet treats.

Educational forums include screenwriting, performance workshops, how to break into the industry (and actually earn a living doing so) and how to act in front of a camera. Also scheduled is a special evening with Richard Dreyfuss on Saturday, September 26 from 6-8pm (tickets are $20 and proceeds will benefit The Dreyfuss Initiative).

Opening Night

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Then there are the parties! No film festival can do without the “seen and be seen” parties that are a fixture of the industry. There is the Opening Night GQ Lounge party at the Se Hotel Wednesday night, the Friday night Industry Party at the W San Diego and the 944 Actors Ball & Awards Ceremony. All feature big names and provide attendees the opportunity to rub shoulders with the Hollywood elite.

There are various festival passes at different dollar amounts so you can go for a day or stay all week if you are so inclined. Ticket prices range from $39 to $99 and include different levels of access from single screenings to the whole shebang. Whether you are a film buff or not, The San Diego Film Festival will dazzle your senses with it myriad features and shorts to make you laugh, cry or think about noteworthy topics. Enjoy!