Coronado Island Film Festival Reveals 2025 Line-Up

Gus Van Sant’s “Dead Man’s Wire” and Joachim Trier’s “Sentimental Value” are among the films set to play at the Coronado Island Film Festival.

“Dead Man’s Wire” opens the festival on Nov. 5. A new psychological thriller heist movie from director Van Sant, the film premiered at the Venice International Film Festival in September and later screened at Toronto and Chicago. It stars Bill Skarsgård, Al Pacino, Colman Domingo and Cary Elwes.

Closing the festival on Nov. 9 is “Sentimental Value,” Trier’s familial drama that won the Grand Prix upon its premiere at Cannes. It stars Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgård, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, and Elle Fanning.

Other spotlight and centerpiece films playing throughout the fest include Aaron Davidman’s “American Solitaire,” Ugo Bienvenu’s “Arco,” Noah Baumbach’s “Jay Kelly,” Nicholas Hytner’s “The Choral,” Kleber Mendonça Filho’s “The Secret Agent” and Clint Bentley’s “Tain Dreams.” Several documentaries and shorts programs will also screen throughout the week.

CEO and Coronado Island Film Festival Artistic director Merridee Book says, “This lineup reflects both where we’ve been and where we’re going: bold, diverse and future-facing. CIFF continues to honor the golden age of cinema while building a bridge to what’s next— through independent voices, innovation and community connection. The way we experience movies may evolve, but the magic of sharing them together in a theater remains irreplaceable. That collective heartbeat is why festivals like ours matter now more than ever.”

The festival will host special events such as the “Culinary Cinema Series” focusing on the intersections of food and film, and “Beatlemania Comes to Coronado,” a retrospective on The Beatles featuring the West Coast premiere of Paul McCartney’s documentary, “Tug of War.” There will also be a robust assortment of panels…