Riptide Film Festival at James Armstrong Theatre

Riptide Film Festival is a one-night showcase of independent filmmaking from across California, and it lands at the James Armstrong Theatre in Torrance on Saturday, October 17. If you are sorting through things to do in Los Angeles County this month, this is a good one for anyone who would rather watch what working indie directors are making right now than another studio sequel.

When: Saturday, October 17, 2026, 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM Where: James Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance Tickets: General admission from $17.80; VIP Festival Pass up to $42.50

What to expect

The festival bills itself as a curated selection of boundary-pushing, up-and-coming filmmakers, all working in California, with the films presented on a proper theater screen. The evening closes with an awards presentation honoring the standout films, so you get a screening program and a finale in one sitting.

One festival ticket covers admission to all the screenings. The organizers also sell a VIP Festival Pass, which adds professional red carpet photos, early seating and access to a VIP lounge where you can talk with filmmakers and fellow film lovers. If you want to meet the people behind the movies, the lounge is the part worth paying for.

The poster for this year's edition shows the red carpet and step-and-repeat photo backdrop from past years, which gives a sense of the scale: dressy but friendly, closer to a neighborhood premiere than a Hollywood gala.

Getting there and practical info

The James Armstrong Theatre sits in the Torrance Civic Center complex, and the 3330 Civic Center Drive address is easy to plug into any maps app. The event is only three hours long, which makes it simple to pair with dinner in Torrance before or after. Doors and seating details are best confirmed on the ticket page, particularly if you buy the VIP pass and want the early seating.

This is a ticketed event, so buy ahead rather than counting on the door. Anyone planning a weekend around LA events this weekend will find it sits comfortably alongside a Saturday afternoon at the beach or a South Bay food crawl.

Why go

Festival programs like this are a rare chance to see work before it has a distributor, and to cheer on locals who made something with very little money. Come for the films, stay for the awards, and you will likely leave with a few names to watch. For more picks, browse our arts and culture listings.