News release
The Santa Clarita International Film Festival is scheduled to return for its fifth year Dec. 11-14, bringing with it a lineup of independent films, panels, musical performances, a visual arts gallery featuring Texas-based artists, and an energetic comedy festival, the organizers announced in a news release.
Set to be the largest and most globally connected edition yet, SCIFF 2025 underscores its renewed commitment to the “international” spirit of the festival, the release said.
The Republic of the Philippines has been selected as the festival’s first international featured nation — an acknowledgment of both the country’s rich creative legacy and the vibrant Filipino community within Santa Clarita, the release said.
“I am excited to have selected and welcome the Republic of the Philippines and look forward to seeing their national artists and presentations at this year’s event,” Lisa deSouza, SCIFF founder and executive director, said in the release. “We are announcing our international program and are excited to have the Republic of the Philippines as our first international featured host country, and we are committed to promoting film eco-tourism as we showcase our city to our global visitors.”
Local community leaders are also celebrating the announcement, recognizing the cultural significance and representation this brings to Santa Clarita.
“Santa Clarita’s Filipino community is one of warmth, resiliency and shared cultural pride,” Ronnie Tejada, president of the Fil-Am Association of SCV Inc., said in the release. “We continue to grow in number and in spirit, always finding ways to lift each other and contribute to the broader community. It’s an honor to showcase our heritage in spaces where our voices can be seen and heard.”
Tejada added that the Filipino community is especially excited about the festival’s opening night: “Having a Filipino-themed opening night for SCIFF 25 is a moment of deep pride for us. It celebrates not just our stories, but our artistry, talent and the generations who worked hard to build a home here. We’re grateful for the recognition and excited to share our culture with the entire valley.”
The festival includes events at several locations in Old Town Newhall, with the showcased film screenings taking place at the Laemmle theater, 22500 Lyons Ave.
Comedy Festival Added
SCIFF also announced the debut of its first-ever SCIFF Comedy Festival, a two-night celebration of stand-up comedy dedicated to giving comics meaningful stage time, professional development, and career-elevating opportunities, the release said.
Hosted and produced by stand-up comedian, actor and writer Lauren Caputo, the festival embraces the spirit of being run by comics, for comics, with top awards including a performance spot at the iconic Ice House Comedy Club.
“I have always wanted to build a festival for comics by comics,” Caputo said in the release. “SCIFF has always said that they were a festival for independent filmmakers created by independent filmmakers. It seemed to be a perfect fit. I wanted to give the participating comics what I would want in a festival.”
The comedy festival will take place over two evenings, Dec. 12 and 13, at American Legion Post 507 in Newhall during SCIFF 2025.
Global Art Component
SCIFF 2025 will also feature a curated global art collection from Houston-based Casas De Arte, which will be on display at the Santa Clarita Library’s Newhall branch.
Additionally, SCIFF will debut its inaugural “Painting on the Plaza” event, in partnership with the Santa Clarita Artists Association. The interactive, live art competition invites local artists to create a piece within three hours based on the theme, “International Arts in Santa Clarita.”
At the end of the timed session, submissions will be judged and one artist will be awarded SCIFF’s first-ever Visual Artist Award.
For more information about SCIFF, including event schedules and ticket information, go to www.sciff.org.
