A Landmark 8th Edition at The Grove
The DaVinci International Film Festival (DIFF) has officially wrapped its 8th annual edition, held September 25-26 at The Grove in Los Angeles. The milestone year delivered sold-out screenings and standing-room-only crowds, celebrating global independent cinema while setting the stage for an ambitious global expansion in 2027.
Festival organizers confirmed the 8th edition as a landmark success, honoring Oscar nominees, debuting an all-new adventure-documentary platform, and announcing major international milestones for next year.
Honoring Randall Wallace and Shohreh Aghdashloo
Opening night set a vibrant tone as founders and special guests donned traditional kilts to honor Oscar-nominated screenwriter Randall Wallace (Braveheart). British Consulate General Paul Rennie took the stage to present Wallace with DIFF’s prestigious Visionary Award, and the evening’s opening reception was hosted by Belhaven Brewery.
The star power continued through the weekend. Oscar-nominated actress Shohreh Aghdashloo captivated audiences as she accepted the Leo Award for Best Short Film on behalf of Iranian filmmakers for Farewell Day. Festivalgoers also turned out in force for the powerful feature documentary Growth, resulting in a sold-out, standing-room-only triumph.
“Honoring Randall Wallace wasn’t just a highlight of our festival; it was a deeply personal milestone,” shared Founder and Executive Director Chadwick Pelletier. “As a filmmaker and screenwriter, Randall’s body of work has fundamentally shaped my own journey behind the lens. To present him with our Visionary Award for his masterworks, alongside a special screening of Braveheart, embodies the very soul of what we do: celebrating the storytellers who forever change how we see the world.”
Screenwriting Takes Center Stage
DIFF’s commitment to championing screenwriting was front and center. Its competition, out of Storyline, hosted a dynamic Writers’ Corner event where professional actors brought finalist scripts to life with live readings projected on the big screen. The Leo Award for Best Screenplay was ultimately presented to 12:37 The King David Hotel.
The session was followed by an exclusive one-on-one professional writer panel featuring top industry veterans Creighton Rothenberger (Olympus Has Fallen, London Has Fallen, The Expendables 3), John Macinnes (Call of Duty), and Barbara Stepansky (Outlander).
RecFest Debuts With the Black Diamond Award
Building on this year’s momentum, the festival launched the inaugural edition of RecFest, a new platform dedicated to short adventure documentaries. Zahir was honored with the event’s first-ever Black Diamond Award, marking the start of RecFest’s official expansion to British Columbia beginning in 2027.
2027: Global Expansion on the Horizon
Looking ahead, DIFF announced major global milestones for 2027. The festival will host its must-attend DaVinci Masquerade event in Cannes, expand its international footprint with residency programs in Nairobi, and launch DaVinciPlus, an exclusive streaming platform for DIFF alumni.
For more of what’s happening around town, see our roundup of Los Angeles events in October 2026 and things to do in Los Angeles this weekend. Our earlier coverage of the Beverly Hills Film Festival is also worth a look for festival fans.
2026 DIFF Award Winners
- Visionary Award: Randall Wallace
- Feature Film: On a String
- Short Film: Farewell Day
- Feature Documentary: Kikuyu Land
- Short Documentary: Cumbria II
- Screenplay: 12:37 The King David Hotel
- Animation: Snorri: Catch Me If You Candy!
- Junior Leo Award: Wildcat
- RecFest Black Diamond Award: Zahir
Stay connected with DIFF on Instagram at @davincifilmfestival and online at davincifilmfestival.com as the festival looks ahead to an even bigger 9th edition in 2027.
