Doc Shorts | 2026 SF Dance Film Festival

Doc Shorts

International stories of resilience, courage, and discovery through movement.

Doc Shorts features five compelling documentaries that reveal how dance carries memory, identity, and cultural legacy across the globe. From a martial art form kept alive by one woman in rural Bangladesh to a near-forgotten ritual dance revived by a new generation in Colombia, several of these films capture communities working to ensure their traditions aren’t lost to time. Elsewhere, a Singaporean dancer travels to Ghana to trace Afro Dance to its roots, a street dancer’s evolution into an influential choreographer unfolds through archival footage, and a blind woman’s experience of live performance reframes what it means to witness dance at all. For those drawn to the stories behind the movement, these real-life portraits are tender and resonant.

1:30p | House Opens

2:00p | Program begins

Runtime: 76 minutes

Venue Accessibility: Brava Theater is located at 2781 24th Street. Curb cuts for the sidewalk to the Brava Theater Center are located on the corner of York and 24th Street. The entrance of the theater is on the ground floor and there is an elevator to seating in the upper level of the theater.

About the 2026 San Francisco Dance Film Festival: 

The San Francisco Dance Film Festival marks its seventeenth year this fall with over 80 films celebrating dance in all its forms, from world-class ballet to endangered folkloric traditions. Eighteen in-person screenings run October 23 through November 8 at venues across San Francisco, complete with artist Q&As, panels, and community gatherings, followed by an Online Festival from November 9 through 30 featuring short film programs and online-only features. Join SFDFF 2026 for intimate documentaries, dazzling screendance, and thrilling live performance captures that celebrate the ever-evolving intersection of dance and film.

For more info please visit our website.