12th Annual South Texas International Film Festival Set for Sept. 10-12 in Edinburg
Edinburg, South Texas International Film Festival, STXIFF, ACE Center, Edward James Olmos, Valente Rodriguez, Dannie McCallum, independent film, Rio Grande Valley, pitch competition, red carpet, awards gala, City of Edinburg Cultural Arts
Staff Report
Edinburg TX – The City of Edinburg will host the 12th Annual South Texas International Film Festival from Sept. 10-12, 2026, at the Edinburg Arts, Culture, and Events Center, 315 W. McIntyre St. The festival spotlights 31 independent works, including 22 regional, state, and world premieres spanning documentaries to live-action features.
Opening Night — Thursday, Sept. 10
The festival opens with a Red Carpet event at 5:30 p.m., followed by a 6:30 p.m. screening of short films produced by local RGV filmmakers through the STXIFF 48-Hour Film Race.
Friday Showcase — Friday, Sept. 11
Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with five film blocks running from 6 to 9:30 p.m. showcasing diverse voices and genres.
Saturday Programming — Saturday, Sept. 12
The morning will feature The Pitch, a competition in which aspiring screenwriters present original film ideas to a panel of industry professionals for a chance to win a cash prize. Continuous film screenings run from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., highlighting films produced by Texas filmmakers.
Celebrity Panel
Legendary actor Edward James Olmos will headline this year’s celebrity panel, joined by RGV local talents Valente Rodriguez and Dannie McCallum.
Awards Gala — Saturday, Sept. 12
The festival concludes Saturday evening with Red Carpet interviews at 6 p.m., followed by the official Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets
- Single Film Block: $5
- Single Day Pass: $10
- Full Festival Pass: $25 (excludes Gala entry)
- Awards Gala Ticket: $65 (includes dinner and awards entry)
Tickets and the full 2026 screening schedule are available at stxiff.com/stxiff2026schedule. For inquiries regarding ticketing, scheduling, or media accreditation, contact stxiff@cityofedinburg.com.
Source – City of Edinburg Cultural Arts Department