The Mammoth Lakes Film Festival has announced the lineup for its 12th annual edition, set to run May 20–24, 2026 in Mammoth Lakes. This year’s program brings together a mix of world, international, U.S., and West Coast premieres, continuing the festival’s focus on emerging voices and independent storytelling.
Opening Night Recognition
Academy Award® winner Marlee Matlin will be honored with the Sierra Spirit Award during opening night, alongside a 40th anniversary screening of Children of a Lesser God. The screening will be followed by a moderated conversation reflecting on Matlin’s career and contributions to film and television, including her work in CODA.
Festival Director Shira Dubrovner highlighted Matlin’s impact, noting her career has helped expand representation and storytelling possibilities within the industry.
Closing Night Selection
The festival will close with Nuisance Bear, recipient of the Sundance Grand Jury Prize for U.S. Documentary. Directed by Jack Weisman and Gabriela Osio Vanden, the film will be followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers.
MLFF 2026 Full Festival Lineup
MLFF 2026 Feature Film Program
The 2026 lineup includes a range of narrative features from North America and international filmmakers. Titles in the North American section include “Danny Is My Boyfriend,” “Mono 222,” “Ten Will,” and “Toronto Apartment,” while international selections feature films such as “Dreaming of Lions,” “Memory of Princess Mumbi,” “Noir,” “Spring Came on Laughing,” and “Tony Odyssey.”
Together, the films reflect a range of genres, styles, and thematic approaches, from character-driven stories to more experimental and stylized work.
Documentary Highlights
The documentary program includes “I Got Bombed at Harvey’s,” “The Moths & The Flame,” “Sugarfly,” and “Welded Together,” in addition to the closing night selection “Nuisance Bear.” The films span historical events, observational storytelling, and personal narratives, offering a broad cross-section of nonfiction filmmaking.
Spotlight Presentations and Additional Programming
This year’s Spotlight section features several titles, including “Inborn,” “Mountains of the Moon,” and “One in a Million,” the latter of which previously screened at Sundance.
Beyond feature films, the festival will present a short film program with 32 narrative shorts, 15 documentary shorts, and 16 animated films, along with music videos and a screenplay competition.
More than $40,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded across eleven categories, with winners announced at the festival’s awards ceremony on May 24. The jury includes industry professionals from outlets and organizations such as RogerEbert.com, Variety, and IndieWire.
Final Take
Now in its 12th year, the Mammoth Lakes Film Festival continues to build its identity as a platform for independent cinema, with an emphasis on emerging filmmakers and a wide range of storytelling approaches.
Director of Programming Paul Sbrizzi acknowledged the broader context shaping this year’s lineup, noting, “Even as our country and the world move through a dark time of violence and political upheavals, the steady stream of fascinating, personal, innovative expression in film endures. We are committed to finding the cream of the crop, evaluating each film on its own merits and bringing together a community of inspired, inspiring, visionary filmmakers.”
The 2026 program reflects that perspective, bringing together a range of voices and styles within a focused, multi-day event that continues to evolve with each edition.
