Tarzana International Film Festival
Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc.
Gale Anne Hurd
Celebrating its fifth year, TZIFF brings together filmmakers, celebrities and film enthusiasts for premieres, special events and a gala honoring Gale Anne Hurd
SHERMAN OAKS, CA, UNITED STATES, September 16, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — TZIFF takes center stage October 2–4, 2026, with a spectacular celebration of independent cinema, cutting-edge creativity and imaginative storytelling.
Highlighting the experience will be the Closing Night Dinner & Awards Gala, where legendary producer Gale Anne Hurd will receive the prestigious Edgar Rice Burroughs Legacy Award, presented by acclaimed filmmaker Ernest Dickerson. The evening will also feature a special tribute to legendary actor, martial artist and philanthropist Chuck Norris, presented by actor Sean Kanan, along with Sam J. Jones receiving the festival’s Man of Action Award.
The festival kicks off Friday, October 2, at Regal Cinemas at the historic Sherman Oaks Galleria, highlighted by the Opening Night Festival Premiere of Body Man, a political action thriller starring Sean Kanan, Kate Monroe, Martin Kove, Emilio Rivera, Lochlyn Munro, Tom Arnold and David Chokachi, directed by Michele Kanan.
This year’s festival combines red carpet premieres, special guests, signature events and filmmaker networking with an exceptional showcase of independent films from around the world.
Saturday and Sunday feature an exciting, diverse lineup of films and creative programming, including feature films, shorts, documentaries, animation, music videos, films by women, and science fiction, fantasy and horror, along with two categories honoring screenwriting.
As part of TZIFF’s curated programming, the AI Media Festival (AIMF) will showcase a selection of filmmakers’ work, exploring emerging creative technologies and new approaches to cinematic storytelling.
Saturday evening will feature science fiction, fantasy and horror programming, followed by a special screening of award-winning filmmaker Jeff Rector’s Book of Secrets, an anthology feature film that travels across time and space through a mysterious collection of stories revealed with the discovery of an ancient book hidden inside the walls of an old Victorian mansion.
Sunday showcases another exciting slate of screenings before the Closing Night presentation, including of Ring of Kibo, a family adventure starring John O’Hurley, Vincent De Paul, Bianca D’Ambrosio and Chiara D’Ambrosio, directed by Christian Filippella and Kimberly Skyrme. The film follows lifelong friends and explorers on a quest for the legendary Ring of Kibo, an artifact of immense power.
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A LEGACY OF IMAGINATION
Following the Closing Night film, the celebration moves to the Closing Night Dinner & Awards Gala at Mulholland Hills Country Club in Tarzana, featuring a celebrity red carpet, cocktail reception, awards and special presentations.
The Edgar Rice Burroughs Legacy Award honors artists whose careers have expanded the boundaries of science fiction, fantasy, adventure and imaginative storytelling. This year’s recipient, Gale Anne Hurd, has produced such landmark films as The Terminator, Aliens, The Abyss, Tremors and Armageddon, as well as the television phenomenon The Walking Dead.
The Gala will also feature a special tribute to Chuck Norris, presented by actor, writer and producer Sean Kanan, while Flash Gordon star Sam J. Jones will be honored with the festival’s Man of Action Award.
The evening will also feature special performances by comedian and longtime television comedy writer Brian Kiley (Conan, The Ellen DeGeneres Show) and singer/songwriter Bonnie Gordon (Star Trek: Prodigy).
Named for the visionary creator of Tarzan®, John Carter of Mars® and The Land That Time Forgot®, the award has a special connection to Tarzana. In 1919, Edgar Rice Burroughs purchased a ranch in California’s San Fernando Valley and named it Tarzana Ranch after his legendary literary hero. The surrounding community eventually adopted the name Tarzana. Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc., has supported the festival as a sponsor since its inception.
“This year’s festival represents exactly what TZIFF has become—a celebration of great storytelling in all of its forms,” said Lori Morrissey, Founder and CEO of the Tarzana International Film Festival. “From independent filmmakers and traditional cinema to the extraordinary new possibilities being created with cutting-edge technology, we’re bringing generations of storytelling together in one festival.”
“Edgar Rice Burroughs imagined worlds that audiences had never seen before,” Morrissey continued. “More than a century later, filmmakers are still doing exactly that—only now they have creative tools Burroughs could never have imagined. That connection between the history of storytelling and its future is really at the heart of this year’s festival.”
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TRADITION MEETS THE FUTURE
The festival brings together the imaginative legacy of Edgar Rice Burroughs, today’s independent filmmaking community and a new generation of creators exploring the future of storytelling.
“Technology continues to change, but great storytelling will always begin with imagination,” said Jeff Rector, President of the Tarzana International Film Festival and AIMF Founder. “We’re excited to provide a platform where traditional filmmaking and emerging creative tools can exist side by side, while always keeping the filmmaker and the story at the center.”
From the Opening Night excitement of Body Man to the mysterious worlds of Book of Secrets and the Closing Night adventure Ring of Kibo, the 2026 festival celebrates one essential idea:
Great storytelling has no boundaries.
The Tarzana International Film Festival takes place October 2–4, 2026, with screenings at Regal Cinemas at the historic Sherman Oaks Galleria and the Closing Night Dinner & Awards Gala at Mulholland Hills Country Club in Tarzana.
For tickets and the complete festival screening schedule, visit ItsMySeat.com/TZIFF.
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ABOUT THE TARZANA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
The Tarzana International Film Festival showcases exceptional independent films from around the world while celebrating the enduring legacy of Edgar Rice Burroughs and the spirit of imagination, adventure and creativity that helped make Tarzana internationally recognizable.
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ABOUT THE AI MEDIA FESTIVAL
As part of TZIFF’s curated programming, the AI Media Festival provides a showcase for filmmakers and artists exploring emerging creative technologies and new approaches to cinematic storytelling.
-Tarzana International Film Festival-
-AI Media Festival-
Jeff Rector, President & Festival Director
Tarzana International Film Festival
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