OCTOBER 1-4 2026
CLOSING NIGHT
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JULIETTE LEWIS
PRESENTED BY THE WIRRIG FAMILY FOUNDATION
LIVE EVENT, IN-CONVERSATION
SUNDAY OCT 4 @ 7:30PM
The Foundry Theater at Antioch College
Join us for this intimate In-Conversation with one of the screen's most unparalleled performers, Juliette Lewis. Juliette has been a powerhouse of cinema starring in some of the most important films of her generation, delivering memorable and Oscar-Nominated performances for decades (Cape Fear, Natural Born Killers, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, Kalifornia, From Dusk til Dawn, Strange Days). She is also a fixture of the cast in the Showtime series Yellowjackets and stars in the new Cape Fear mini-series on Apple+. In addition to her acclaimed acting career, she is celebrated as the electrifying front woman of the high-energy punk band, Juliette and the Licks. BADGES NOT ACCEPTED
HANNIBAL BURESS
PRESENTED BY THE BERRY FAMILY FOUNDATION
LIVE EVENT, STAND-UP COMEDY
Directed by Tamra Davis
THURSDAY OCT 1 @ 5:00PM
The Foundry Theater at Antioch College
Hannibal Buress is a comedian, actor, writer, producer, and creative performer whose distinctive voice and understated delivery have made him one of the most recognizable figures in contemporary comedy. Emerging from Chicago's vibrant stand-up scene, Buress has built a career spanning stand-up, television, film, podcasting, and live performance. As a stand-up comedian, Buress has released several acclaimed specials, including Animal Furnace, Live from Chicago, Comedy Camisado, and Miami Nights, earning praise for his dry wit, inventive storytelling, and observational humor. His television writing credits include Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock, while his acting work has featured memorable performances in Neighbors, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Tag, and the critically acclaimed series Broad City.
BADGES NOT ACCEPTED
KICK-OFF PARTY
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OPENING NIGHT
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STEALING MAGIC
+ Q & A AND PERFORMANCES BY ANDI GLADWIN & DAVID WILLIAMSON
PRESENTED BY O.P. HEGGIE AND FAMILY
DOCUMENTARY | 88 Minutes
Directed by MATTHEW TESTA
THURSDAY OCT 1 @ 8:00PM
The Foundry Theater at Antioch College
Magician Andi Gladwin becomes an unlikely citizen detective when he discovers someone is stealing the world’s magic tricks and selling them on illicit websites. In this international caper, he goes to incredible lengths to track down the culprits, sending an avocational spy on a journey around the globe and down the rabbit hole of potential espionage; a formula for danger and humor. Buckle up for this true crime international caper, filled with unassuming spy tactics, blackmail, cyberattacks and of course… MAGIC. World Premiere Tribeca FF 2026.
Q&A AND PERFORMANCES WITH MAGICIANS ANDI GLADWIN AND DAVID WILLIAMSSON TO FOLLOW.
BADGES ACCEPTED.
SPECIAL EVENTS/
THE BEST SUMMER
+ Q & A WITH DIRECTOR TAMRA DAVIS
PRESENTED BY THE WIRRIG FAMILY FOUNDATION
DOCUMENTARY | 83 Minutes
Directed by Tamra Davis
SATURDAY OCT 3 @ 8:30PM
The Foundry Theater at Antioch College
A found footage documentary from Director Tamra Davis (CB4, Billy Madison, Half Baked) takes place during a a concert tour in 1995 that features live performances, candid interviews and a behind the scene view of what it's like to be on tour with the Beastie Boys, Sonic Youth, Foo Fighters, Beck, Pavement, Rancid, The Amps and Bikini Kill.
Q&A WITH DIRECTOR TAMRA DAVIS TO FOLLOW
BADGES ACCEPTED
YOU BELONG HERE
+ Q & A WITH STEVE ZAHN
& CHEF OUITA MICHEL
PRESENTED BY MAUREEN LYNCH
& RICHARD LAPEDES
DOCUSERIES | 27 Minutes
Directed by Rick Gomez
FRIDAY OCT 2 @ 4:30PM
The Foundry Theater at Antioch College
You Belong Here is an unreleased new cooking show Produced by actor Steve Zahn (That Thing You Do!, Dallas Buyers Club, The White Lotus) and starring food activist and six-time James Beard Award finalist, Chef Ouita Michel. The show follows Michel as she delves into universal human themes while celebrating the food, people and places that are fundamental ingredients of her community. After the screening Chef Michel and Steve Zahn will take the stage for a live Q&A to discuss their journey on the project. Guests will also have the opportunity to sample small bites showcased in the episode.
Q&A WITH STEVE ZAHN & CHEF OUITA MICHEL TO FOLLOW. BADGES ACCEPTED.
NEBRASKA LIVE
+ Q & A WITH DIRECTOR THOM ZIMNY
PRESENTED BY ABIGAIL AND LARRY TRITTSCHUH
CONCERT FILM | 45 Minutes
Directed by Thom Zimny
FRIDAY OCT 2 @ 8:00PM
The Foundry Theater at Antioch College
Experience one of Bruce Springsteen's most intimate and stunning works on the big screen, a live performance of Nebraska. Shot in a stark black-and-white soundstage, Bruce Springsteen delivers this powerful solo performance of his 1982 album.
We will also be joined by Emmy Award-winning Director and Bruce Springsteen’s longtime filmmaking collaborator, Thom Zimny, whose acclaimed documentaries and concert films have explored the lives and work of some of world’s most influential artists (Elvis, Johnny Cash, Sylvester Stallone).
Q&A WITH DIRECTOR TH0M ZIMNY TO FOLLOW. BADGES ACCEPTED.
FILMS/
Striking Narratives
Their Town
Drama, Comedy | 80 Minutes
Directed by Katie Aselton
FRIDAY OCTOBER 2 @ 12:30PM
The Foundry Theater
Abby and Matt, high schoolers from opposite ends of the social spectrum but paired as leads in the school play, spend one long night roaming their town, confronting uncertain futures and unearthing surprises from their past. Written by Mark Duplass (Backrooms, The Morning show) and set against a charming New England backdrop, this disarming drama is a lovely coming-of-age story that explores one of cinema’s enduring topics: the pursuit of identity in our young years. BADGES ACCEPTED
The Long Haul
Drama | 91 Minutes | Directed by David Drake
SATURDAY OCTOBER 3 @ 11:30AM
The Foundry Theater
Three-time Emmy winner Margo Martindale is CJ, a long-haul trucker who’s been running from a dark truth for decades. When long-buried demons reemerge, the road she's lived on can no longer keep the past at bay. With an extraordinary cast that includes Stephen Root, Cole Sprouse and Yalitza Aparicio, The Long Haul brings an eye to the low light and long silences of working-class America. BADGES ACCEPTED
One Woman, One Bra
Drama, Foreign | 79 Minutes
Directed by Vincho Nchogu
SUNDAY OCTOBER 4 @ 1:00PM
Little Art Theatre
After spotting her childhood photo on the cover of a book, Star (Sarah Karei) seeks to learn about her past. Set in a pastoral Kenyan village, Star’s battle for her identity puts her at odds with her community. Anchored by powerful performances and masterful cinematography, this film explores themes of belonging and identity through the eyes of a woman navigating a rigid social order. As Star fights for her home and dignity, moments of levity are woven throughout her journey, offering hope amid life's harshest challenges. BADGES ACCEPTED
Documentaries That Matter
Crime & Parody
Presented by WYSO
Documentary | 87 Minutes
Directed by Will Thwaites
SATURDAY OCTOBER 3 @ 5:00PM
The Foundry Theater
Crime & Parody opens with the story of Anthony Novak, an amateur comedian who creates a parody Facebook page mocking his local police department. The page is satire, but the police take it very seriously. They raid Anthony’s home with guns drawn, throw him in the county jail, and charge him with a felony punishable by up to 18 months in prison. In the years that follow, Anthony fights in court to defend his First Amendment right to criticize the government. With support from The Onion, his case is appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, just as debates around free speech and political expression are reaching a boiling point in America. Q&A with Director Will Thwaites. BADGES ACCEPTED
Black Zombiefds
Documentary | 90 Minutes
Directed by Maya Annik Bedward
FRIDAY OCTOBER 2 @ 3:30PM
Little Art Theatre
Black Zombie digs beneath the blood-soaked spectacle of modern horror to uncover the zombie’s buried origins. Born from enslavement, spiritual belief, and resistance, it first emerged in Haiti before becoming one of pop culture’s most profitable monsters. The film traces its evolution from the cane fields of colonial Haiti to White Zombie, Night of the Living Dead and The Serpent and the Rainbow. Part cultural reckoning, part horror remix, Black Zombie is a bold reexamination of one of horror’s most iconic figures. BADGES ACCEPTED
Soul Patrol
Documentary | 100 Minutes
Directed by J.M. Harper
SATURDAY OCTOBER 3 @ 5:30PM
LIttle Art Theatre
Soul Patrol uncovers a hidden chapter of American military history, following the men of Company F, 51st Infantry, an elite Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol unit operating deep behind enemy lines. With unprecedented access to this once-secretive group of African-American veterans, director J.M. Harper reconstructs their journey with an immediacy rarely seen in Vietnam War storytelling. As the men reflect on their experiences, the film interrogates the contradictions of fighting for freedom abroad while facing inequality at home. Soul Patrol is not just a war story, but a reckoning – an intimate portrait of survival, memory, and the enduring cost of war on those asked to fight it. BADGES ACCEPTED
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The Lake
Presented by Village Solar Co.
Documentary | 88 Minutes
Directed by Abby Ellis
SUNDAY OCTOBER 4 @ 10:30AM
LIttle Art Theatre
Winner of the U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, The Lake is a raw documentary that follows three individuals fighting to save a dying lake. They see what’s coming -poisoned air, a collapsing ecosystem, a community on the brink—and they throw themselves into the everyday, often mundane work of trying to stop it. As they push against bureaucracy, apathy, and the ticking clock of a crisis decades in the making, something eerie and heartbreaking lingers at the edges: the dust rising in the background, a reminder of what will be lost if they fail. Produced by Leonardo DiCaprio, this film is a reckoning with our choices and our systems, but also a testament to the possibility of redemption. BADGES ACCEPTED
Admission Possible
Presented by Shelly Blackman & Plumtree Realty
Documentary | 93 Minutes
Directed by Matthew Syrett and Bowie Alexander
SUNDAY OCTOBER 4 @ 12:30PM
The Foundry Theater
Admission Possible follows first-generation college applicants from a New York City public high school as they fight for access to higher education in a rapidly changing admissions landscape. Guiding them is Bill Short, a Mount Washington resident known in the Berkshires for The Short List, his college counseling organization on Main Street in Great Barrington. Intimate, urgent, and hopeful, the film moves from classrooms and homes to campus visits and application deadlines, revealing the personal stakes behind a national issue — and the transformative power of one committed mentor to help students imagine futures once thought impossible. Q&A with Director Matthew Syrett and Executive Producer Cynthia Wade. BADGES ACCEPTED
Oldest Person
in the Worlds
Documentary | 87 Minutes | Directed by Sam Green
SUNDAY OCTOBER 4 @ 12:30PM
Little Art Theatre
The Oldest Person in the World is a decade-long odyssey chronicling the ever-changing record holders of the title of oldest person alive. As the title inevitably passes from one supercentenarian to the next, acclaimed filmmaker Sam Green traverses the globe to meet each new record holder, his personal fascination with what the title means becoming entangled with events and milestones in his own life. What begins as a portrait of longevity becomes a poignant meditation on the passage of time,the randomness of fate and the joy and profound human experience of being alive. BADGES ACCEPTED
Big Stories, Short Films
Short Films Program
Documentary, Narrative | 95 Minutes
SATURDAY OCTOBER 3 @ 8:30PM
Little Art Theatre
The 2026 YSFF Shorts Program exhibits bold new voices as well as an acclaimed Oscar-winning filmmaker, showcasing an unforgettable lineup that surprises, challenges, and inspires. La Esperanza (Directed by Javier Cruz-Ginez), Keep My Brother (Directed by Sharona D’Ornellas), The Boys and the Bees (Directed by Arielle Knight), HOLO (Directed by Alexander Hernandez-Maxwell), This is the House: If I Don’t See You I Love You (Directed by Claudia Owusu), Panther Pat (Directed by Ashley Brandon) and Sandiwara (Driected by Sean Baker). Q&A with Directors Javier Cruz-Ginez, Sharona D’Ornellas, Arielle Knight, Alexander Hernandez-Maxwell and Claudia Owusu. BADGES ACCEPTED
Julia Reichert Award
Who Moves America
Presented by PNC Bank
Documentary Screening, Award Ceremony
87 Minutes | Directed by Yael Bridge
SATURDAY OCTOBER 3 @ 2:30PM
Little Art Theatre
In an era of deepening inequality, UPS Teamsters stand on the brink of a historic strike. As the deadline looms, Who Moves America shadows UPS workers across the country as they navigate the challenges of building solidarity with their 340,000 co-workers. Q&A with Director / Producer Yael Bridge, Producer Yoni Golijov, D.P. / Co-Producer Erick Stoll and Executive Producer Steven Bognar.
Who Moves America embodies the creativity and enduring influence of Oscar Award Winning Director and Yellow Springs’ own Julia Reichert and was created by many of her longtime collaborators.
Each year YSFF celebrates Julia’s legacy by providing a cash award to an emerging female documentarian. This year, through a generous donation from PNC Bank, Arielle Knight will be given $3,000 to help bring her film, Blink Twice to life. BADGES ACCEPTED
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Sound In Motion
Noga
Music Documentary | 95 Minutes
Directed by Jono Bergmann & Benji Bergmann
SATURDAY OCTOBER 3 @ 11:30AM
Little Art Theatre
Fearless alternative pop singer Noga Erez has been praised by Billie Eilish, collaborated with Missy Elliott, and opened for Florence + the Machine at Madison Square Garden. While on the brink of superstardom with a unique, captivating sound and a major studio album on the way, war erupts back home. Cracks in her romantic relationship also become difficult to navigate, as Noga must redefine her role as an artist on a global stage. BADGES ACCEPTED
Resynator
Presented by Ohio Goes to the Movies
Music Documentary | 79 Minutes
Directed by Alison Tavel
SUNDAY OCTOBER 4 @ 3:15PM
The Foundry Theater
Alison is surrounded by mythical stories of her “genius’ inventor father who died when she was only 10 weeks old, leaving her absent from any connection to him. However, when Alison finds her dad’s old synthesizer prototype, it sparks a quest to forge a posthumous relationship.
She starts a resurrection project that turns into an insatiable globe-trotting quest. Aided by estranged family, lost friends, fellow inventors and celebrated musicians (Peter Gabriel, Fred Armisen, Grace Potter, Gotye and more), Alison unlocks secrets and complex truths -through which a father/daughter bond is finally born. Q&A with Director Alison Tavel. FREE
YSFF SOUNDSTAGE at WYSO
Erika Wennerstrom
Live Music, Solo Performance
SATURDAY OCTOBER 3 @ 3:00PM
WYSO
Erika Wennerstrom is best known as the lead singer and songwriter of Heartless Bastards. She’s spent the past 2 decades touring with her band, Heartless Bastards, and pushing their unique brand of rock ‘n’ roll into new shapes over 7 acclaimed albums. They’ve performed on Kimmel, Letterman, Austin City Limits, major music festivals, and garnered over 200 million streams. BADGES ACCEPTED
Beneath The Underground
Screening, In-Conversation
SUNDAY OCTOBER 4 @ 1:30PM
WYSO
Join us for a special rare screening of Ian’s variety show, an episode of Beneath the Underground where he hosts live musical performances with Weyes Blood and more.
Ian Svenonius is an American musician, artist, author, and filmmaker whose singular career has helped shape the sound and attitude of underground music. He first gained attention as the frontman of the influential punk group Nation of Ulysses, before forming the genre-defying Make-Up and later leading Weird War, Chain & the Gang, and Escape-ism. Q&A with Ian Svenonius. BADGES ACCEPTED.
Eli Janney
In-Conversation
SUNDAY OCTOBER 4 @ 11:30AM
WYSO
Join Emmy-nominated musician, composer and producer Eli Janney for an intimate conversation exploring his remarkable career at the intersection of music and culture. A founding member of the influential band Girls Against Boys, Eli toured alongside acts including Rage Against the Machine, Garbage, and Foo Fighters. His expansive career also includes composing acclaimed film scores, producing and mixing groundbreaking artists such as David Bowie, Wilco, Eddie Vedder, Brainiac and Jawbox and serving as music director and keyboardist for the 8G Band on Late Night with Seth Meyers. Janney has spent decades shaping the sound of independent music and YSFF offers a behind-the-scenes look at his creative process, artistic collaborations, and the evolving relationship between music, film and television. BADGES ACCEPTED.
Screenwriting Seminar
with John Keasey & Justin Macgregor
Educational Seminar
SATURDAY OCTOBER 3 @ 11:30AM
WYSO
The YSFF Soundstage at WYSO is thrilled to have seasoned screenwriters John Keasey (Tow, 2025) and Justin Mac Gregor (Head of the School of Creative Arts, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland) host our free educational seminar in 2026. The event will cover their recent projects and how to balance research as well as writing about true stories and will also include an audience Q&A. FREE
FESTIVAL CLASSICS
The Royal Tenenbaums
25th Anniversary Screening
COSTUME CONTEST, TRIVIA, PRIZES
Comedy, Drama | 110 Minutes
Directed by Wes Anderson
FRIDAY OCTOBER 2 @ 6:30PM
The Little Art Theatre
In this Wes Anderson masterpiece, The Royal Tenenbaums follows eccentric family patriarch Royal Tenenbaum (Gene Hackman), who fakes a terminal illness to re-enter the lives of his estranged wife (Angelica Houston) and three once-prodigy adult children. Chas (Ben Stiller), Margot (Gwenyth Paltrow) and Richie (Luke Wilson) all grapple with personal stagnation and family grievances. This star-studded cast also features incredible supporting performances from the likes of Danny Glover, Owen Wilson and Bill Murray who help make The Tenenbaums’ journey to reconciliation truly unforgettable. BADGES ACCEPTED
Blue Velvet
40th Anniversary Screening
Mystery, Thriller | 120 Minutes
Directed by David Lynch
SATURDAY OCTOBER 3 @ 2:00PM
The Foundry Theater
Visionary filmmaker David Lynch's Blue Velvet is a mesmerizing neo-noir that peels back the veneer of small-town America to reveal something far stranger and more unsettling beneath. When college student Jeffrey Beaumont returns to his quiet hometown, a chance discovery draws him into a hidden world of obsession, violence, and desire lurking beneath its idyllic surface.
Featuring incredibly memorable performances from Kyle MacLachlan, Isabella Rossellini, Dennis Hopper, and Laura Dern, the film remains a landmark of American cinema - an intoxicating, dreamlike exploration of darkness, beauty, and the fragile nature of innocence.
BADGES ACCEPTED
SCREENING ON SHORT STREET
The Twilight Zone
Presented by The Yellow Springs
Community Foundation
Selected Episodes Season 1 & 2
SATURDAY OCTOBER 3 @ 7:30PM - 10:30PM
Short Street - OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Each year YSFF hosts an outdoor marathon of The Twilight Zone to commemorate Rod Serling’s legacy and his connection to Yellow Springs and Antioch College.
The Twilight Zone is an American anthology series, primarily known for its science fiction, fantasy, and horror elements, often featuring unexpected twists and moral lessons. Each episode presents a standalone story with characters facing unusual or extraordinary circumstances. The series explores themes of war, social issues and the human condition, frequently with thought-provoking or even uplifting outcomes. FREE
FESTIVAL BADGE
YSFF 2026 OFFICIAL FILM BADGE (SOLD OUT)
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1 - SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4
This 4-day pass includes access to over 15 feature films (including Opening Night), 7 Special Events, Multiple Artist Q & A's, Our Shorts Program, After parties and more, at 3 different YSFF venues. Please read ALL rules and restrictions on Eventbrite ticket link.
