Sonoma International Film Festival Reveals Exciting 2026 Film Lineup with Works by Maude Apatow, Steven Soderbergh, Julian Schnabel, Lucrecia Martel, and More

Sonoma International Film Festival Reveals 2026 Lineup

The Sonoma International Film Festival (SIFF) has announced its lineup for the 29th annual event, scheduled to take place from March 25 to March 29, 2026. The festival will showcase a diverse array of films, including features and documentaries, along with opening, closing, and centerpiece selections.

Festivities will commence with the California premiere of Poetic License, marking the directorial debut of Maude Apatow. The film features notable performances from Leslie Mann, Cooper Hoffman, and Andrew Barth Feldman. The festival will conclude with the California premiere of Under the Lights, a film set and shot in Sonoma, starring Lake Bell, Nick Offerman, and Mark Duplass, among others.

In a highlight of the festival, Steven Soderbergh’s The Christophers, featuring Ian McKellen and Michaela Cole in a "razor-witted chamber comedy," will hold the centerpiece position. Additionally, Julian Schnabel will present his new film, In the Hand of Dante, which boasts an impressive cast including Oscar Isaac and Al Pacino. Following its screening, Schnabel will engage in a discussion about his career in both visual art and cinema.

The festival’s 2026 program comprises 41 narrative features, 16 documentary features, and 47 shorts. “Following last year’s record-setting edition, we’re raising the bar again with a lineup that reflects the full spectrum of contemporary cinema,” said Carl Spence, the festival’s Artistic Director. He emphasized the inclusion of exceptional works that deserve greater recognition, combined with in-person conversations with filmmakers and the festival’s culinary program.

On the documentary front, SIFF will host the world premiere of Fork in the Road, directed by Jonathan Nastasi and Vivian Sorenson. This film explores the connections between people, the land, and the future of the food system. Other notable documentaries include Brydie O’Connor’s Barbara Forever, which has already made waves at Sundance and Berlinale, and Kim Novak’s Vertigo, which looks back at the actress’s iconic role. The festival will also present the classic Vertigo itself, alongside works like Yanuni by Richard Ladkani and Our Land (Nuestra Tierra) directed by Lucrecia Martel.

Additionally, SIFF will feature several industry conversations covering various themes. Among these are discussions on "The Art of Casting," with insights from prominent director-writers Barry Jenkins and Lulu Wang, and "The Power of Storytelling," focusing on impact-driven filmmaking.

In the feature competition, the films include:

• Ky Nam Inn (Director: Leon Le/Vietnam)
• Maspalomas (Director: Jose Mari Goenaga, Aitor Arregi/Spain)
• My Tennis Maestro (Director: Andrea di Stefano/Italy)
• Orphan (Director: Lászlo Nemes/Hungary)
• Silent Rebellion (Director: Marie-Elsa Sgualdo/Switzerland)
• The Soundman (Director: Frank Van Passel/Belgium)
• Sundays (Director: Alauda Ruiz de Azúa/Spain)
• Vainilla (Director: Mayra Hermosillo/Mexico)

The documentary competition features:

• The Art of Adventure (Director: Alison Reid/Canada)
• Barbara Forever (Director: Brydie O’Connor/USA)
• The Big Cheese (Director: Sara Joe Wolansky/USA)
• Fork in the Road (Director: Jonathan Nastasi, Vivian Sorenson/USA)
• Jane Elliott Against the World (Director: Judd Ehrlich/USA)
• Kim Novak’s Vertigo (Director: Alexandre O. Philippe/USA)
• Newport and the Great Folk Dream (Director: Robert Gordon/USA)
• Raoul’s, A New York Story (Director: Greg Olliver, Karim Raoul/USA)
• State of Firsts (Director: Chase Joynt/USA)

With a stellar lineup and engaging discussions planned, the Sonoma International Film Festival aims to be a significant cultural event in the cinematic calendar.