Comic-Con International Independent Film Festival
Twenty-five years ago, Gary Sassaman, formerly Comic-Con’s own Director of Programming, had an idea. That notion was “Film Fest Friday,” a one-day event to share the art of independent filmmaking. The next year the festival ran four days, and by 2005, it had blossomed into the Comic-Con International Independent Film Festival (CCI-IFF), a juried competition and showcase that also includes the panel series Comic-Con Film School.
The CCI-IFF offers attendees a chance to see films, often premieres, from around the world in an intimate setting with other independent film habitués and to hear from and ask questions of the filmmakers. Past winners include 2005’s animated short 9 and 2010’s documentary Marwencol. 9 eventually became a full-length animated hit film starring Elijah Wood and Jennifer Connelly, while Marwencol evolved into Welcome to Marwen with Steve Carell. Both the original 9 and Marwencol can be streamed from various sources.
This year, judges Ron Diamond (executive producer, Animation Show of Shows), Stephanie Filo (Emmy winner, film/television editor/activist), and Patricio Ginelsa (filmmaker/comic book creator) will hand out the honors from among 49 selections from all over the world, including Japan, Mexico, Slovenia, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Entries are organized into seven categories: Action/Adventure, Animation, Comics-Oriented, Documentary (Pop Culture-Oriented), Horror/Suspense, Humor, and Science Fiction/Fantasy!
Awards will be presented on Sunday, followed by screenings of winning film entries. You can find the CCI-IFF at the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina, next door to the Hall A side of the convention center, in Grand Ballroom 6.
For budding filmmakers, Comic-Con Film School programs are scheduled each morning at 10:00 am in the same room as CCI-IFF screenings. Films for next year can be submitted between October and February, reviewed by dedicated staff, and then sent to our esteemed judges for review.
The complete schedule can be found at https://www.comic-con.org/cc/things-to-do/film-festival/.
Autographs – P.O.W.E.R. Drawings
(Previously Offered Wristbands: Extra Redemption)
In true superhero spirit, P.O.W.E.R. Drawings give attendees one last shot at scoring an Exclusive Signing Portal wristband!
Did you miss out on an Exclusive Signing (ES) that was in the Comic-Con 2026 Exclusives Portal? Sixty (60) minutes before the start of an ES Portal signing, a special drawing may be held in the Autograph Area for any unclaimed wristbands, if available. This is your chance to swoop in and claim a spot that was previously awarded but not redeemed.
The Autograph Area online schedule will list the P.O.W.E.R. Drawing lineup time and location, as well as the drawing time for each ES Portal signing. If there are no unclaimed wristbands, there will be no drawing. The drawing will follow the Autograph Area Line Drawing procedure, so be sure you’re familiar with how it works (see page 78 of the Events Guide).
Like any good origin story, this might be your unexpected opportunity to become a part of something epic. Best of luck.
Potential P.O.W.E.R. Drawings and times for today are as follows:
- Mattel Brick Shop Design Panel (9:30 am drawing)
- Matt Dinniman (9:30 am drawing, signing at UCC Booth #1401)
- Ray Gunn Poster Signing with Brad Bird and Michael Giacchino (10:30 am drawing)
- Percy Jackson and the Olympians (10:30 am drawing)
- Stuart Fails to Save the Universe (11:30 am drawing)
- Todd McFarlane (12:00 pm drawing)
- WWE Superstar Meet and Greet (12:15 pm drawing)
- Bryan Lee O’Malley (12:30 pm drawing, signing at Oni Press Booth #1829)
- Monster High Ghouls Rule Lagoona Design Panel (2:00 pm drawing)
- Drawn Into Mattel (3:00 pm drawing)
- Matt Dinniman (3:30 pm drawing)
- DC All Stars Signing (4:00 pm drawing, signing at DC Booth #3029)
Programming Updates
Addition
Sci-Fi, Space, and the Universe – Award-winning creatives and experts discuss science fiction, the latest knowledge of space and the universe, and what comes next as the line between sci-fact and sci-fi moves daily. Panelists include Gigi Edgley (actor, Farscape, Star Trek Continues), David Howard (writer, Galaxy Quest), James Ganiere (Emmy-nominated director and producer), Gabriel Santos (scientist, Alf Museum of Paleontology; co-host, PBS Eons), Tiffany Kataria (research scientist, exoplanet systems, NASA), Richard Rieber (robotics systems engineer, NASA/JPL), and Mark O’Bannon (author, Imperium series, Whiskers) 6:45 pm – 7:45 pm, Room 6A.
Cancellations
- Bringing DC Heroes to Life Through Collectibles – 10:00 am – 11:00 am, Grand 10 & 11, Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina
- Alter Egos and Origin Stories – 6:45 pm – 7:45 pm, Room 6A
Toucan Tip Thursday
This year marks the 60th anniversary of Star Trek. Comic-Con Films celebrates the event with screenings of TV episodes along with films that inspired the franchise or were shaped by its themes. Today, Films will show four episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and one each of Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: The Original Series. This includes a Tribble mini-marathon, “The Trouble with Tribbles” (Star Trek: The Original Series, 3:20 pm) immediately followed by “Trials and Tribble-ations” (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, 4:20). Both will screen in Grand 5, Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina. See https://www.comic-con.org/cc/things-to-do/films/ for the complete Films schedule.
Comic-Con Gallery
Lost in the Land of Lanyards.
What’s so Funny ‘bout Peace, Love, and Selfies?
When Your Ride to Hawkins Takes a Terrifying Turn.
Magnificent in a Mohawk.
He Only Has Eyes for You.
Capturing the Doombot.
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All content is the property of Comic-Con® International © 2026.
Photographer credits are indicated below. All photos are © 2026 SDCC.
Comic-Con Today
Editor-in-Chief – Chris Sturhann
Editor/Photographers: Justin Hurt, Christopher Machado
Editor/Writer – Carly Neun