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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tDakota Fanning stars in “The Sun Never Sets,” the opening feature film of the 2026 Oak Cliff Film Festival. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tDakota Fanning stars in “The Sun Never Sets,” the opening feature film of the 2026 Oak Cliff Film Festival. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Provided by The Alaska Project<\/p>\n
Fifteen years ago, the Oak Cliff Film Festival<\/a> (OCFF) was properly established, but a lot can happen in that time. To put it in perspective, the biggest films of the year at the time were among the \u201cTwilight\u201d and \u201cHarry Potter\u201d franchises. This year\u2019s record-breaking runaway success is the 2026 juggernaut \u201cBackrooms,\u201d<\/a> directed by Kane Parsons, who was just six years old when OCFF was founded. <\/p>\n Across various cinematic eras and endless upheavals, OCFF has endured, and its collection of high-demand screenings set at Oak Cliff locales (like the Texas Theatre<\/a>) has proven irreplaceable.<\/p>\n As the decades change, quality cinema and communal experiences remain essential. The lineup of movies for the 15th iteration of the 2026 OCFF is keen to deliver both of those elements.\u00a0The festival will kick off Thursday, July 30, with a lineup that emphasizes handcrafted, fresh artistic visions, creating spaces for DFW moviegoers of all stripes to experience creative visions they\u2019ve never dreamed of.<\/p>\n Looking at the schedule for the Oak Cliff Film Festival, though, it can feel a little daunting to figure out what to prioritize among viewing experiences. There\u2019s so much offered here that one can get overwhelmed by all the prospective goodies. Allow this guide to offer some clarity with a peek at five especially must-see screenings occurring during the 15th festival.<\/p>\n Sign up for the Arts & Culture newsletter to get the latest stories delivered to your inbox<\/p>\n THANK YOU!<\/p>\n You’re all set.<\/p>\n CLOSE\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \u201cThe Sun Never Sets,\u201d<\/strong> directed by Joe Swanberg<\/strong><\/p>\n There was a time when new films from mumblecore icon Joe Swanberg were an annual fixture of cinema. In some years, like 2011, he\u2019d even crank out multiple feature films. However, except for his 57-minute 2020 feature \u201cBuild the Wall,\u201d Swanberg\u2019s been shockingly MIA from the directing scene since 2017\u2019s comedy \u201cWin It All.\u201d Now, he\u2019s back with \u201cThe Sun Never Sets,\u201d which will also kick off the festival as its opening screening. Dakota Fanning and Jake Johnson headline the motion picture.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Sun Never Sets\u201d screens at 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 30 at the Texas Theatre (231 Jefferson Blvd.).<\/p>\n \u201cFilipi\u00f1ana,\u201d directed by Rafael Manuel<\/strong><\/p>\n Rafael Manuel\u2019s new directorial effort, \u201cFilipi\u00f1ana,\u201d scored immediate and tremendous praise<\/a> at its Sundance 2026 premiere. This story of 17-year-old Isabel (Jorrybell Agoto) uncovering evil machinations at a local country club has earned acclaim for its distinctive filmmaking style. The feature-length directorial debut of Manuel offers the chance to catch some of the freshest perspectives rising in modern cinema. <\/p>\n \u201cFilipi\u00f1ana\u201d screens at 9 p.m. on Friday, July 31 at the Bishop Arts Theatre Center (215 S Tyler St.).<\/p>\n \u201cBarbara Forever,\u201d directed by Byrdie O\u2019Connor<\/strong><\/p>\n Pride Month is over, but celebrating queer voices and icons can be a year-long affair. The OCFF will embody that reality by screening multiple documentaries that explore queer stories. One of those projects is \u201cBarbara Forever,\u201d a documentary covering experimental lesbian filmmaker Barbara Hammer. Her works, like \u201cNitrate Kisses,\u201d have influenced countless motion pictures over the years, so it\u2019s only fitting that such a seminal artist would get a documentary dedicated to her life and artistry. Plus, the documentary\u2019s use of footage from its titular subject offers moviegoers a rare chance to experience Barbara Hammer\u2019s imagery on the big screen in new ways.<\/p>\n \u201cBarbara Forever\u201d screens Saturday, August 1 at 12:15 p.m. at The Oak Cliff Assembly (919 Morrell Ave.).<\/p>\n \u201c[[vortex]]\u201d shorts directed by various filmmakers <\/strong><\/p>\n On the final day of OCFF, attendees have the chance to get sucked into something truly unorthodox. Specifically, they can get lost with a block of shorts dubbed \u201c[[vortex]].\u201d This set consists of a wide array of short films that, per the OCFF<\/a>, promise \u201ca multiplicity of overlapping techniques to create unique impressions, pushing the limits of film form in unique ways.\u201d If you\u2019re looking for bite-sized doses of cinema you\u2019ve never experienced before, \u201c[[vortex]]\u201d could hit the spot.<\/p>\n The \u201c[[vortex]]\u201d shorts screen Sunday, August 2 at 3:00 p.m. at The Kessler Theater (1230 W Davis St.).<\/p>\n \u201cShtickmen,\u201d directed by Jeff Hays and Eric Jewell<\/strong><\/p>\n When this 23-year-old feature screens on the 2026 Oak Cliff Film Festival\u2019s final day, it will likely be the first time any attendees have seen the Dallas-set mockumentary about struggling stand-up comedians. That\u2019s one of the many joys of these film festivals: exposing audiences to older titles that slipped through the cracks. Why not wrap up the 2026 Oak Cliff Film Festival experience with a film right here at home? <\/p>\n \u201cShtickmen\u201d screens Sunday, August 2 at 5:15 p.m. at The Kessler Theater.<\/p>\n