San Luis Obispo film fest announces opening, closing films for 2025
Image from DJ Ahmet.
Surf Nite, Central Coast showcase part of the 2025 lineup
– San Luis Obispo International Film Festival has announced its opening and closing films for 2025. The festival will open with DJ Ahmet, the winner of the Sundance Audience Award, and close with Coastal, a documentary directed by Daryl Hannah about Neil Young’s solo tour.
The festival, which runs from April 24-29, will feature more than 113 films, including narrative features, short films, documentary features, and documentary shorts.
DJ Ahmet, written and directed by Georgi M. Unkovski, will open the festival following its Sundance debut. The Opening Night Reception at the Fremont Theater will mark the start of the festival’s 31st anniversary and will include appearances by special guests, filmmakers, and major contributors, along with catered food from Luna Red and live music.
The film follows Ahmet, a 15-year-old boy from a remote Yuruk village in North Macedonia, as he navigates his father’s expectations, a conservative community, and first love. Unkovski said, “In DJ Ahmet, I wanted to explore the delicate balance between tradition and self-expression, particularly within a small, close-knit community. The film delves into the challenges of growing up in a traditional setting while simultaneously discovering one’s own identity. At its core, the film is about the universal human need to express oneself, and how art, in this case music, can become both a refuge and a catalyst for change.”
The Closing Night selection, Coastal, follows Neil Young’s recent solo tour. Directed by Hannah, the documentary provides a behind-the-scenes look at Young’s return to the stage following the COVID-19 pandemic, including moments from his travels, onstage banter, and performances of rarely played songs in scenic venues.
Festival Director Skye McLennan said, “We are really excited to open and close the festival with two incredible independent films that celebrate the healing and connective power of music.”
The festival will also feature Surf Nite, the Central Coast Filmmaker Showcase, Cal Poly Short Cuts, and the Music Video Showcase. Community of Skate will return after debuting in 2024. Additional programming includes short films curated by R.A.C.E. Matters, the Filmmakers of Tomorrow program featuring works by filmmakers 18 and under, a series curated by The Coastal Awakening celebrating David Lynch and meditation, and Ecologistics, a new environmental documentary shorts series.
Passes are now on sale. More information is available at slofilmfest.org.
