Bright Ideas Film Festival

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Bright Ideas Film Festival

Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Bright Ideas Film Festival, TV/Movie Award, 555 Center Ave, Martinez, CA.

The Bright Ideas Film Festival provides a public showcase for Northern California filmmakers to create an experience where an audience can come together and appreciate independent short films as art.

09/28/2026

SUBMISSIONS ARE OPEN!

The Spooky Film Festival returns to Contra Costa Cinemas on Thursday, October 29, 2026, from 7:00–10:00 PM!

We’re looking for horror, thriller, suspense, dark comedy, supernatural, and other spooky short films to screen on the big screen.

👻 Submission Deadline: October 11
🎥 Films up to 15 minutes
🏆 Awards highlighting Bay Area and nearby filmmakers
🎟️ Submit now through FilmFreeway — link in bio!

Come scare us!

09/27/2026

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who came out and made the 2026 Bright Ideas Film Festival a SOLD-OUT event!

There is nothing better than seeing a theater full of people coming together to experience independent films on the big screen.

Thank you to every filmmaker who trusted us with your work, everyone who bought a ticket, and everyone who helped make the night possible.

And a huge congratulations to our 2026 Bright Ideas Film Festival Award Winners!

🏆 Best Writing — Jaegar Moore, Reprieve

🏆 Best Production Design — Christina McDade, The Postcard

🏆 Best Cinematography — Joey Katches, Raven Motel

🏆 Best Original Score — Evan Fine, The Death of Jim McGraw

🏆 Best Sound Design — Devin McKiernan, Knock Out!

🏆 Best Editing — Evan Fine, The Death of Jim McGraw

🏆 Best Comedic Performance — Zack Enlow as Zack, Enlow Show: Exploiting the Dead for Views

🏆 Best Dramatic Performance — Avalon Greenberg Call as Alara Marlowe, The Unrehearsed

🏆 Best Directing — Evan Fine, The Death of Jim McGraw

🏆 Best Student Film — Garrett Fernandes-McDade, The Postcard

🏆 Best Professional Film — Evan Fine, The Death of Jim McGraw

🏆 Spark Award — I Am Not Your God

🏆 Audience Choice — ShoeBox

Thank you again to our filmmakers, judges, volunteers, Contra Costa Cinemas, and everyone who filled the theater last night. Most importantly, thank you for supporting independent filmmakers and giving their work an audience.

See you next year!

09/20/2026

We out here! 10th Annual Bright Ideas Film Festival 💡🎬📽️🎞️ Contra Costa Cinema Q&A and Awards happening in T-minus 1 hour!

09/19/2026

KNOCK OUT!

An Official Selection of the 2026 Bright Ideas Film Festival!

Directed by Devin McKiernan and starring Laeli Gordon.

“Young adult Claire is currently the victim of an abusive relationship, but when accidentally releasing a video-game character into her world, she weaponizes them to handle her illegal biddings and potentially her own boyfriend.”
See Knock Out! on the big screen at the Bright Ideas Film Festival!

🎬 Saturday, September 19
🚪 Doors open at 6:30 PM | Films begin at 7:00 PM
📍 Contra Costa Cinemas, 555 Center Ave, Martinez
🎟️ Tickets are still available! Link in bio.

Follow the film: knockoutmovie

09/19/2026

CRAVINGS

An Official Selection of the 2026 Bright Ideas Film Festival!

Directed by Sally Carter and starring Doug Van Bebber and Sean Whalen.

“A misunderstanding between two friends leads to a dark confession.”

See Cravings on the big screen at the Bright Ideas Film Festival!

🎬 Saturday, September 19
🚪 Doors open at 6:30 PM | Films begin at 7:00 PM
📍 Contra Costa Cinemas, 555 Center Ave, Martinez
🎟️ Tickets are still available! Link in bio.

Follow the film: Saldawg Productions
Follow Sally:

09/19/2026

THE POSTCARD / DIE POSTKARTE

An Official Selection of the 2026 Bright Ideas Film Festival!

Directed by Garrett Fernandes-McDade and starring Richard Horuk, Victoria Perry, and Durward Noonen.

“In 1974 East Germany, a dramaturge bonds with the lonely elderly man she's boarding with, even as her theater production draws unwanted scrutiny from the Stasi.”

See The Postcard / Die Postkarte on the big screen at the Bright Ideas Film Festival!

🎬 Saturday, September 19
🚪 Doors open at 6:30 PM | Films begin at 7:00 PM
📍 Contra Costa Cinemas, 555 Center Ave, Martinez
🎟️ Tickets are still available! Link in bio.

09/19/2026

INTO THE BLACK

An Official Selection of the 2026 Bright Ideas Film Festival!

Directed by Connie Jo Sechrist and starring Minji Chang.

“When a lone astronaut embarks on a one-way mission into a black hole to investigate a mysterious cosmic signal, she must confront not only the terrifying unknown of space but also the personal regrets and relationships she left behind.”

See INTO THE BLACK on the big screen at the Bright Ideas Film Festival!

🎬 Saturday, September 19
🚪 Doors open at 6:30 PM | Films begin at 7:00 PM
📍 Contra Costa Cinemas, 555 Center Ave, Martinez
🎟️ Tickets are still available! Link in bio.

Follow the filmmaker: Connie Jo Sechrist

09/19/2026

SHOEBOX

An Official Selection of the 2026 Bright Ideas Film Festival!

Directed by Troy J. Tibayan and starring Jayke Guiuo and Yamvo Teague.

“A Filipino kid discovers a pair of jordans & embarks on a journey through his gentrified neighborhood to return home but stumbles across a young black man that wants the shoes. He begins to ask the question ‘whose shoes are these?’”

See ShoeBox on the big screen at the Bright Ideas Film Festival!

🎬 Saturday, September 19
🚪 Doors open at 6:30 PM | Films begin at 7:00 PM
📍 Contra Costa Cinemas, 555 Center Ave, Martinez
🎟️ Tickets are still available! Link in bio.

09/19/2026

I AM NOT YOUR GOD

An Official Selection of the 2026 Bright Ideas Film Festival!

Directed by Noemi Ochoa.

“When Misty is in trouble at a party, it's up to her and her band of friends to put a stop to evil. They realize they have more power... and more magic than they could have hoped for on their side.”

See I Am Not Your God on the big screen at the Bright Ideas Film Festival!

🎬 Saturday, September 19
🚪 Doors open at 6:30 PM | Films begin at 7:00 PM
📍 Contra Costa Cinemas, 555 Center Ave, Martinez
🎟️ Tickets are still available! Link in bio.

Follow the filmmaker: artofnomi64

09/19/2026

THE DEATH OF JIM McGRAW

An Official Selection of the 2026 Bright Ideas Film Festival!

Directed by Evan Fine and starring Emma Faun Ferguson and Kent Weishaus.

“A prosecutor fights for justice in the wake of a billionaire's murder on New Year's Eve.”

See The Death of Jim McGraw on the big screen at the Bright Ideas Film Festival!

🎬 Saturday, September 19
🚪 Doors open at 6:30 PM | Films begin at 7:00 PM
📍 Contra Costa Cinemas, 555 Center Ave, Martinez
🎟️ Tickets are still available! Link in bio.

Follow the filmmakers: Five Watt Lights

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555 Center Ave
Martinez, CA
94553

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https://brightideasfilmfestival.com/

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