Fourth Annual Coronado Island Film Festival Opens November 8

On Coronado Island, where moviemaking goes back more than a century, the fourth annual Coronado Island Film Festival opens its four-day festival Nov. 8-11. The cinema-by-the-sea experience, in the village of Coronado, includes more than 80 films – studio premieres, shorts, documentaries, student films, and culinary cinema – plus parties, industry panels, and live entertainment.

Passes are on sale now and can be purchased at the festival website coronadoislandfilmfestival.com. Early Bird pricing is in effect through Sept. 2.

Festival attendees have two pass options: The Crown City pass ($345 through Sept. 2; thereafter $395) includes priority reservations for major studio films and Leonard Maltin’s Celebrity Tribute Dinner. The Film Buff pass ($145 through Sept. 2; $195 thereafter) includes access to all films, panels, workshops, parties and culinary cinema.

Both passes include an Opening Night screening and the opening night “Taste of the Festival” party hosted by Event Title Sponsor, CalPrivate Bank. Day passes will be available closer to the festival date and rush tickets will be available for single screenings or panels on a space-available basis.

Since its 2016 launch, Coronado Island Film Festival has screened a blend of notable independent films alongside Oscar-nominated features, making their San Diego County premieres. The festival’s 2018 Opening Night film was Green Book, which won the 2019 Academy Award for Best Picture. And two festival 2018 films, Roma and The Favourite, tied for the most 2019 Oscar nominations (ten each).

The Festival’s new Executive Director Merridee Book noted that the caliber of Coronado Island Film Festival’s past film lineups, industry panels and its jury of industry professionals have helped establish a reputation of excellence for the festival among the film industry.

“Coronado’s history with film goes back more than a century,” said Book. “With its perfect weather and beachfront location just two hours south of Hollywood, it’s no wonder that the movie industry, then and now, makes a beeline for Coronado.”

The festival’s Presenting Sponsor is Hotel del Coronado, and the signature event, the Leonard Maltin Celebrity Tribute, will again take place in the hotel’s iconic Crown Room. At that venue, attendees will enjoy a lively champagne reception and plated dinner, followed by Maltin’s intimate interviews with this year’s Celebrity Honorees, including actors, directors, screenwriters and cinematographers.

The jury, headed by Maltin, includes Academy Award-nominated producer Lisa Bruce (Darkest Hour; The Theory of Everything) head juror, narrative film; Jim Gallagher, Executive Vice President, Marketing, Animation and Family at Warner Bros. Entertainment head juror for shorts, and Claudia Puig, president of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, head juror for documentaries.

The full juries, and many of the filmmakers, will be in attendance at the festival, said Book, and all festival-goers can easily meet and mingle with them throughout the four days.

For more information or to purchase passes, visit the Coronado Island Film Festival website at coronadoislandfilmfestival.com.

About Coronado Island Film Festival

The Coronado Island Film Festival is a 501©3 tax-exempt corporation created in 2016 as a celebration for cinematic art in a world-class destination. The four-day festival offers a slate of more than 80 films, compelling panels, lively workshops, and parties. It is a cinema-by-the-seaside experience in the village of Coronado.