Wellness Film Fest (WELLFF), a new cultural platform exploring the intersection of film, mental health, and embodied wellbeing, will launch its inaugural Los Angeles edition on May 2-3, 2026 at KINN.
Founded by the creators of the British Urban Film Festival (BUFF), WELLFF is led by festival director, filmmaker, and Amazon bestselling author Clare Anyiam-Osigwe. The festival introduces a retreat-style model that blends curated film screenings with moderated conversations and wellness-led practices, creating an emotionally considerate experience designed to support reflection, emotional clarity, and meaningful human connection – particularly for founders, creatives, and cultural leaders navigating high-output environments.
The multi-year partnership between WELLFF and KINN was formalised following this year’s Sundance Film Festival, where Anyiam-Osigwe attended industry events and conducted a Los Angeles recce to finalise plans for the festival’s launch. The agreement positions KINN as the ongoing home for WELLFF’s Los Angeles programming.
“The Wellness Film Festival at KINN is about supporting the whole founder/creative, not just what they build and make, but how they live,” said Mikul Wing, co-founder of KINN.
Talks are already underway to host future editions of WELLFF in Melbourne and Guernsey, signalling the festival’s longer-term international vision and its potential to travel across creative, cultural, and wellness ecosystems globally.
Across two days, the inaugural programme includes Dream A World, directed by Barry Rosenthal and featuring Tiffany Haddish and Ringo Starr, alongside Cycles of Change, directed by BAFTA-winning filmmaker Emma Lazenby. The programme also includes The Seventh Turn, a short film part-funded by Matt Damon and Luciana Damon, further reflecting WELLFF’s focus on intimate, psychologically resonant storytelling. A wider programme of shorts and features will explore themes of trauma, resilience, emotional healing, and integration.
Building on BUFF’s 21-year legacy of championing global cinema and industry recognition, WELLFF extends its founders’ commitment to storytelling into the wellness space – positioning film as a tool for emotional insight and collective understanding.
“WELLFF was created to hold space for stories that live in the body, not just on screen,” said Anyiam-Osigwe. “After more than two decades working closely with filmmakers, actors, and festival teams, I’ve seen how often creative excellence is pursued at the expense of wellbeing. This festival is an invitation to pause, self-analyse, rest, and recharge – with consent and integration at the centre.”
Capacity for the weekend is intentionally limited to 100 participants per day, reinforcing the festival’s commitment to presence, care, and genuine connection.
Tickets & Information:
🌐 www.wellffest.com