It consists of a four-day festival in November – and a monthly year-round "Classic Movie Series" – at venues across the island including the Hotel Del Coronado, once known as Hollywood's playground.

[2] On November 11, 2018, Jack Lemmon's son Chris, an actor and entertainer in his own right, fell seriously ill due to a lung condition at the festival.

He was unable to accept an award on behalf of his father at the Hotel Del Coronado because he had to receive an immediate double lung transplant.

[9] Notable attendees and award winners include Jaqueline Bisset, Elegance Bratton, Ron Shelton, Cloris Leachman, Nancy Utley, Richard Dreyfuss, Diane Warren, Michelle Philips, Stephen Bishop, Jacob Tremblay, Ann Blyth,[10] Jacqueline Bissett,[11] Geena Davis,[12][13] Andy García, Vanna White, musicians Stephen Bishop[14] and Vince Giordano,[15] author/Navy Seal Marcus Luttrell,[16] Mayes Rubeo, Gabriel Beristain and Tim Reid.

[17] Posthumous honorees represented by family members have included Jack Lemmon, Gene Kelly[18] and Errol Flynn.