Plaza Classic Film Festival Returns for 19th Year Downtown El Paso

The 19th annual Plaza Classic Film Festival opened July 16 at the Plaza Theatre in downtown El Paso and continues through July 26 with more than 80 feature films and 60 short films on the schedule.

El Paso residents have long supported the festival as a way to gather around shared cinema traditions in a city where outdoor screenings and independent venues already draw steady crowds during summer months. The timing aligns with warmer weather when parks host Movies Under the Stars programs and The Fountain Theatre near UTEP presents local and international titles.

Screenings draw on established local venues

The Plaza Theatre serves as the main hub, but festivalgoers also frequent nearby options such as Alamo Drafthouse Cinema and the recently opened Flix Brewhouse East El Paso, which opened in February and restricts most showings to guests 17 and older while offering its own brews. Cinemark Tinseltown Las Palmas XD at 11855 Gateway Blvd W adds 3D and SCREENX formats to the mix for those seeking larger multiplex experiences.

El Paso was named to MovieMaker magazine’s 2026 list of best places to live and work as a moviemaker and recently served as a filming location for Paul Thomas Anderson’s 2025 feature One Battle After Another, facts that have added to local conversation around the city’s growing screen culture.

Practical details for attendees

Tickets and schedules are available through the Plaza Theatre box office and the festival website. The event runs daily with multiple screenings, giving residents a direct way to experience the program without leaving the city center.

Those planning to attend can combine visits with other downtown stops, as the festival coincides with ongoing cultural activity that includes the upcoming Festival of Chariots set for Oct. 8 at 401 East Main Street, according to reporting from KTSM.