Subtropic

Experience one of South Florida's most exciting independent film festivals when the Subtropic Film Festival returns to West Palm Beach this November. This three-day celebration of independent cinema, filmmaking, art, and creative culture brings together filmmakers, artists, students, and film enthusiasts for an immersive weekend of screenings, workshops, networking, and special events.

This year’s theme, Between Two Waters, reflects the duality of South Florida life: shaped by ocean and Everglades, culture and change, paradise and ecological reality. Returning artist and producer Brian Butler, illustrator of the 2024 and 2025 festival posters, paired up with Miami-based illustrator and fine artist Shelby Slayden to bring the theme’s duality to life. Slayden's work documents her childhood outdoors, family histories, and the shifting Floridian landscape, examining the gap between an idealist "paradise" and ongoing ecological crisis. Butler's practice centers on illustrating culture while building community, known for drawing at concerts and painting murals that reflect the character of a place. Together, their collaboration captures both sides of "Between Two Waters" in a single image.

This year marks Subtropic's fourth consecutive Opening Night (nov. 6) at the Norton Museum of Art, followed by an Opening Night Party at Studio 1608. The festival returns to Afflux Studios at G-Star for Saturday and Sunday programming (nov. 7+8), and for the first time, makes its debut in Lake Worth Beach.

Our Lake Worth Beach expansion includes a community photo walk, an artist networking event at The Dancing Elephant, film screenings at the Lake Worth Playhouse, and a Saturday night after party downtown, bites and conversation at Pomona, followed by dancing at Propaganda.