The delightful documentary The Short Game will feature as the opening night film, reflecting the Omni La Costa Resort's long tradition of golfing and family. The film has received numerous accolades, including Audience Awards at the SXSW and Maui Film Festivals, and is Executive Produced by Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel.

Closing the festival will be At Middleton, which stars Andy Garcia, Vera Farmiga, and Taissa Farmiga in the story of two wildly different parents who meet and discover they have an irresistible chemistry while taking their kids on a college tour.

Both the opening and closing red carpet galas will feature screenings and parties under the stars at the Omni La Costa Resort and Spa.

The juried sports competition includes a variety of compelling documentary features: The Crash Reel,Maidentrip, Mcconkey and North of the Sun. The opening night film, The Short Game, will also compete.

Shorts in competition include: Slomo, The Red Pill, Crooked Lines, and Magnesium. The jury will be announced in the coming weeks.

The winner of the local high school competition is the short film Routines, which will premiere at the festival. Routines was co-directed by Canyon Crest Academy senior Jason Lee Phillips and former CCA student Jason Lee Segal. Canyon Crest Academy will receive a cash prize from the La Costa Film Festival for its distinguished Envision Cinema program.

The Narrative spotlight section features favorites from this year's festival circuit: Broken Circle Breakdown, Decoding Annie Parker, Just a Sigh, and Stand Clear of the CLsoing Doors.The Documentary Showcase also has its share of acclaimed titles: The Genius of Marian, Walking the Camino, SXSW, and William and the Windmill. There will also be a special outdoor retrospective screening of the 1989 Kevin Costner classic, Field of Dreams.

In another nod to the area, two films will screen as part of the festival's Surf Spotlight: Isolated and H2INDO.

The festival's family film will be Khumba, an animated comedy from South Africa.

"We're very proud to welcome so many talented filmmakers from around the world and present their work to our community," said festival founders, Mike and Ruby Callihan. "In turn, once they experience the beauty, hospitality, and wonder of Carlsbad, we believe it will leave a lasting impression, and they'll want to return often."

Festival Producer and Head Programmer, Nancy Collet, added, "This is an incredibly diverse and high-quality line-up of films. All of these titles have been awarded with accolades and have proven to be audience favorites on the festival circuit over the past year."

More information about all the films in the line-up, along with a schedule of screenings, can be found below at http://www.lacostafilmfestival.org.

Tickets and Passes

The inaugural La Costa Film Festival runs October 24-27 at the Omni La Costa Resort and Spa, located at 2100 Costa Del Mar Road in Carlsbad, CA. Additional screenings will take place at nearby venues, including Cinepolis Theaters and the Ruby G. Schulman Theater. Festival Passes are currently on sale at the festival's website, with special early bird pricing until October 1, when individual screening tickets go on sale. For more information please visit http://www.lacostafilmfestival.org or follow us on Twitter (@LaCostaFilmFest).

Press materials available at http://www.lacostafilmfestival.org.

ABOUT THE LA COSTA FILM FESTIVALFounded by La Costa residents Michael and Ruby Callihan in 2013, The La Costa Film Festival will deliver a new cultural experience to North San Diego County. All net proceeds of the festival will go to the local Boys & Girls Clubs of Carlsbad.

The Opening Night Gala will feature a red carpet and a screening under the stars on the beautiful grounds of the Omni La Costa Resort and Spa. Additional screenings will be offered at the nearby, luxurious La Costa Cinepolis Theaters, as well as the spacious Ruby G. Schulman Theater, at the Carlsbad Dove Library next door to the Resort. In recognition and celebration of the La Costa area's love of sport, there will also be a special shorts competition for local high schools, offering them the opportunity to exhibit their talent and to participate in the festival. The winning school will receive a cash prize to support its film program.