Temecula Valley International Film Festival
Temecula is known for wine, but each autumn it becomes a film town too. The Temecula Valley International Film Festival brings independent features, documentaries and short films from around the world to local screens, giving audiences the chance to discover new voices and meet the people behind the movies.
What to expect
The festival programs a mix of independent features, documentaries and shorts across several days, with screenings held at local venues including Temeku Cinemas. Many screenings are followed by Q&A sessions with directors, producers and actors, which is one of the great pleasures of a smaller festival: you can talk to filmmakers directly instead of watching from a distance. Passes and individual tickets are typically available through the official website.
When it happens
The festival is held each October. The 2026 program ran October 9–11. Dates for 2027 had not been posted when this guide was written, so check the official website for the schedule, venues and tickets as the festival approaches.
Planning your festival days
October is one of the most beautiful months in Temecula: harvest is wrapping up, days are warm and evenings are cool. A festival weekend can easily combine morning screenings with an afternoon in wine country and dinner in Old Town. Look at the full schedule before choosing films — blocks of shorts are a great way to sample many filmmakers at once.
Tips for visiting
- Check the schedule early and plan around the Q&As you want.
- Consider a pass if you will see several programs.
- Arrive early for popular screenings.
- Leave time between screenings for a meal or a tasting.
Temecula on screen
The festival is a reminder that Temecula is a filming location as well as a place to watch movies. Vineyards, Old Town’s Western storefronts and rolling hills appear in photo shoots, music videos and productions throughout the year. Our red 1969 Cadillac DeVille convertible is available as a picture car for shoots — the host delivers it to set for a non-driving day rate — so filmmakers who discover Temecula at the festival can come back to shoot here.
Make it a festival night
A red-carpet-style arrival is part of festival fun. Book the chauffeured Cadillac for an opening night or awards evening, and let your driver handle drop-off and pickup while you enjoy the films and the after-party.
Who will love it
Film lovers, aspiring filmmakers, students and anyone looking for a culture-rich fall weekend will enjoy the festival. It pairs beautifully with wine country, the Old Town Community Theater and Temecula’s autumn restaurant scene.
Planning your visit
Temecula’s festivals and events draw big crowds, so plan early: buy tickets as soon as they go on sale, reserve dinner nearby and book hotels well in advance for major weekends. Check the organizer’s official website for the latest schedule, parking, shuttle and road-closure information, and arrive early to beat traffic. Dress in layers, since Temecula’s days can be warm and evenings cool, and bring water and sun protection for outdoor events. If you plan to taste wine, arrange a ride or designated driver — and because classic-car rentals book up quickly on event weekends, reserve the 1969 Cadillac on DriveShare as soon as your plans are set.
Best time to go
Events draw crowds and fill nearby hotels and restaurants, so book accommodation, dinners and transportation well in advance, and arrive early.
Make a day of it
A sample Temecula day built around Temecula Valley International Film Festival:
- Late morning — chauffeured pickup at your hotel and a slow cruise up Rancho California Road.
- Afternoon — two winery tastings with a lunch stop in wine country.
- Golden hour — drop-off on Old Town Front Street for photos with the car.
- Evening — Temecula Valley International Film Festival, then a ride back to your hotel with the top down.
Temecula Valley International Film Festival at a glance
| Category | Film festival |
|---|---|
| Address | Temeku Cinemas and Temecula venues, Temecula, CA |
| Area | Temecula |
| When | Annually in October (the 2026 program ran October 9–11); check the official site for 2027 |
| Organizer | Temecula Valley International Film Festival |
| Good to know | Independent films, filmmaker Q&As and festival screenings |
| Website | temeculavalleyff.com |
Getting to Temecula Valley International Film Festival in a 1969 Cadillac
Old Town Temecula is compact and walkable, but parking on Front Street fills quickly on weekends and during events. Arriving by chauffeured 1969 Cadillac solves that neatly: your driver drops you at the door, waits or circles back, and collects you when you are ready — and a red convertible on Front Street’s Western boardwalks makes for the most photographed arrival in town.
Chauffeured hire is $325 per hour with a three-hour minimum, booked and protected through DriveShare. Tell us where you want to go and we will build the route — Temecula Valley International Film Festival plus a winery or two, a sunset stop and a ride home.
Book the '69 Cadillac on DriveShare
More things to do nearby
- 1909 — restaurants
- Baily's Old Town Temecula — restaurants
- Luke's On Front — restaurants
- Gaucho Grill Argentine Steakhouse — restaurants
- E.A.T. Marketplace — restaurants
All things to do in Temecula → · Month-by-month events calendar → · Temecula wineries →
Frequently asked questions
Where is Temecula Valley International Film Festival?
Temecula Valley International Film Festival is at Temeku Cinemas and Temecula venues, Temecula, CA, in Temecula.
When is Temecula Valley International Film Festival?
Annually in October (the 2026 program ran October 9–11); check the official site for 2027. Dates can change from year to year, so confirm on the official website before you plan travel.
What is Temecula Valley International Film Festival known for?
The Temecula Valley International Film Festival is known as Temecula’s annual October celebration of independent film, with screenings of features and shorts and filmmaker Q&As.
Can I arrive at Temecula Valley International Film Festival in a classic car?
Yes. 1969 Caddy offers a chauffeured red 1969 Cadillac DeVille convertible from $325 per hour (three-hour minimum), booked on DriveShare. We plan the drop-off and pickup around Temecula Valley International Film Festival and can add nearby wineries to the same booking.
Arrive at Temecula Valley International Film Festival in style.
A chauffeured 1969 Cadillac convertible for your Temecula day — booked on DriveShare.