Wild & Free Film Festival brings nearly 40 films to Goleta

GOLETA, Calif. — A film festival celebrating wildlife, conservation and the natural world is bringing nearly 40 films from 11 countries to the Central Coast this weekend.

The 2026 Wild & Free Film Festival kicked off Friday at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara before moving to Camino Real Cinemas in Goleta for weekend screenings.

The festival features documentaries and short films exploring humanity's relationship with the environment, including stories about the impacts of mass tourism and the challenges of human-wildlife coexistence.

One of this year's featured films is Nuisance Bear, the Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner that follows a polar bear navigating its migration through a Canadian community.

Festival organizers say interest in the event continues to grow. Film submissions increased 30% this year, with nearly 40 films selected from 11 countries.

Gareth Kelly, founder and executive director of the Wild & Free Film Festival, said the festival has already doubled in scale compared to last year.

"This year is really exploded. I feel like we've already doubled the scale of the festival over last year," Kelly said.

Kelly said organizers hope to make the event the premier natural-world and outdoor-adventure-focused film festival on the West Coast.

Sunday's schedule also includes a free community film block, giving local audiences another opportunity to experience the festival.

The Wild & Free Film Festival runs through Sunday, Nov. 8, in Goleta.