Vero Beach Film Festival turns 10. Here's how to Fest April 9 - 12

For the 10th anniversary of the Vero Beach Film Festival, your first decision is how you want to do it.

From $20 at the door all the way up to the all‑in pass.

HOW TO FEST: MONDAY APRIL 9 - SUNDAY, APRIL 12

The Producer’s Pass ($365) is the whole thing: every film, every party, the Filmmakers’ Lounge, the Grand Wine Tasting, and the “Toast to 10” cocktail party on Saturday night. Four days where you’re basically living at the festival.

The Director’s Pass ($165) covers unlimited films, plus the Opening Night Tiki Party and the Wrap Party at Walking Tree Brewery.

The Pick‑4 Pass ($75) gets you into four films. If you’d rather decide in the moment, it’s $20 at the door per film.

Two of the marquee films are by people who live right here, now on the big screen.

Bonding is new Vero resident Barry Nordstrand’s feature debut, a sleek psychological thriller shot at his historic Colorado ranch. He’s the breakout guy everyone else is just discovering; Vero has a front‑row seat while it’s still “our” hometown filmmaker.

A Life Illuminated follows Dr. Edie Widder, our own rockstar marine biologist who founded ORCA and built her career in these waters. Directed by Tasha Van Zandt, this documentary follows Dr. Widder as she explores the deep-sea "twilight zone" to study bioluminescence, captures the first footage of a giant squid, and advocates for the protection of fragile marine ecosystems.

Out of 12,000 Film Festivals, the Vero Beach Film Festival has earned a place among FilmFreeway's Top 100 Best Reviewed Festivals.

Festivals are where independent films are actually born; where a short becomes a feature, an unknown gets distribution, and one great audience changes a career.

Moonlight was a tiny festival film before it went on to win the Oscar for Best Picture, which is exactly the kind of leap festivals make possible. Vero has had a front‑row seat to that kind of trajectory for a decade: local favorite Xaque Gruber was showing early shorts here long before Sallywood came back to this stage with national buzz.

In a town the size of Vero, that’s rare. When you buy a ticket, you’re keeping that pipeline open for the next Moonlight and the next Xaque.

Schedule, passes and ticket info can be found here.

About Vero Beach Film Festival The Vero Beach Film Festival (VBFF) is a 501(c)3 non-profit arts organization that celebrates independent filmmaking while enriching our community both culturally and economically.

We love film for its ability to transport us, move us, and elevate us in challenging times. Since our inception in 2016, we’ve hosted filmmakers from around the world and screened a wide variety of films—from comedies and dramas to documentaries and shorts.

During the festival, Vero Beach comes alive with red-carpet screenings, lively parties, and filmmaker events that support both independent and student creators. Most importantly, the festival gives back to the community through free screenings and generous donations to local charities.

The Vero Beach Film Festival offers a vibrant, immersive celebration of independent cinema, highlighting the power of storytelling and media. Out of 12,000 Film Festivals, the Vero Beach Film Festival has earned a place among FilmFreeway's Top 100 Best Reviewed Festivals.

The Huffington Post has dubbed it “The Summer Sundance” recognizing it as one of the nation's leading film festivals.

Beyond the traditional four-day format, VBFF has expanded to include initiatives like the regional filmmaking program Vero Visions, and the student apprenticeship program NEXT UP! Student Films, and partnerships with local high schools to support youth in filmmaking.