Photos from the 2025 Festival

The 2025 Sonoma International Film Festival concluded in spectacular fashion, drawing enthusiastic audiences for a week of world-class cinema and culinary delights. This five-day celebration of cinema featured 93 films, including highly anticipated World, North American, and California premieres, alongside an impressive array of renowned filmmakers, celebrated actors, and culinary icons. 21 countries representing the festival’s diverse lineup showcased 39 narrative features, 16 documentary features, and 38 short films.  

The festival opened with the World Premiere of Sweet Störy directed by Sarah Justine Kerruish and Matt Maude, setting the stage for a lineup that celebrated both storytelling and cuisine. The Centerpiece Film, On Swift Horses, featuring Daisy Edgar-Jones and Jacob Elordi, was met with critical acclaim, while Andrew Ahn’s Closing Night Feature, The Wedding Banquet, starring Bowen Yang, Lily Gladstone, and Joan Chen, provided a poignant and celebratory finale. The festival honored Joan Chen with the SIFF Career Achievement Award on Closing Night, recognizing her remarkable contributions to cinema. Alongside these marquee screenings, SIFF audiences experienced an array of premieres, including the North American debut of Strand Releasing’s Berlinale Golden Bear Winner Dreams (Love, Sex), the California Premieres of Apollo 1, The Surfer, and The Ugly Stepsister, and the World Premieres of Ali Eats America, Café Chairel, and Fatal Watch.