Santa Cruz Aims to Revive Its Filmmaking Legacy

The Santa Cruz Film Festival is leading the charge to make the city a hub for movie production once again.

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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Santa Cruz County was once a popular filming location for early Hollywood luminaries like Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford, and Alfred Hitchcock. After a brief hiatus, the Santa Cruz Film Festival is working to revive the city's filmmaking legacy. Under new leadership, the festival has seen a surge in submissions and attendance, and is partnering with local organizations to promote film production in the region.

Why it matters

Recapturing Santa Cruz's status as a filmmaking hub could have a significant economic impact on the region through increased tourism and production activity. The film festival is seen as a creative catalyst that can help strengthen the community of Central Coast filmmakers and incentivize more film and television production in the area.

The details

The Santa Cruz Film Festival went on hiatus in 2022 to reassess its path forward, but under new leadership from executive director Paul Kmiec, the festival has seen a 125% increase in submissions and several sold-out screenings. The festival is also collaborating with local organizations like the Dante Alighieri Society and the Museum of Art & History to host events and screenings. Additionally, the festival has created the Central Coast Film Alliance, a collaborative effort with the Watsonville Film Festival and Poppy Jasper Film Festival to share resources and promote filmmaking in the region.

  • The Santa Cruz Film Festival had a brief comeback in 2022 after being closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • In 2024, Paul Kmiec took over as executive director and revived the festival, leading to a 125% increase in submissions.
  • The festival is hosting an 'Evening with Boots Riley' event in May 2026, in partnership with UCSC's Film and Media Arts Department and the Museum of Art & History.

The players

Paul Kmiec

The executive director of the Santa Cruz Film Festival, who took over in 2024 and has helped revive the festival with a surge in submissions and attendance.

Consuelo Alba

The executive director of the Watsonville Film Festival, who believes expanding the community of Central Coast filmmakers could have a significant impact on the region.

Bella Babot

The vice president of the Santa Cruz Film Festival board, who envisions creating an endowment to sustain the festival's unique mission of preserving, celebrating, and expanding the region's cultural identity through film.

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What they’re saying

“Film is the one artform that combines all other artistic practices and disciplines. With film, you teach writing, public speaking, financial literacy and graphic design — all motivated by an inherently collaborative endeavor through a holistic educational platform.”

— Paul Kmiec, Executive Director, Santa Cruz Film Festival (Santa Cruz Sentinel)

“Picture the effect on tourism and the region's economy. Film festivals are creative catalysts; together, we will have a bigger impact.”

— Consuelo Alba, Executive Director, Watsonville Film Festival (Santa Cruz Sentinel)

What’s next

The Santa Cruz Film Festival is planning to host an 'Evening with Boots Riley' event in May 2026, featuring a screening of the director's work, a Q&A, and an after-party at the Museum of Art & History.

The takeaway

The revitalization of the Santa Cruz Film Festival, coupled with the creation of the Central Coast Film Alliance, demonstrates a renewed commitment to reclaiming the region's legacy as a filmmaking hub. By fostering collaboration, education, and community engagement, the festival aims to attract more film and television production to the area, boosting the local economy and preserving the cultural identity of Santa Cruz.