Watsonville Film Festival

During the fiscal year 2022-23, the Watsonville Film Festival presented twomultimedia events at our town square: Fandango at the Plaza in September and the5th Annual Dia de Muertos Festival in October. Both community events included in-person film screenings, live music and dance performances. Approximately 2,600people participated. In March 2023, we celebrated our 11th Annual Film Festival fromMarch 3-12. We featured 40 films, hosted 40 filmmakers and actors, and served 6local schools. We honored iconic Hollywood actor Pepe Serna at the Mello Center forthe Performing Arts. Our free festival reached 4,4761 people both on-line and in-person. We also worked with a cohort of four local emerging filmmakers through theCine Se Puede fellowship, an initiative to support them to pursue professionalcareers. We provided them with industry connections, workshops, mentorship andfunding. In May, we partnered again with the local school district to co-presentPVUSD's Oscars Night, showcasing the films of elementary and middle schoolstudents at the Mello Center. All our programs were free of charge.