Serenity's Song, In The Still Of The Night, 3 Minutos, Evie's Christmas Gift, A Dollar's Worth of Hope, Penguins In Paris...A Love Story?, Emma & Emma - Block run time 1:30:58
Moving forward means carrying pieces of the past with us. Through love, loss, family, unexpected turns, and second chances, Living Forward follows characters confronting where they’ve been, where they are, and finding the courage to embrace what comes next.
Serenity's Song - dir. Christopher Schultz - 23:45
A teenager balances life between school and home while taking care of her terminally ill mother as she grants her mother's final wish.
In The Still Of The Night - dir. Aristides Mantilla - 15:30
On the Day of the Dead, a 10-year-old kid anxiously awaits a visit from his grandfather from the afterlife to finally meet him. He has to confront the skepticism of his parents, who discover that memory transcends life and death.
3 Minutos - dir. Douglas Ryan - 05:00
Under the time pressure of a potentially life changing test, a young couple unexpectedly takes a quick but meaningful look at their past, present and potential future.
Evie's Christmas Gift - dir. Dawn Fields - 08:30
A bratty 10-year-old girl learns a scary lesson about opening gifts before Christmas morning.
A Dollar's Worth of Hope - dir. Dr. EP McKnight - 06:20
A day of kindness can cause a chain effect.
Penguins In Paris...A Love Story? - dir. Kenny Hargrove - 12:30
When two former lovers meet in Paris -- just before the French man departs to study the effects of climate change on penguins in the Antarctic -- the American woman reveals that she is pregnant, forcing them to confront their past, present, and future in one day as they walk and talk through the streets of the world's most beautiful city.
Emma & Emma - dir. Alexandra Corin Johnston - 19:34
When disillusioned actress, Emma, finds her fourteen-year-old self mysteriously crashing in her apartment, she’s forced to confront her dreams, fears, and the sparkle she’s lost along the way. A whimsical, musical dramedy about self-reclamation, grief, and the courage to begin again.
Screenings are followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers.
About SIMI Film Fest
Now in its fourth year, SIMI Film Fest returns for nine extraordinary days with its most ambitious program yet: 103 films, 69 music videos, youth filmmaking, industry events, and live orchestral film music, all brought together in one festival built to celebrate every craft of filmmaking.
At its heart, SIMI Film Fest is about putting great movies on the big screen and giving the public the opportunity to discover original work from filmmakers around the world. From features and shorts to documentaries, animation, genre films, youth projects, and music videos, the festival offers audiences stories and creative voices they may not encounter anywhere else.
But screening exceptional work is only part of our mission. SIMI Film Fest is equally committed to helping filmmakers propel their careers. This year’s expanded program includes meaningful industry connections, filmmaker field trips, panels, networking opportunities, more than 25 awards, and the new SIMIFF Jury Prize: a three-month mentorship with CAA agent Matt Smith for one standout filmmaker.
The 2026 festival also introduces the SIMIFF Film Music Competition, culminating in a live concert with the Simi Valley Symphony Orchestra. Selected composers will hear their original scores performed before a live audience, highlighting the essential role music plays in bringing stories to life.
SIMI Film Fest is where audiences discover remarkable films, where every filmmaking discipline is valued, and where talented artists gain recognition, relationships, and real opportunities to move forward.
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