SLO Film Festival Kicking Off in Freshly Reopened Fremont Theater

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (KEYT) - The 32nd Annual San Luis Obispo International Film Festival begins Thursday night with a pair of shows inside the recently reopened Fremont Theater.

The popular event will run for six days through Tuesday, April 28 and include more than 100 narrative features, short films, documentary features and shorts, music videos and festival favorites from over 25 countries.

As in the past, the historic Fremont Theater on Monterey Street in downtown San Luis Obispo will be the showcase venue.

After sustaining major damage to its iconic tower sign during a storm in mid-February, the theater was closed for several weeks, casting doubt on its availability for the film festival.

However, the theater was allowed to reopen on April 8 after the City of San Luis Obispo reinstated the building’s Certificate of Occupancy.

"It was it was very timely to get it reopened for the film festival," said Fremont Theater owner Rob Rossi. "I think everyone was working hard to achieve that and we're pleased. We look forward to a very, beneficial film festival this year."

In addition to the Fremont Theater, the Palm Theatre, Downtown Downtown Centre Cinemas and SLO Masonic Lodge will also serve as venues for the event.

This year's film lineup, is led by the Opening Night selection of the documentary about tennis legend Billy Jean King, Give Me The Ball!, and Power Ballad, starring Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas, as the Closing Night selection.

Also showing at the festival includes the annual Surf Nite, the popular Central Coast Filmmaker Showcase, Cal Poly Short Cuts, Music Video Showcase, Community of Skate, as well as many other short films.

For more information about the 32nd Annual San Luis Obispo International Film Festival, click here to visit the official SLOIFF website.