Spotlight Shorts | 2026 SF Dance Film Festival

Spotlight Shorts A dazzling showcase of dance films at the cutting edge of creativity and cinematic craft. Representing the very best of the festival’s creative range, Spotlight Shorts promises fresh ideas and cinematic daring. This curated collection features an eclectic blend of whimsy, longing, and quiet comedy, while spanning hand-drawn ink animation, immersive lighting design, and full-scale collaborations with world-class dance companies. From a dancer’s reflection coming to life inside a stuck elevator to a solo warm-up that blossoms into a flight of fantasy on one of the world’s grandest opera house stages, these films surprise and delight in equal measure. With choreography from world-renowned artists Christopher Stowell (Royal Winnipeg Ballet), Jacob Jonas (Jacob Jonas The Company), Medhi Walerski (Ballet BC), and more, this vibrant mix of standout dance films is a program not to be missed. Followed by a reception in the lobby, open to all ticketholders. Tickets purchased at the door will cost $1 additional per ticket. 8:00p | House Opens 8:30p | Program begins Runtime: 51 minutes Venue Accessibility: Brava Theater is located at 2781 24th Street. Curb cuts for the sidewalk to the Brava Theater Center are located on the corner of York and 24th Street. The entrance of the theater is on the ground floor and there is an elevator to seating in the upper level of the theater. About the 2026 San Francisco Dance Film Festival: The San Francisco Dance Film Festival marks its seventeenth year this fall with over 80 films celebrating dance in all its forms, from world-class ballet to endangered folkloric traditions. Eighteen in-person screenings run October 23 through November 8 at venues across San Francisco, complete with artist Q&As, panels, and community gatherings, followed by an Online Festival from November 9 through 30 featuring short film programs and online-only features. Join SFDFF 2026 for intimate documentaries, dazzling screendance, and thrilling live performance captures that celebrate the ever-evolving intersection of dance and film. For more info please visit our website.