When the lineup posts, here's what to look for: the short film blocks tend to be the most genuinely surprising part of the program — local work that hasn't been seen anywhere else, often followed by Q&As with directors who are actually in the room. Feature screenings book fast. If past years hold, tickets run $12–$18 per screening or $60–$80 for a festival pass. Most venues are BART-accessible; Embarcadero and Civic Center stops have both hosted programming in prior editions.

Practical note: single-screening tickets usually go faster than people expect. If you see a block you want, buy it when you see it — the festival doesn't do waitlists.

With two hours, I'd pick one short film block, arrive ten minutes early to grab a seat with sightlines to the Q&A mic, and stay for the full discussion.