The Humboldt Film Festival is a short film festival held annually each spring in Arcata, California. The Humboldt Film Festival has been bringing independent and alternative short films to Humboldt County for forty-four years. As the world’s oldest student-run film festival the HFF created a unique venue for traditional films and alternative digital media that enjoys an international reputation for supporting and celebrating independent filmmakers working in traditional, experimental and non-traditional modes. Founded in 1967 by a group of film- loving Humboldt State University students the Humboldt Film Festival has expanded over the years to feature several days of public screenings, workshops and presentations by guest filmmakers each spring. The festival promotes the art of film, not only as a means of entertainment, but also as a vehicle for self-expression and a stimulus for dialogue about social, political and cultural issues.
Started by David Philips, a previous owner of the Minor Theater, and other Humboldt State University students in 1967, it is the longest-running student-organized film festival. It is a non-profit festival that focuses on narrative, documentary, animated and experimental films under 30 minutes. The festival runs each spring between March and April in Humboldt County, California and annually presents films and free public film-making workshops totaling almost 25 hours.
It is partially funded by Associated Students on a yearly basis and offers a 1-3 unit course each semester. The festival was known as the Humboldt International Short Film Festival from the 1980s to 2007. The festival has been associated in the past with various women's organizations on campus.[1][2]