5th Annual Ceylon International Film Festival 2026
**Events may have been canceled or postponed. Please contact the venue to confirm the event.
Date & Time
Thu, Nov 12 4:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Address (map)
6100 Wallace Becknell Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93117
Venue (website)
Direct Relief Hatch Hall
5th Annual Ceylon International Film Festival 2026: Stories Connect Us!
The 5th annual festival brings filmmakers, audiences, educators, cultural leaders and community partners together through the universal language of cinema.
About CEYIFF -The Ceylon International Film Festival (CEYIFF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts and educational organization headquartered in Santa Barbara, California. Founded by Aruni Boteju, CEYIFF promotes Sri Lankan cinema while creating opportunities for filmmakers to connect with global filmmaking standards and audiences. CEYIFF describes itself as the first-ever Sri Lankan film festival organized outside Sri Lanka.
Mission –CEYIFF’s published mission is to expose U.S. audiences to Sri Lankan and other international films; support Sri Lankan filmmakers; create connections between the U.S. and Sri Lankan film industries; and foster educational and cultural exchange between the two countries, with a focus on youth.
The CEYIFF Journey Year Milestone
- 2022: First CEYIFF festival hosted in Santa Barbara.
- 2023: Awards ceremony held in Colombo following the inaugural festival; CEYIFF continued its cross-cultural film and industry exchange.
- 2024–2025: Programming expanded across feature, short, animation and documentary categories, welcoming filmmakers from multiple countries.
- 2026: Fifth annual festival, with a three-day program and a Santa Barbara Cine Expo partnership with Cine Gear.
JOIN US!
2026 FESTIVAL AT A GLANCE
DATE EVENT LOCATION / TIME:
- NOV 12 • THURSDAY Opening Night & Reception Direct Relief Hatch Hall – 6100 Wallace Becknell Rd, Goleta, CA 93117 – Ticket $ 20
- NOV 13 • FRIDAY Festival Screenings at:
- SBCC BC Forum – Screening Tickets $ 10 from 11 am to 8 pm
- Direct Relief Hatch Hall – Admission FREE 2 pm to 4 pm
- NOV 14 • SATURDAY Closing Night & Awards Great Meadow Garden Reception 4:30 PM • Theater 6:00 PM • Program 6:30–8:30 Tickets 20
FESTIVAL PASS $100 purchase at site or ceyiff.com
You can purchase tickets on site, bring friends and family and enjoy talented work from around the world!
