The Sun Valley Film Festival (SVFF) will return December 3-7, 2025

The Sun Valley Film Festival (SVFF) will return December 3-7, 2025 offering an expanded lineup of films, lively Q&A sessions, engaging Coffee Talks and intimate events for AMPAS members and special guests. These dates solidify SVFF as a pivotal destination for award-season contenders and perfectly timed before Academy Award shortlist voting begins.

The move follows the success of the Sun Valley Film Festival Winter Screening Series held December 5-8, 2024. The weekend featured critically acclaimed films, Coffee Talks, and intimate receptions and dinners. The event recognized Demi Moore with the Vision Award and Pamela Anderson and Gia Coppola with the Pioneer Award presented by Variety, and Porcelain War with the Impact Award. Screenings included The Last Showgirl, The Substance, Porcelain War, Blink, The Swim Lesson and a curated series of shorts from The New Yorker.

The Substance went on to receive five Golden Globe and seven Critics Choice Award nominations including Best Picture and Best Actress for Moore. Anderson went on to receive a Best Actress Golden Globe nomination and Porcelain War received a Producers Guild Award nomination for Outstanding Documentary. The following films were also part of the Academy Awards shortlist: Porcelain War (Documentary Feature), I am Not a Robot (Live Action Short Film), Seat 31: Zooey Zephyr (Documentary Short Film) and A Swim Lesson (Documentary Short Film).

"The Sun Valley Film Festival continues to grow as a vital platform for filmmakers and a key stop for awards-season contenders, which we showcased this year with our selection of films and honorees including Demi Moore and Pamela Anderson,” said Teddy Grennan, Executive Director of Sun Valley Film Festival. “By anchoring the festival in December, we’re not just celebrating great storytelling but creating meaningful connections between filmmakers and audiences at a pivotal moment in the industry’s calendar."

The five day festival in 2025 will continue its partnership with Deadline at the Vision Award dinner and Variety will present the Pioneer Award. The Screenwriters Lab will be back with the High Scribe award and the winner of the High Scribe Competition invited to return as a Writer-In-Residence at the historic Ernest and Mary Hemingway House. The Sun Valley JR Film Competition which highlights the work of high school students, will continue where finalist films are screened in the festival and judged by industry professionals. The festival’s 1 Potato Initiative will return to support emerging filmmakers and incentivize filmmaking in the state of Idaho. The winning script will receive $5,000 in funds towards shooting their film on location in the state. Submissions open on April 28 at Film Freeway.

"Our mission has always been to inspire and elevate creative voices, and the 2025 festival will build on that legacy,” said Candice Pate, Director of Sun Valley Film Festival. “As we expand programming across five days to feature some of the best of awards season contenders, we are committed to continuing to support emerging talent, especially with the Screenwriters Lab, 1 Potato Initiative and JR Film Competition. Sun Valley in December is poised to be an unmissable event for film lovers and creators alike.”

For additional information, visit https://sunvalleyfilmfestival.org/.

About the Sun Valley Film Festival

Since 2012, the Sun Valley Film Festival (SVFF) has invited filmmakers and audiences to connect through the power of cinema in the scenic mountain town of Sun Valley, Idaho, America’s first ski resort with deep ties to Hollywood. SVFF features cutting-edge film and television premieres, industry panels, and engaging discussions with entertainment luminaries. Beyond the annual Festival, SVFF enhances the cultural fabric of the community through year-round programming, including film screenings, educational initiatives, and workshops such as SVJr Film, Shop Talks and the Screenwriter Lab Residency. The Sun Valley Film Festival is a 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit organization dedicated to fostering the art of storytelling and supporting filmmakers.

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Media images available at https://sunvalleyfilmfestival.org/press-center/