Simi Film Fest Returns Sept. 12-20 for it's Biggest Year Yet
New youth film category joins the lineup, alongside more than 50 music videos
(CLAIR | Simi Valley, CA) — Simi Valley is rolling out the red carpet for everyone with the return of SIMI Film Fest Sept. 12-20. With nine days of screenings, live music and industry events, this marks the festival's fourth year and its largest lineup so far.
This year's slate includes 103 films and 69 music videos, according to the festival's website. All screenings and awards events will take place at Studio Movie Grill at the Simi Valley Town Center, 1555 Simi Town Center Way. The festival is presented with support from title sponsor Film Simi Valley.
The 2026 event marks the launch of the SIMI Youth Film Fest, a program for filmmakers age 20 and younger set for Sunday, Sept. 13. The SIMI Music Video Fest runs Sept. 12-13 and returns with more than 50 music videos exploring the overlap between filmmaking and music, according to festival materials.
Audiences will find independent films from around the world that they will not see in a local theater or on a streaming service, organizers said, and many filmmakers plan to attend screenings to meet audiences and talk about their work. This year's official selections range widely in tone and subject, from the sci-fi drama "A Paradox of Quantum Superposition" to the family comedy "Penguins In Paris...A Love Story?" to shorts such as "The Stallion Whisperer Contract" and "Debbie Walks Her Duck," according to the list posted on SIMIFF.com.
Beyond the theater, the festival includes off-site experiences such as stunts and writing workshops at Simi Vibe and a private filming tour of the Reagan Presidential Library for attending filmmakers.
A highlight of the week is the Film Music Concert on Wednesday, Sept. 16, featuring the Simi Valley Symphony Orchestra under conductor and SIMI Film Fest co-founder Joseph Metcalfe at the House of the Book at American Jewish University in Simi Valley. The program will include film themes from "Harry Potter," "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial," "A.I. Artificial Intelligence," "The Patriot," "Star Trek," "Dances with Wolves," "The Lord of the Rings" and "Mission: Impossible," along with scores from films screening at the festival. The orchestra will also perform original music from the five winners of the SIMI Film Fest 2026 Film Music Competition: Quanying Wang, Haoyu Chen, Finn Clarke, Thomas Yamada and Eva Mazurek.
New this year is the SIMIFF Jury Prize, awarded to one film chosen by an independent panel of industry judges. The winner receives a three-month mentorship with CAA agent Matt Smith, covering career strategy, representation and next steps, according to the festival.
SIMI Film Fest was founded four years ago by Simi Valley residents Katie Garibaldi, a music supervisor and singer-songwriter, and Joseph Metcalfe, a film composer and conductor. The pair also founded the Simi Valley Orchestras and built both organizations around bringing film, music and the arts to the local community.
Single-event tickets and All-Access passes are available now at SIMIFF.com. Day passes start at $25 for Thursday, and an All-Access pass costs $140. Full ticket options are listed at simiff.com/tickets.
