Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival is a bridge for independent non-fiction filmmakers from anywhere in the world to reach their audience. Since our beginning in 2007, each film programmed for SDFF is a signature of excellence in craft, character and storytelling. We are driven by an immense curiosity to learn and understand the lives of others, lives different from our own.
After two virtual years, we are all looking forward to celebrating our 15th gathering together in town around film, friends and food. SDFF 2022 will continue to offer streamed content: films, interviews, conversations and meet-ups. It was great fun to enable people from all over the world to participate and lifted everyone’s spirits.
Within its overall programming SDFF encourages Environmentalism, Journalism, Arts, LGBTQI+ and Social Justice topics.
SDFF is an Academy Award® qualifying festival for the Documentary Short Subject category.
Throughout our history we have programmed Oscar® nominees, Peabody and Pulitzer Prize recipients, Jury Award winners, premieres and audience favorites from the festival circuit. Over 90% of films programmed enter through this open Call for Entries.
SDFF has become known for programming work to a discerning audience that enjoys being challenged as well as entertained. Take some time to see if this is the Festival that fits your film. The documentary film community knows us. Ask around.
Sebastopol is in Sonoma County, California. On a good traffic day, we’re only an hour north of San Francisco. We are a mix of small-town folk, organic farmers, prize-winning vintners, musicians, environmentalists, old hippies and more artists per acre than we can count. We’re curious, engaged, opinionated and welcoming to all. Come join us in continuing the ageless tradition of storytelling circles.