The Carpinteria Film Festival debuts this weekend, scheduled for Sept. 5–7 at The Alcazar Theatre. Three days of short films, guest performances and featured films are on the docket, organizer Michael Lazaro told Coastal View News. “Short films on our one screen with one anchor film per evening is our direction for this year,” Lazaro said.
This weekend is a culmination of over a decade of work; before Carpinteria could welcome its first film festival, its beloved theater needed a refresh, Lazaro said.
“Before we could even get to the place to jury a film, we wanted to make sure we had the equipment and sound to accommodate that and invite people into a comfortable place where our projector worked and our sound system was worth the effort that these filmmakers put into it,” Lazaro said.
Over the past few years, the theater staff and volunteers have worked to replace the sound system, the projector and other decorations. “Now the vision matches the infrastructure,” Lazaro said. “(…) New rugs, new vibe — it’s not your old Alcazar Theatre.”
Film festival organizers received close to 50 submissions, which they whittled down to short and feature films that would cater to local audiences. They didn’t want to compete with Santa Barbara or other film festivals; they wanted to make the festival have that “Carp style.”
“The vision was never to try and compete with Santa Barbara or other film festivals that use full length films,” Lazaro said. “(…) We’re not trying to be pretentious, we’re not trying to be more than we are. We want to learn and build for people to enjoy for years.”
He said it has been exciting to see how many people stepped up to help and collaborate on the festival. “The future of Carpinteria and Carpinteria arts is collaboration,” he added.
Tickets are $45 per day for VIP, which includes preferred seating and one free drink, and $25 per day for reserved seating. If purchasing online, locals can use the code filmfan for $5 off. A select number of tickets will be available for purchase at the door.
The theater is located at 4916 Carpinteria Ave. Learn more at thealcazar.org.
DAY ONE: Friday, Sept. 5, 4–9 p.m.
Friday will open up the festival with eight short films, a musical performance by Burleigh Skidmore, and one featured film: “Eternal Stoke: The Chris Brown Legacy.” A Q&A session will follow.
Director Elsha Narachi’s “Dust & Duct Tape” (2023, action, rated PG-13, runtime 30 minutes) tells the tale of three bank robbers who plot to blow up the local bank and run off with the money.
“Greetings from Summerland: Birthplace of Offshore Oil” (2024, documentary, rated G, runtime 21 minutes and two seconds) explores the history and environmental aftermath of the offshore oil wells in Summerland. Directed by Harry Rabin and Joey Szalkiewicz, the documentary dives into the wells’ local and global repercussions and urges the community to keep the planet’s resources safe.
“MY WORLD” (2025, family, rated G, runtime 90 seconds) directed by Jorrit Van Der Kooi tells the story of a little girl whose drawing inspires strangers to connect. The short film won first prize at the Illuminate Film Festival in May of this year.
Van Der Kooi is also showing “Ollie’s Little Adventure” (2025, family, rated G, runtime 90 seconds). “Olie’s Little Adventure” centers on a little girl who loses her beloved teddy bear on the beach, and those who help the pair be reunited. The short film was nominated for an award at the Show Low Film Festival, which is scheduled for October 2025.
“Voces de Old Town Carpinteria” (2023, documentary, rated G, runtime 14 minutes) tells the stories of former Aliso Elementary School students — now in their 80s, 90s and 100s — who attended the school between 1920 and 1947 while it was segregated, designated “for Mexicans only.” Carpinteria historian Dr. Jim Campos dives into Carpinteria’s dark period in this documentary directed and produced by Leslie Westbrook, with Brent Winebrenner as cinematographer and editor. It has been shown at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, SLO Film Fest, and the Snake Alley Festival of Film in Burlington, Iowa.
Director Roberto Valera follows artist Dan Levin around Santa Barbara as LeVin discusses his evolution, process and values in “Objects of Curiosity — The Art of Dan LeVin” (2025, documentary, not rated, runtime 14 minutes and 34 seconds). The short film also appeared at the World Premier Santa Barbara International Film Festival 2025.
“Fade” (2025, horror, rated PG-13, runtime two minutes, 41 seconds) directed by Sam Flegal centers on a man who is hiding from something waiting for him in the dark. The short film won Best Cinematography at the Amor Film Festival in Santa Monica this year.
“All Things Metal” (2024, documentary, rated G, runtime 18 minutes) follows the true story of three blacksmith brothers — the Pattersons — into the world of metal craft, brotherhood and artistry. The short documentary is directed by Motoki Otsuka and produced by Lucy Sexton. It was on the DOC NYC Short List in 2024 and won the Best Short Documentary Award at the Fredericksburg Film Festival in 2025.
Friday’s featured film, “Eternal Stoke — The Chris Brown Legacy” (2025, documentary, rated G, runtime 60 minutes) is the story of Santa Barbara’s Chris Brown, a world-class surfer who made his mark on the surfing world.
The documentary includes rare footage and personal memories, according to the theater’s website. Organizer Lazaro said Brown’s story is epic, calling Brown “a big wave surfer with a heart of gold.”
Crew members include writer, director, editor and producer Josh Pomer, with Chris Brown, Kelly Slater, and Josh Bradbury making appearances as themselves.
DAY TWO: Saturday, Sept. 6, 4–9 p.m.
The Alcazar Theatre will show 12 short films and one feature film, “This Surfing Life: Big Wave Guardians” on Saturday. A Q&A session will follow the film.
“Kidnappin’ Sitch” (2025, action, rated PG-13, runtime two minutes, 58 seconds) is full of dreams and schemes. Directed by Giselle Vazquez-Ramirez, this short film follows a fame-hungry assistant who kidnaps a pop star, only to find himself the true hostage of the story.
Directed by Jaime Andrade Jr., “Golf N Stuff: a Whole in One History” (2025, documentary, rated PG, runtime eight minutes, 31 seconds) digs into the history of Golf N Stuff, a Ventura County amusement park that has been open since the 1970s.
“Bike Short” (2024, comedy, not rated, runtime nine minutes, 30 seconds) directed by Kevin McDevitt is a comedic take on real-life theft. After a mountain biker steals another’s lucky bike shorts, a chase begins. The short has received more than a dozen awards or nominations, including Best Local Filmmaker at the 2024 Santa Barbara Indie Film Fest.
Larry Nimmer’s “Dance for Peace 2025” (2025, comedy, rated PG, runtime four minutes, 25 seconds) focuses on Nimmer’s annual dance for peace. Nimmer has danced from Carpinteria to Santa Barbara for the last 20 years, using multiple costume changes to make a point: why can’t we all just get along?
“People Watching” (2025, comedy, rated PG-13, runtime 11 minutes, four seconds) centers on Lucy, a newcomer to a small beach town who soon finds herself in the middle of ruthless gossip and the consequences that follow. “People Watching” was created by Lindsay Maxoutopoulis and directed by Malia Yim and Noah Nim. It was the winner of the Santa Barbara Screenplay Awards Diverse Writers Outreach, an official selection at the LA International Film Festival, a semi-finalist at the Santa Barbara International Screenplay Awards and an honorable mention for the Los Angeles Short Film Award.
“Twice Lost” (2024, drama, rated PG, runtime 23 minutes, four seconds) is the story of Trevor, a man who ends an affair, determined to fix his marriage. Directed by Sam Szpor, this drama has been the finalist or semi-finalist at three other film festivals, including the Indie Short Fest, the Brooklyn International Film Festival and the Independent Short Awards.
Directed by Michael Bagdasarian, “The Bill” (2024, comedy, rated PG-13, runtime four minutes) is about a standoff between two friends over who gets the honor of paying for the bill. It won at the Santa Barbara Indie Film Festival, the Denver Movie Awards and the Hollywood International Golden Age, and took home a nomination at the Art Film Spirit Awards.
“The Bees & The Birds” (2025, documentary, rated G, runtime 11 minutes, 42 seconds) captures an environmental crisis through the story of one community garden. It is directed by Olly Johnson.
“Scavenger” (2023, science fiction, rated PG-13, runtime ten minutes) is directed by Sheena Kay Rock. Rock’s film focuses on Earth in the aftermath of a virus, and one man’s quest to repair his daughter’s music box.
In “Overheard in Manhattan” (2025, documentary, rated PG-13, runtime eight minutes, 14 seconds), people talked and talked, and director Sue Perry overheard, transcribed, and turned the thoughts of the people of Manhattan into a film.
“Fish for the Future” (2025, documentary, not rated, runtime five minutes, two seconds,) follows Rosi Dagit, a principal conservation biologist, who finds herself working to rescue steelhead fish after the Palisades Fire hits Los Angeles. This documentary, directed by Matthew Benton, was selected for the Dana Point Film Festival 2025 and the Fish Water People Film Festival 2025, and won Best Overall Film at the Patagonia Film Festival 2025.
Several directors —Tatum Davis, Taylor Ortiz, Natalie Aymond and Jack Phillips — created “The Kelp We Breathe” (2024, documentary, rated G, runtime 15 minutes). The documentary centers on the culture of kelp, from the eyes of three artists. It is a 2025 Santa Barbara International Film Festival selection and a 2025 San Pedro International Film Festival selection.
Saturday night’s featured film is “This Surfing Life: Big Wave Guardians” (2022, documentary, rated PG, runtime 91 minutes). Directed by Luke Stirtz, the film follows those who work to save others in some of the world’s most dangerous waves.
Eight short films are on Sunday’s agenda, followed by the featured film, “David Crosby: Remember My Name” and a Q&A. Local musician Jackson Gillies is also set to perform on Sunday before the featured film.
“100 Years of Unity SB” (2025, documentary, rated G, runtime seven minutes, 55 seconds) centers on Harriet Coolidge, the founder of Unity of Santa Barbara. It is directed by Bent Myggen, who also worked as the writer, researcher, interviewer, producer, editor, composer, special effects editor and arranger.
DAY THREE: Sunday, Sept. 7, 3–8:30 p.m.
Duffy Hecht’s “Shopping Cart People” (2022, documentary, rated PG, runtime nineteen minutes, 55 seconds) captures the lives of homeless community members, through their own words and through their advocates. It won several awards between 2022 and 2023.
“Book Club and Tarot Cards” (2022, thriller, rated PG-13, runtime fourteen minutes and one second) directed by Lea Roman follows the tale of Rachel and Sophia, whose canceled book club plans turn into something more sinister.
Short film “Monstrare Commercial ‘Delusionist Spirits’” (2025, experimental, rated PG-13, runtime one minute and 52 seconds), directed by Alexis Ayala, follows two detectives whose lives are changed by Delusionist Spirits bottles.
“Monstrare Episode One ‘Curse of the Mona Lisa’” (2024, experimental, rated PG-13, runtime sixteen minutes and 50 seconds) follows detective Sera Monstrare and her partner, Diego, who help an Old Lady who has been tricked. It is directed by Rogelio Lara.
Lara is also showing “Monstrare Episode Two ‘The Last Regret’” (2024, experimental, rated PG-13, runtime twenty-two minutes, 49 seconds). “The Last Regret” again follows the detectives, who go back in time to help a man follow his dreams.
“Ventura Nights” (2024, documentary, rated PG, runtime 20 minutes) captures the Ventura raceway and fairgrounds after the 2019 season. The documentary, directed by Ryan Murphy, has won several awards.
“First Love” (2012, romance, rated PG, runtime 14 minutes) directed by Joseph Lopez asks an age-old question: can soul mates stay together despite peer pressure?
Sunday’s feature film, “David Crosby: Remember My Name” (2019, documentary, rated R, runtime 95 minutes) centers on music icon David Crosby, who reflects on his career, his passion for music, and a darker side of his life. Directed by A.J. Eaton, it premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, received a Grammy nomination for Best Music Film and took home four Critics’ Choice Awards nominations.