Programs

  • Program 1 [2021]

    Due to the pandemic during the fiscal year 2020-2021 the Watsonville Film Festival continued presenting films online and facilitating film conversations with filmmakers and special guests via Zoom. We presented eight of these programs, plus a multi-day Virtual Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration where we also recorded musicians performing traditional songs, local cultural leaders sharing their home altars and artists teaching how to make crafts for the occasion. The community expressed that our program provided inspiration and connection during times of isolation and uncertainty. The total viewership was approximately 7,413. In March 2021, we began presenting our program using a streaming platform especially designed for film festivals. For our Ninth Annual Festival we presented 21 films and hosted six virtual events in nine days. Our total viewership across platforms was 10,212. We presented our programs free of charge and welcomed donations.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jul 1, 2020 – Jun 30, 2021
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $64.5K

  • Watsonville Film Festival Events

    During the fiscal year 2022-23, the Watsonville Film Festival presented twomultimedia events at our town square: Fandango at the Plaza in September and the5th Annual Dia de Muertos Festival in October. Both community events included in-person film screenings, live music and dance performances. Approximately 2,600people participated. In March 2023, we celebrated our 11th Annual Film Festival fromMarch 3-12. We featured 40 films, hosted 40 filmmakers and actors, and served 6local schools. We honored iconic Hollywood actor Pepe Serna at the Mello Center forthe Performing Arts. Our free festival reached 4,4761 people both on-line and in-person. We also worked with a cohort of four local emerging filmmakers through theCine Se Puede fellowship, an initiative to support them to pursue professionalcareers. We provided them with industry connections, workshops, mentorship andfunding. In May, we partnered again with the local school district to co-presentPVUSD's Oscars Night, showcasing the films of elementary and middle schoolstudents at the Mello Center. All our programs were free of charge.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jul 1, 2022 – Jun 30, 2023
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $91.9K