Tiburon International Film Festival

View on map
Arts & CultureTiburon
DatesDates TBA · Usually AprilCheck locally before booking
DurationSpringEstimate from available data
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forPerformance, exhibitionsThe festival's founding story is unusually
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: USD
CategoryArts & CultureFestival type
The story

Tiburon International Film Festival in Tiburon

Founded in 2001 by longtime resident Saeed Shafa, the Tiburon International Film Festival brings independent films from around the world to this small Marin County town just north of San Francisco. Screenings run at the Tiburon Playhouse, and the festival has shown more than two thousand independent films from over one hundred countries since its founding, awarding Golden Reel honors to standout entries.

Its waterfront town setting gives it distinctive local identity within the Bay Area film calendar.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

The festival's founding story is unusually personal: Saeed Shafa built it from the ground up with his son Siamak, driven by his own passion for cinema rather than a civic tourism initiative, and it has retained that grassroots, founder-led character through more than two decades of operation

02

The mystery stays covered

Its stated mission, to provide greater understanding of the world through film, is reflected in a programming approach that specifically seeks out independent filmmakers from any nation, resulting in a festival that has screened work from over one hundred countries despite being staged in a town of roughly nine thousand residents

03

The city starts moving

The competitive Golden Reel Awards give the event a juried structure, and its history of attracting figures such as George Lucas and Brad Bird reflects Tiburon's proximity to the Bay Area's film and animation community even though the festival itself has stayed intentionally small in scale

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The festival's Golden Reel Awards continue a juried competitive tradition established at its founding

Water and renewal

Living ritual

and its founder-driven

The sacred route

Living ritual

community-rooted character

The local code

Living ritual

built originally by Saeed Shafa and his son Siamak

Tradition 5

Living ritual

has been maintained as a defining feature distinguishing it from larger

Tradition 6

Living ritual

corporately organized festivals

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually April

Getting around

Ferry or car access from San Francisco is common.

What to wear

Marin County's climate in spring and early summer is mild, typically in the 60s to low 70s Fahrenheit, with cooler evenings near the water; layered clothing and a light jacket for evening...

Safety

Keep valuables light, follow local instructions, and watch how residents use the space before joining in.

Where to stay

Tiburon or Mill Valley

Tickets/cost

Check official or local sources for ticketed areas, paid stands, and same-year access rules.

Language/currency

USD

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map37.87 N, 122.46 WOpen in Google Maps

Tiburon, CA

TransportFerry or car access from San Francisco is common.
Stay areaTiburon or Mill Valley

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Tiburon via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Tiburon, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for April.Compare faresFestival gearMarin County's climate in spring and early summer is mild, typically in the 60s to low 70s Fahrenheit, with cooler evenings near the water; layered clothing and a light jacket for evening screenings are practical, with casual to smart-casual attire suited to most festival events.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for United States and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

We may earn a small commission from trusted travel partners at no extra cost to you.

FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Tiburon International Film Festival?

Tiburon International Film Festival is listed for April · Spring. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Tiburon International Film Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Tiburon, United States. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

Spring is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Tiburon, CA

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLfilmmakers.festhome.com
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually April
Source statusOfficial source linked
Related festivals

Continue the route.

Photo pending

Buenos Aires International Book Fair

Past edition: 23 April–11 May 2026

Buenos Aires, Argentina
Photo pending

Cairo International Book Fair

Past edition: 21 January–3 February 2026

Cairo, Egypt
Photo pending

Pageant of the Masters

Not represented as one continuous festival occurrence

Laguna Beach, United States
Photo pending

Annecy International Animation Film Festival

Past edition: 8–14 June 2025

Annecy, France

Spotted something out of date? Submit a correction →