The 10-day celebration of independent cinema will feature premieres, filmmaker Q&As, after-parties and stories from around the world.
Film lovers won’t need a passport to travel the world this summer.
The 31st Annual Stony Brook Film Festival returns to the Staller Center for the Arts from July 16-25, bringing 36 films from 23 countries to Long Island for 10 days of independent cinema, filmmaker Q&As and special events.
Presented by Stony Brook Medicine, the festival has become one of the region’s premier showcases for independent film, drawing roughly 10,000 attendees each year. Many of the films screened in Stony Brook are later picked up by film distributors and released to theaters, so this is your chance to see hit films and potential blockbusters before anyone else.
This year’s lineup spans drama, comedy, documentary and international features, with each feature film paired with an independent short. Audiences will also have the opportunity to meet many of the filmmakers and cast members during post-screening Q&A sessions and festival events.
The festival opens July 16 with the New York premiere of “Once Upon My Mother,” the true story of a Moroccan-Jewish immigrant in France whose determination helps her son overcome extraordinary challenges.
Among the featured films are stories that explore family, identity and human connection across the globe, including “A Mosquito in the Ear,” which follows an American couple traveling to India to meet the young girl they have adopted, and “The Sea,” a timely drama centered on a Palestinian father searching for his son.
Festival organizers say audiences can also expect crowd-pleasing comedies, inspiring documentaries and acclaimed international productions throughout the 10-day run.
Notable actors appearing in this year’s films include Jake Lacy, Kamilla Kowal, Daniel Brühl, Danielle Brooks, Daniel Rashid and Adèle Exarchopoulos. Many filmmakers and cast members are expected to attend screenings and participate in audience discussions.
The festival concludes July 25 with the East Coast premiere of “Hello Betty,” a Swiss hit that tells the story behind one of the country’s most beloved culinary icons.
Click here to watch all the trailers.
As an added bonus, a past Stony Brook Film Festival award-winning film, “Westhampton,” will receive a free special encore screening on July 26 at the Avram Theater in Southampton. The night includes a reception and filmmaker Q&A, though organizers recommend RSVPs in advance. (Click here to learn more and RSVP.)
If you go
Stony Brook Film Festival
July 16 – 25, 2026
Where: Staller Center for the Arts, Stony Brook University
Tickets: Single tickets go on sale July 1 for $15. Festival passes are available now, including Flex Passes ($75), Regular Passes ($100) and Gold Passes ($250).
More information: Visit StonyBrookFilmFestival.com for the full schedule, trailers and ticket information.
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