Our festival
Bill Hargreaves • Co-founder / Festival Director
Sinohui Hinojosa • Co-founder / Festival Programmer, Artistic Director
Have you ever had a wine tasting at a movie theater?
At the Yountville International Short Film Festival, now you can!
This isn’t a traditional festival with long lines or marathon screenings—it's built around short films, making it approachable, fun, and perfect for first-time festival-goers or seasoned cinephiles alike.
This January, combine your love of Napa Valley, award-winning wines, and exceptional dining with a truly unique cultural experience. The festival brings over 100 world-class short films to the heart of wine country, featuring film and wine pairings from local wineries, along with culinary destinations across multiple walkable venues in downtown Yountville.
Sip wine between screenings, enjoy specially curated films in Pop-Up theaters, and explore the charming streets, boutique shops, and iconic dining stops like Bouchon Bakery, RH Restaurant, Bistro Jeanty.
Each film block is like a curated tasting flight, offering short stories from around the world—drama, comedy, documentary, animation, and more—without demanding a big time commitment.
Whether you want to attend a single screening, sample a few throughout the day, or spend the entire weekend immersed in films, wine tastings, and dining, the festival offers a fresh, unforgettable way to experience Napa Valley this winter.
From casual movie-goers to film enthusiasts, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
10 Incredible Years of
World Class Short Films
When Bay Area businessmen and movie buffs got together for the very first time, they had no idea that their initial meeting would spark a professional partnership spanning over 20 years, multiple cities and this tenth annual event in the heart of downtown Yountville.
"We bring short films to Yountville as a way to share an art-form that does not receive the recognition it deserves," say co-founder Hinojosa, "as most people seldom get access to short films of this caliber except at major film festivals."
The bulk of the short films are independently produced but that does little to discourage big name talent both in front of and behind the camera. While a feature film can lock up an actor for up to a full year of shooting, a short can be shot over the course of a few days, making it not just accessible but a terrific opportunity for those in the creative arts.
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
The expectations formed around our short films change the moment someone walks in and experiences them. These shorts are truly story-driven and the craftsmanship behind them will surprise you as they rival work done on major motion pictures.
The main difference is the need for our audiences to be fully receptive to what unfolds on the screen, unlike a feature there is no three-act structure where you learn everything about your characters in the first third of the film. With a short film you are thrust in the midst of an action, activity or story element and you are forced to "catch up" and become an active participant.
While each film will guide you, they purposely offer a more connected experience because your engagement is part and parcel as to why these films have been brought to life.
Each block of films are connected thematically and last around 80 mins, select screenings will include special wine tastings for those with the All Access VIP Pass.
The yountville Experience
Yountville is not only the perfect location for a four day film festival, but the atmosphere and culinary offerings throughout make it a fantastic partner in delivering a true entertainment experience that involves so much more than films.
A short walk from our Pop Up Screening rooms is a very walkable downtown area with amazing local merchants, restaurants with 14 strollable tasting rooms and 7 nearby wineries. This mix of fine dining and shopping will tempt you to extend your stay and make the most of your time here.
Catch our short films but stay for the atmosphere, dining and the beauty that is the town of Yountville.
Distances from regional airports:
Sacramento International Airport: 72 miles/ 1 Hour
San Francisco International Airport: 67 miles/ 2 Hours
Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport: 36 miles/ 1 Hour
Oakland International Airport: 59 miles/ 1.5 Hours
