The festival’s 17 th anniversary kicks off with Martin McDonagh’s awards contending ‘Wild Horse
Nine,’ starring John Malkovich, Sam Rockwell, Steve Buscemi and Parker Posey from Searchlight
Pictures and closes with the comedy ‘Not Dead Yet,’ starring Richard Kind and Academy Award Nominee, Paul Raci.
TCFF will also showcase several lauded awards contenders, including ‘I Play Rocky, ‘Elsinore,’ ‘Josephine,’ and ‘La Bola Negra’.
Minneapolis (September 18, 2026) — The Twin Cities Film Fest (TCFF) unveiled its 2026 film slate
Wednesday, with more than 110 movies set to both screen and stream October 15 – 24 in a hybrid format.
The visual arts celebration, now celebrating its 17th anniversary, is set to return for in-person events and
screenings at The Shops at West End’s Marcus West End Cinema and Edina Mann 4 Theatre at 50th and
France. More than 60 films will simultaneously stream online via the TCFF STREAMS platform at
TwinCitiesFilmFest.org.
TCFF’s 2026 catalog showcases a record number of submissions from filmmakers nationwide, reflecting
the festival’s growing impact and reach. Yet again, nearly half of this year’s features and shorts fall under
the acclaimed “HER Series” – films by, for, and about women – while more than 40% highlight powerful
BIPOC voices. More than a third of all films selected showcase Minnesota connected stories in both
narratives and documentary form. Denver-based SeriesFest is back for a one-of-a-kind ‘Pitch-a-Thon,’
where local creators will present their TV series concepts to a panel of LA-based executives. A new
competition, “Make The Cut” presented in partnership with the Raymond J. Christensen Foundation, will
give one documentary filmmaker the opportunity to have their post-production costs fully funded.
“Our festival has always been about discovering stories and giving artists a place where their work can truly
connect with an audience,” said TCFF Executive Director Jatin Setia. “Seventeen years in, that mission
feels more important than ever. This year we’re not only bringing an incredible collection of films to Twin
Cities audiences, we’re creating more opportunities for filmmakers to take the next step in their careers.
Whether it’s through the return of our ‘SeriesFest Pitch-a-Thon,’ the launch of the ‘Make The Cut’
competition or simply putting an emerging filmmaker in front of an audience for the first time, this year is
about what comes next.”
This year’s “TCFF Changemaker Series” will spotlight the “Refugee Experience” as the festival’s key
social issue, featuring several screenings, including one of the spotlight films, “One in a Million,” directed
by Itab Azzam and Jack MacInnes, on October 17. The film will be followed by an in-depth discussion
featuring local community partner organization: Alight.
Opening the festival on Thursday, Oct. 15 is Searchlight Pictures’ film “Wild Horse Nine,” from Academy
Award-winning writer/director Martin McDonagh, starring John Malkovich, Sam Rockwell, Steve
Buscemi, Tom Waits and Parker Posey. The film tells the story of CIA agents Chris (Malkovich) and Lee
(Rockwell) facing a trust-testing mission from Santiago to Easter Island during 1973 in Chile.
Opening Night celebrations will also include the Opening Night Reception preceded by screening of “You
Belong Here,” an episodic featuring Chef Ouita from Lexington, Kentucky. Chef Ouita and actor Steve
Zahn will be in attendance for a post film discussion around food and community.
This year’s closing night gala will be held on Saturday, Oct. 24 and will celebrate independent cinema with
the feature “Not Dead Yet.” Ousted from his agency by a youth-obsessed culture, a veteran ad man teams
up with a rebellious Hamptons senior breakfast club to launch a bold new venture proving it’s never too late
to rewrite your story and start a second act. The film stars a stellar cast including Richard Kind, Paul Raci,
and Tovah Fedshuh. Raci will be attending the screening for a post-film discussion.
Other acclaimed entries in this year’s program: “Elsinore,” starring Andrew Scott (Oct. 22, Focus Features);
“I Play Rocky,” starring Anthony Ippolito (Oct. 23, Amazon MGM Studios); “Josephine,” starring
Channing Tatum (Oct. 16, Sumerian Pictures); “Clarissa,” starring David Oyelowo (Oct. 20, Neon); “La
Bola Negra,” starring Guitarricadelafuente (Oct. 23, Netflix); “Hurricanna” starring Sylvia Hoeks, Holly
Hunter and Mark Duplass (Oct. 17, Magenta Light); “A Talent For Murder,” starring Helen Mirren and
Olivia Cooke (Oct. 24, Bleeker Street); “Queen at Sea,” starring Juliette Binoche (Oct. 24, Greenwich
Entertainment); “Out of the Woods,” starring Frances Fischer (Oct. 21); “Give Me The Ball!,” starring
Billie Jean King (Oct. 17, ESPN); and “Moonlight,” 10th Anniversary 4k Restored release with exclusive
post-credit, behind-the-scenes insights from filmmaker Barry Jenkins and composer Nicholas Britell (Oct.
18, A24). Actor Jeremy Swift (“Ted Lasso”), actress Natalie Gold (“Succession”), and filmmaker Sheryl
Glubok will walk the red carpet for the indie-hit “Welcome To The Fishbowl” (Oct 18).
The Raymond J. Christensen Foundation returns as the presenting sponsor of TCFF’s documentary and
educational programming, including the new “Make The Cut” competition, which will fully fund post-
production for the winning documentary filmmaker. In TCFF’s continuing push for access and inclusion,
and through a collaboration with 3M Foundation, TCFF will host a private daytime screening of a STEM
film for underserved youth in the community.
Lights. Camera. Culture! The ‘All About The Culture TCFF Lounge’ at the festival will celebrate film
culture in the Twin Cities. “Film remains one of the most powerful ways we tell our stories, see one another
differently and build real relationships” said All About The Culture CEO, Sharon Smith-Akinsanya. “We’re
excited about the filmmakers, creatives and film lovers who will meet one another in this space and about
using our platform to amplify the festival.”
The complete 2026 Twin Cities Film Fest features calendar is listed below.
Ticket prices range from $10 online to $15 in person. Opening/Centerpiece/Closing/Spotlight film events
will all be $30 with a handful of non-matinee films also available to view at no cost. A Streaming Pass is
available for $60, Silver Pass for $60, Gold Pass for $85, Platinum Pass for $115 and a Spotlight Pass for $130.
ABOUT TWIN CITIES FILM FEST
Twin Cities Film Fest (TCFF) is a Minneapolis-based 501(c)(3) non-profit arts organization founded by Executive Director, Jatin
Setia. We change perspectives, transform lives, and strengthen our communities by supporting and spurring on the art of
filmmaking. TCFF’s vision is to cultivate immersive experiences that amplify communities of creation, celebration, and change.
To learn more about TCFF, events, film submissions or to donate, visit twincitiesfilmfest.org .
ABOUT MARCUS THEATRES®
Marcus Theatres®, is the fourth largest theatre circuit in the U.S. and currently owns or operates 995 screens at 79 locations in 17
states under the Marcus Theatres, Movie Tavern® by Marcus, and BistroPlex® brands. Marcus Theatres’ facilities offer the latest
amenities and technology in stadium seating, digital sound, innovative food and beverage concepts and 72-feet-wide UltraScreen
DLXs®.
ABOUT MANN THEATRES®
Mann Theatres® is a multi-generational, family-owned movie theatre chain dedicated to bringing people together through the
magic of the big screen. With locations across the Twin Cities and beyond, they create experiences that are fresh, local, and fun.
Film + Director/s
A Deeper Love: The Story of Miss Peppermint, Oriel Pe’er
A Month in Minnesota, Annie Sundberg
Ashes, Diego Luna
A Talent for Murder, Anton Corbijn
Acting Like Women, Cheri Gaulke
All Too Clear: Beneath the Surface of the Great Lakes, Zach Melnick & Yvonne Drebert
An Invitation to Wonder, Ben Albert
Another Place, Jhizet Panosian
Beyond The Eagle Obsession, Jeffrey Morris
Bonding, Victoria Trofimenko
Boris is Dead, James Cullen Bressack
Cabali and the Tiki Mug Obsession, Josh Dragotta
Caity, Lindsay Calleran
Captive, Tyler Edward
Catching Pinecones, Chad Heddleston
Ceremony, Banchi Hanuse
Clarissa, Arie Esiri and Chuko Esiri
Come Talk To ME, Deacon Warner
Comedy Through the Chaos, Miss Shannan Paul and Buffie Blesi
Demons and Depictions, Cy Dodson
Desert Angel, Vincent DeLuca
Donostia, Daniel Cummings
Edie Arnold is a Loser, Kade Atwood
Elsinore, Simon Stone
Faces of Hope, Cy Dodson & Megan Thompson
Fork in the Road, Vivian Sorenson & Jonathan Nastasi
Give Me the Ball!, Liz Garbus and Elizabeth Wolff
Harvest, Thomas Clayton Miller
Human Flow, Ai Weiwei
Hurricanna, Francesca Gregorini
I Play Rocky, Peter Farrelly
Ithaqua, Casey Walker
Jane’s Not Here, Jonathan Oster
Jersey Boy, Jaskaran Singh
Josephine, Beth De Araujo
Kids Like Me, Cynthia Lowen and Jon Cohrs
Kings of Venice, Sveinn Ingimundarson and S.D. Saltarelli
La Bola Negra, Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi
Love Reflected, Davar McGee
Mackenzie, Mylissa Fitzsimmons
Memorializing The Movement, Alec Fischer
Miss Representation: Rise Up, Jennifer Siebel Newsom
Moonlight, Barry Jenkins
Morelife, C.J. Renner
Not Dead Yet, Eric Weber and Nick Weber
Noxturne, Kristina Klebe
One in a Million, Itab Azzam and Jack MacInnes
One Plant, Jordan Berger
Out of the Woods, Sal Bardo
Queen At Sea, Lance Hammer
Run Amok, NB Mager
Small Talk, Steven Gerald Warkel
Small Town Girl, Bill Cooper
T, Lane Michael Stanley
Test, Sam McConnell
The Art of Sustaining: Prison, Kim Johnson
The Immigrant Rapid Response Fund – 15 Million in 90 Days, Lindsey Seavert
Welcome to the Fishbowl, Sheryl Glubok
Wild Horse Nine, Martin McDonagh
Wings Over Water, Andrew Young
Wolf Cat Fever, Josh Sinbad Collins
You Belong Here, Rick Gomez
You Don’t Know My Name, Tommy Franklin
