Frequently Asked Questions
General Festival FAQ
NOTE: the below FAQs pertain to the 2025 festival.
Q: What are the dates of your festival?
A: May 7-9, 2025
Q: Where is the festival taking place?
A: All film screenings, receptions, and post-screening discussions will take place at the Museum of Photographic Arts at the San Diego Museum of Art. MOPA @ SDMA is located at 1649 El Pardo, San Diego.
Q: What are your healthy and safety policies for attending?
A: We continue to follow local and state public health orders and CDC recommendations. We recognize that these recommendations change from time to time, based on local case positivity rates, hospitalization rates, and other factors. In order to ensure the experience is safe for all, we are asking all filmmakers, attendees, volunteers, and staff to observe our health and safety protocols and our community agreement.
Q: What measures are in place at the museum to ensure programs and spaces are accessible?
A: Service dogs are welcome inside the Museum of Photographic Arts and must be on a non-retractable leash, less than six feet in length. Accessible parking is available in the lots adjacent to the museum. The museum’s entrance has an ADA compliant ramp and automatic entry doors. There is ADA seating in the Joan & Irwin Jacobs Theater.
Q: What other measures is the festival taking to ensure the content accessible?
A: Attendees who need additional accommodations other than those noted above may email us at GIFilmFestivalSD@kpbs.org with the request.
Q: I’m coming from out of town. Do you have hotel partnerships?
A: We do not have official hotel partners. The festival’s venue is centrally located within the city’s iconic Balboa Park. There are numerous hotels, motels, and alternative accommodations (including Air BnB) throughout the city, including large hotel chains and smaller, independent boutique hotels. We recommend doing a through search on your preferred hotel/travel site for best rates.
Q: How much are tickets and do you offer any discounts?
A: Tickets for most screening engagements are $15 per person. We do offer discounted rates of $10 per person for service members, veterans, students or KPBS members. Evidence of KPBS membership, student enrollment, military ID or veteran status is NOT required when selecting the discounted ticket. Please check the schedule and events page for all pricing options.
Q: Are food and drink permitted in the theatre?
A: Food and beverages are not allowed in the theatre.
Q: Are the films available to watch outside of the festival?
A: Many of the selected films are screened at other festivals nationwide. We encourage you to find the film(s) via your preferred web search engine. Additionally, several films have been distributed on different networks and platforms, including public media. Check out what’s currently available from the GI Film Festival San Diego on the PBS App.
Q: How can I get involved and support the festival?
A: We accept many ways of support and involvement with GIFFSD. You can follow us on social media, sign up to volunteer, tell a friend, or bring guests to a showtime. If you own a business or are involved in a company’s philanthropic efforts, consider sponsoring the festival. We also accept donations (suggested amount of $10) at the time of buying tickets. Larger donations can be mailed into KPBS, C/O GI Film Festival San Diego, 5200 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182. Please include “for GIFFSD” on the check’s memo line.
