Coast Film & Music Festival returns to Laguna Beach with 10 days of film, art and live music

The Coast Film & Music Festival is back for its eighth year Oct. 16-25 in Laguna Beach, with five nights of concerts at the 2,600-seat Irvine Bowl anchoring a townwide lineup of films, talks and outdoor programming. Festival passes are on sale now as organizers lean into a bigger mix of music, art and community events.

Why it matters: - The Coast Film & Music Festival is expanding beyond a film event into a townwide cultural draw for Laguna Beach. - The festival’s biggest music nights are centered at the historic Irvine Bowl, a 2,600-seat outdoor amphitheater that can turn into a major regional concert venue. - Proceeds support the Coast Film Foundation’s year-round community, education and filmmaker programs.

What happened: - The eighth annual Coast Film & Music Festival runs Oct. 16-25 in Laguna Beach. - The festival brings 10 days of independent film, live performances and conversations to venues across town. - Five nights of live music headline the schedule at the Irvine Bowl in Laguna Canyon. - The concert series, Concerts in the Canyon, opens with Preservation Hall Jazz Band on Oct. 3 and Aloe Blacc on Oct. 4. - The closing weekend features Rainbow Body with Ignacio Maria Gomez on Oct. 23, Ben Harper with special guests Donavon Frankenreiter, G. Love and Lily Meola on Oct. 24, and Amos Lee with the same special guests on Oct. 25. - All shows are rain or shine and include reserved seating. - Festival passes are on sale now at coastfilmfestival.com.

The details: - Programming is spread across walking-distance venues in downtown Laguna Beach, including the Rivian South Coast Theater, the Festival of Arts grounds and Forum Theater, the Laguna Beach Cultural Arts Center, the Surfing Heritage and Culture Center, and the Forest Avenue Promenade. - Film programming includes independent features and shorts spanning adventure, environment, surf, outdoor culture, music and the human experience. - Each screening is paired with post-screening conversations with filmmakers, athletes and subjects. - Films on Forest will offer free outdoor screenings and live music under string lights on the Forest Avenue Promenade. - Coast Summit is set for Oct. 22 with the theme “Intelligence of Nature.” - Hobie Night on Oct. 20 will spotlight Laguna Beach’s surf and local culture. - The Coast Changemaker Dinner on Oct. 21 will honor leaders using creativity and innovation to drive change. - Emerging filmmaker events will include screenings, education and mentorship, plus the Coast Film Foundation’s annual scholarship for a graduating Laguna Beach High School senior. - Get Outside programming will include guided outdoor experiences and stewardship events tied to the coastline, ocean, trails and open space around Laguna. - Some pass options include general admission or VIP seating for all three closing weekend concerts, plus unlimited access to films, programs and workshops. - Tickets for the Oct. 3 and Oct. 4 Concerts in the Canyon shows are sold separately, with reserved seating and weekend bundles available. - Tickets for Oct. 23, 24 and 25 are available individually or through festival passes. - Single-event tickets are limited, and passes are the easiest way to guarantee access.

Between the lines: - Laguna Beach gives the festival a built-in identity that blends surf, art, wilderness and live performance. - The Irvine Bowl’s canyon setting is a key differentiator, with every seat close to the stage and the natural landscape serving as part of the production. - Organizers are positioning Coast as a broader gathering around film, music, art, ideas and outdoor culture, not just a screening series. - The lineup signals a strategy of pairing recognizable headliners with community programming to widen the audience.

What's next: - Festival organizers will stage the opening Concerts in the Canyon shows on Oct. 3 and Oct. 4. - The full festival runs Oct. 16-25 across Laguna Beach. - Closing weekend concerts at the Irvine Bowl will run Oct. 23-25. - Additional information is available through the festival’s website and social channels.

The bottom line: - Coast is using Laguna Beach’s landscape and venues to make the festival feel like an immersive destination event, with music at the center and film still anchoring the mission.