January 21, 2026
The 13th Borrego Springs Film Festival wrapped January 18, 2026, with sold-out screenings, red carpet moments, awards, and strong community turnout. The 13th Annual Borrego Springs Film Festival wrapped up January 18, 2026, closing five days of independent cinema, conversation, and community energy. Events were held throughout Borrego Springs, including free screenings at the Borrego Springs Library and ticketed block screenings and awards ceremonies at the Borrego Springs Performing Arts Center. Presented by the Borrego Springs Film Institute, the festival continued its traditional, theater-first format that brings people together to watch films in shared spaces and talk about them afterward. Several screening blocks sold out during the week, reflecting strong local interest and visiting attendance. That connection was clear during the live-streamed red carpet. Host Brianna Pinto described one of the festival’s defining qualities by saying, “Filmmakers get to interact directly with the audience,” noting that Borrego Springs draws viewers who truly watch and engage with the films. Filmmakers echoed that experience in different ways. A King’s Curtain director Grannan Johnson said it was especially meaningful to hear audience members tell him, “Oh yes, I saw your film,” calling Borrego Springs “a fun place to be” with “really nice, great people.” Documentary filmmaker Mitch Yapko (Watching Walter) described a moment when a full theater reacted together, saying the shared gasp from the audience made it clear they were fully engaged. The setting itself also left an impression. Actress Laura Bolin (Rage, Rhonda) called the enthusiasm of Borrego Springs audiences “contagious” and encouraged visitors to explore the landscape, describing the area as a place to “just wander” and take in the desert views.
