Universe Multicultural Film Festival Press Release 2026

Los Angeles, California - The 2026 Universe Multicultural Film Festival (UMFF) will take place June 5-7, bringing together filmmakers, artists, and audiences from around the world for three days of films, performances, educational panels, and cultural celebration.

Dedicated to promoting cross-cultural understanding through cinema, UMFF provides an equal platform for diverse voices and perspectives. The festival showcases films that bring history to life, introduce audiences to new cultures, and foster meaningful dialogue through storytelling.

This year's festival will feature 62 official selections from 14 countries, including feature films, short films, screenplays, audiobooks, youth-made films, music videos, television episodes, and original music projects. The festival will also feature seven panels bringing together filmmakers, industry professionals, and artists for discussion and exchange.

The festival will be held at two locations:

• June 5-6: Fred Hesse Park, 29301 Hawthorne Blvd., Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275
• June 7: CSTV Theater, 11455 Burbank Blvd., North Hollywood, CA 91601

For a preview of this year's festival, official selections, and special guests, watch the official 2026 Universe Multicultural Film Festival trailer:

Opening Gala

The festival will open at Fred Hesse Park with an Opening Gala hosted by actor and longtime festival host Bill Houskeeper and entertainment marketing professional and creative artist Arielle Eden Chacon.

The evening will feature performances by youth vocalist Anne Mizutamari, musicians Yako & Alan Eicher of Pacifica Music Academy LA, and the acclaimed Alma Latina Long Beach Dance Group, which celebrates the rich traditions of Latin American culture through dance.

Reception Gala

The Reception Gala will provide filmmakers and audiences with an opportunity to connect and celebrate multicultural storytelling. The event will feature filmmaker self-introductions, opportunities for UMFF jurors to meet with filmmakers, and screenplay showcases highlighting selected works.

Hosted by the UMFF Management Team, the Reception Gala will also feature a special performance inspired by the screenplay At the Mercy of Faith by writer Samuel Lee Taylor, bringing a selected screenplay to life through a unique live presentation.



Awards Ceremony

The festival's closing Awards Ceremony at CSTV Theater will be hosted by actress and author Eugeniia Gul, filmmaker and producer Sherwood Jones, actor and musician Val Lapin, and actress and producer Rebekka Mueller.

Special performances will include singer-songwriter Angel Peaches, award-winning international EDM artist Reppasenta, Stephanie Steven's Salsa Studio, and traditional Aztec Dance presentation led by Victor Hernandez Zaragoza, highlighting the enduring cultural heritage of Indigenous Mexico.

2026 Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient: Bran Ferren

The Universe Multicultural Film Festival is proud to present its 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award to Bran Ferren, an acclaimed inventor, designer, engineer, filmmaker, and entrepreneur whose groundbreaking career has bridged the worlds of art, technology, and innovation.

Ferren is the co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of Applied Minds, a company known for developing advanced technologies and creative solutions for clients ranging from major corporations to government agencies. Prior to founding Applied Minds, he served as President of Research & Development for The Walt Disney Company and President of Creative Technology for Walt Disney Imagineering, where he helped lead the development of innovative attractions, including Test Track and The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.

An Academy Award winner for Scientific and Technical Achievement, Ferren has made lasting contributions to film, theater, television, live entertainment, and industrial design. His work has appeared in productions ranging from Altered States and Little Shop of Horrors to Broadway shows such as Cats and Evita. He has also collaborated with renowned artists including Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Paul McCartney, and R.E.M.

With hundreds of patents and decades of pioneering work across multiple industries, Ferren has become widely recognized for demonstrating how creativity and engineering can work together to shape the future. His remarkable achievements and lifelong commitment to innovation make him a fitting recipient of the 2026 Universe Multicultural Film Festival Lifetime Achievement Award.



About the Universe Multicultural Film Festival

The Universe Multicultural Film Festival is dedicated to promoting cultural understanding through film and the arts. By bringing together filmmakers, artists, distributors, and audiences from diverse backgrounds, the festival creates opportunities for collaboration, education, and cross-cultural exchange while celebrating the universal power of storytelling.

For more information, please visit the festival's official website and social media channels: https://umfilms.org/

To revisit highlights from last year's festival, audiences can view the official 2025 Universe Multicultural Film Festival recap video: