Slamdance Festival Reveals 2026 Lineup, Its Second in Los Angeles

"Happening in person from February 19 to 25 (with a virtual component extending through March 6 on the Slamdance Channel), the 32nd edition will showcase 141 films from more than 50 countries. More than two dozen of those titles will premiere at the festival, which aims to continue the event's long-standing mission of unexpected discovery. All narrative and documentary features in competition are directorial debuts, made for under $1 million, and currently without U.S. distribution."

"This year's program was selected from roughly 10,000 submissions, with 28 percent coming from filmmakers in the Los Angeles area. Slamdance co-founder Peter Baxter framed the lineup as a response to this particularly fraught present moment. It's also an essential buoy for the SoCal city. "At a time when our industry is facing real uncertainty, Slamdance remains deeply committed to supporting filmmakers and bringing our community together," he said, emphasizing the essential importance of low-cost opportunity and meaningful artistic dialogue."

"Despite headwinds facing DEI initiatives nationwide, the festival's commitment to a diverse future is still reflected in the numbers. Half of the selected films were directed by female, trans, and nonbinary filmmakers, and 41.4 percent come from BIPOC creators. Nearly 10 percent of the lineup is made by artists with visible and non-visible disabilities, as anchored by the sixth annual Unstoppable program. The program offers four features and 13 shorts from around the world, chosen because they "challenge stereotypes and explore unique narratives.""

Slamdance returns to Los Angeles with an in-person festival February 19–25 and a virtual component through March 6 on the Slamdance Channel. The 32nd edition will showcase 141 films from over 50 countries, with more than two dozen world premieres. All narrative and documentary features in competition are directorial debuts, made for under $1 million, and currently lack U.S. distribution. The program was selected from roughly 10,000 submissions, 28 percent of which came from Los Angeles filmmakers. Slamdance emphasizes low-cost opportunity, artistic dialogue, and support for filmmakers amid industry uncertainty. The lineup reflects strong diversity and includes the sixth annual Unstoppable program and a Made in L.A. section spotlighting 41 local productions.

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