Is there a way to watch without going to the island?

Yes. An online festival pass is $59 plus fees and the virtual festival runs September 25 to October 4.

16th Catalina Film Festival, Sep 25–27, LA

Name: 16th Catalina Film Festival
Start: 2026-09-25T19:00:00.000Z
End: 2026-09-28T05:00:00.000Z
Location: Catalina Film Festival venues in Avalon, Avalon, Catalina Island, South Bay & Long Beach

It is the one film festival of the weekend that comes with a boat ride: three days of premieres, panels and awards in a town small enough to walk, on the only inhabited island in Los Angeles County. Single-day passes mean a Saturday trip works without committing to the whole weekend, and the same program is available online for anyone staying on the mainland.

What to expect

Venues scattered through Avalon with festival check-in at El Encanto, 163 Crescent Avenue. The festival runs golf carts Friday through Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, and points attendees to Avalon's CIRCUIT-COAST seaside transit at $2 a ride, plus $2 per additional passenger and capped at $6 a group, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Titles and venues marked TBA on the schedule are still being confirmed.

Good to know

Passes cover the full festival or a single day — Friday 25, Saturday 26 or Sunday 27 — and all purchases complete on eoFlix.
The online festival pass is $59 plus eoFlix fees and covers the virtual program through October 4.
Festival check-in is at El Encanto, 163 Crescent Ave, Avalon.
The festival's own transit page covers golf carts and the CIRCUIT-COAST shuttle, including ferry dock pick-up and drop-off.
Avalon is on Catalina Island, so plan the crossing and any overnight stay before buying a pass.
The published schedule still carries TBA titles and venues, so check it again before going.

Going? Keep it.