San Francisco International Film Festival 2026 Line-Up Includes Boots Riley’s ‘I Love Boosters,’ ‘The Invite,’ ‘Late Fame’

SFFILM has announced the program for the 69th San Francisco International Film Festival, taking place April 24 through May 4.The lineup includes 79 programs from 40 countries, featuring performers such as Tilda Swinton, Dustin Hoffman, Paul Rudd, Jamie Lee Curtis, and more.The festival kicks off at the Castro Theatre with a screening of Kent Jones’ “Late Fame” starring Greta Lee and Willem Dafoe, with both actors set to make an appearance. The second feature is “The Invite,” directed by and starring Olivia Wilde, who will join the screening in person. Newly acquired by A24, the film also stars Seth Rogen, Penelope Cruz, and Edward Norton.The Centerpiece presentation is Boots Riley’s Neon-backed “I Love Boosters.” Starring Keke Palmer, the film will show at the historic Grand Lake Theatre. Riley, plus cast members Poppy Liu, Eiza González and LaKeith Stanfield are expected to join in person.The festival concludes with a sold-out screening of  “Star Wars: Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back,” featuring an onstage conversation between Anthony Daniels and SFFILM Board Vice President Howard Roffman.SFFILM’s Director of Programming Jessie Fairbanks, said, “This is the sixth festival I’ve curated at SFFILM, and it remains a joy to collaborate with the team to shape a slate of distinctive, authentic stories. Alongside special programs, juried competitions, and marquee events — including our return to the Castro Theatre and Grand Lake — I wanted to honor our organization’s roots as we look ahead to our 70th anniversary next year. We’re especially thrilled to introduce a legacy retrospective from SFFILM’s archives that will become a new festival staple. Films from the Vault opens up a rich new layer of cinematic discovery and celebrates a history that continues to shape what comes next at SFFILM.”
The program will also feature 11 SFFILM-supported titles, which are projects that received grants, residencies, or support through the organization’s artist development and youth education programs.For the full line-up, including member-only screenings, archival pulls, and special partnerships, visit the SFFILM website.