OCTOBER 8-11, 2026
Films• Speakers • Industry & Business Networking Events
A global reach of films from around the world are showcased to provide you with a window into diverse cultures, heritages and perspectives.
- Thu. Oct. 8: Opening Night – ‘Stardust: A Story Of Love & Architecture’, followed by heavy hors d’oeuvres and DD Wines at The Screening Room.
- Fri. Oct. 9: Noteworthy Films – SXSW Film Selection, Seahorse, SXSW Film Selection – Adam’s Apple, Tribeca Film Festival Selection – How to Feed a Dictator, as well as an Art Means Business Leadership Summit with keynote speaker, Alex Pires.
- Sat. Oct. 10: Great films for which 75% of proceeds benefit – Delaware Shakespeare, Delaware Museum of Natural Science, Delaware Humanities, West Side Grows Together, and, Rock Fantasy Dreams Foundation.
- Sun. Oct. 11: The Sunday Brunch Awards – a nice gathering with heavy hors d’oeuvres and DD Wines, an Emerging Storyteller Scholarship Award from Wilmington University, and, announcements for this year’s winners in all categories! Fun for all.
Beyond the Screen
The Wilmington International Film Festival is designed to engage the whole community – with filmmaker meet-and-greets, live performances, artist talks, business networking and international cuisine – transforming downtown Wilmington into a celebration of cultures. Founder and Festival Director Gordon DelGiorno states the event underscores the growing opportunity that film and entertainment brings to Delaware’s economy.
Delaware’s new film incentive program is already attracting attention from independent producers, positioning the state to compete with regional neighbors for film and TV projects.
A Collaborative Effort
The festival is powered by a network of community and business partners. See our home page for a list of our many supporters and strategic partners.
Together, we’re helping establish Wilmington as a creative crossroads for film lovers, families, and professionals from across the region with visitors from around the world. Connect to it all at the Wilmington International Film Festival.
Art Means Business 2026: Leadership Summit