Where Marilyn Monroe's Hollywood Meets a New Generation of Movie Magic

   There are places where Hollywood history lives behind museum glass, and then there is Coronado, where you can walk along the same beachfront that once served as a movie set for Marilyn Monroe. With its Victorian architecture, sparkling Pacific shoreline, and famous red-roofed hotel, this seaside community across the bay from San Diego seems almost too picturesque to be real. For five days in November, it also becomes one of Southern California's most charming destinations for movie lovers.

The Coronado Island Film Festival returns November 4 through 8, 2026, celebrating its 11th year with more than 140 films, premieres, documentaries, short features, workshops, and conversations with the people who bring stories to the screen. Unlike larger film festivals where audiences race between distant theaters, Coronado offers something more personal. Its compact downtown allows visitors to explore much of the festival on foot, with restaurants, shops, historic buildings, and ocean views along the way.

The centerpiece of Coronado's cinematic history is the legendary Hotel del Coronado, which opened in 1888. Its wooden Victorian exterior, sweeping verandas, and distinctive red turrets have welcomed generations of presidents, celebrities, and vacationers. But Hollywood gave the hotel another claim to fame in 1958 when director Billy Wilder brought Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, and Jack Lemmon to Coronado to film the comedy Some Like It Hot.

Although the movie's story takes place in Florida during the Prohibition era, the California hotel was convincing enough to play a luxurious Miami resort. Interestingly, only exterior scenes were filmed at the property. The interiors were recreated elsewhere, a detail that continues to surprise fans who recognize the hotel's familiar features on screen.

The movie became a celebrated American comedy, and the hotel remains one of the country's most recognizable filming locations. Visitors can admire the very building that helped give the film its glamorous setting, proving that some Hollywood stars never really leave the spotlight.

Coronado's connection to storytelling goes even further back. Author L. Frank Baum, creator of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, was a frequent visitor to the hotel and wrote several books in his Oz series during his stays. Long before modern filmmakers arrived with cameras and crews, this seaside destination was already inspiring remarkable imaginary worlds.

That creative tradition continues with the film festival, established in 2016. Its 2026 program brings together established industry professionals and emerging filmmakers, offering audiences opportunities to discover productions that might otherwise escape their attention.

Among the festival's attractions is the Leonard Maltin Industry Tribute Awards Gala, held November 4 at the Hotel del Coronado. The event celebrates achievements in filmmaking with a red carpet, dinner, and awards presentation, bringing a touch of Hollywood ceremony to the historic resort.

The festival also features the Culinary Cinema Series, combining films about food and culture with culinary experiences. Meanwhile, ShortsFest gives shorter productions their own spotlight, demonstrating that a memorable story does not always require two hours and a blockbuster budget.

For visitors who enjoy exploring beyond the theater, the November 7 Scenes & Sips event offers a tasting stroll along Orange Avenue. Participants visit local establishments while learning about Coronado's connections to entertainment history through the Avenue of the Stars. The experience is reserved for festival badge holders and requires advance reservations.

Another highlight comes November 8, when the closing-night celebration moves to the Coronado Marriott Resort & Marina. With San Diego's skyline across the water, the waterfront gathering provides a fitting conclusion to five days devoted to movies and imagination.

Even without attending every screening, travelers will find plenty to appreciate. Coronado's beaches, historic streets, shops, and waterfront scenery make it a rewarding destination in their own right. The Hotel del Coronado remains a particularly worthwhile stop for anyone interested in architecture, California history, or classic Hollywood.

The beauty of this festival is that visitors can experience cinema in two very different ways. Inside the theaters, filmmakers introduce audiences to new stories and unfamiliar worlds. Outside, the town itself offers a setting shaped by more than a century of Hollywood connections.

And somewhere between the red rooftops, the movie screens, and the Pacific Ocean, visitors may discover that Coronado's most memorable production is the destination itself.

November 4–8, 2026

Website: Coronado Island Film Festival