In its 20th edition, the Poppy Jasper International Film Festival proudly marks its status as a destination festival.

      Mattie Scariot, director of the Poppy Jasper International Film Festival, recalls her upbringing in Gilroy, California, where she felt distant from the film industry.

      “When I was 10 years old, I aspired to be a film director, but I was part of a community with a population of less than 10,000,” she shared on Friday. “It was so small that there was just one store for everyone to buy their clothes, resulting in us showing up to school in the same outfits. That’s how limited it was.”

      Gilroy, a farming town known for garlic and various spices, has changed over the years, as has the Poppy Jasper International Film Festival. At the festival's 20th edition opening gala on Friday night, Scariot looked at a gathering of filmmakers from across the globe, who savored local wines at the beautiful CURA Contemporary Art Gallery in Morgan Hill before continuing the festivities across the street at the splendidly renovated 103-year-old Granada Theatre.

      Poppy Jasper has made significant progress, as have the communities it represents. Originally launched by film and television industry veteran William W. Leaman, the festival was first held in Morgan Hill and named after the semiprecious poppy jasper stones native to the area, which are known for their spherical shapes resembling poppy flowers.

      Upon becoming the festival's director in 2018, Scariot broadened its reach beyond Morgan Hill to encompass Hollister, San Martin, San Juan Bautista, and her own Gilroy. She recognized that the area's stunning landscapes—the rolling hills—could position it as a destination festival akin to those in Santa Barbara and Napa Valley.

      Once a quiet agricultural region, it now lies just south of Silicon Valley, appealing to those looking for a gentler lifestyle away from the tech industry, while still boasting many locals who work in farming, vineyards, and restaurants. Scariot mentions that the area has attracted several Michelin-star chefs recently.

      The festival, which was recently included in MovieMaker’s list of the 25 Coolest Film Festivals, combines comfort with innovation. Scariot is particularly focused on creating a space for films made by women, people of color, and other underrepresented filmmakers. Guests and speakers at the current edition include representatives from CAA, Buffalo 8, Festival Formula, and more, as well as Grammy and Emmy award winners.

      “We are just as cool as anywhere else in the world, and that’s the most beautiful part—what we celebrate here is not only films from all over but also our local filmmakers, and our culture, from agriculture and farmworkers to our politicians and everyone involved in shaping this community.”

      This edition of the Poppy Jasper International Film Festival features over 300 films, and the programming includes sure hits like "American Comic," documentaries such as "Voices: The Danny Gans Story," and noteworthy shorts like “Clean Girl.” On Tuesday, a special 3D screening of Amanda Lapore’s "The Crown with a Shadow and the Search for Self" will take place, along with the presentation of the Icon Award to Lapore, a club kid-turned-artist known for her collaborations with Elton John, David LaChapelle, Paul Reubens, and others.

      The festival attracts talent from afar while also drawing connections back home. Friday’s events at the Granada included performances by Grammy Award-winning music executive, record producer, and songwriter Randy Spendlove, who served as president of Worldwide Music and Publishing at Paramount Pictures for over two decades.

      On Friday, he reflected on starting his music journey at backyard parties with a Morgan Hill-based band.

      “Some of the people who attended those keg parties are here tonight,” he remarked, before premiering “To the Stars,” a song created for the festival with several collaborators.

      For more information about the Poppy Jasper International Film Festival, visit their website and check out our festival coverage.