The San Diego Film Festival, an annual celebration of film produced by the San Diego Film Foundation, opened Wednesday and continues through Sunday in the Gaslamp Quarter of downtown San Diego.

The competitive five-day event will showcase more than 85 American and international feature, documentary and short films and will feature appearances by actors such as Joaquin Phoenix, who will be in town to accept the Humanitarian Award at the Actors Ball and Award Ceremony on Saturday.

An Oscar-nominated actor, animal rights activist and vegan since his childhood, Phoenix lends his voice to the narration of the haunting documentary "Earthlings." Using hidden cameras and never-before-seen footage, "Earthlings" provides an in-depth study into humanity's economical dependence on animals raised for pets, food, clothing, entertainment and scientific research. Phoenix will attend the screening of the film at 7:45 p.m. Saturday and the Actors Ball immediately following.

"We're honored to celebrate Joaquin Phoenix and his commitment to inspiring social change through film," said Robin Laatz-Kozak, founder and executive director of the San Diego Film Festival.

In addition to the films, the event will feature American Screenwriters Association's 18th annual International Screenwriters Conference "Selling to Hollywood," representing the largest screenwriting collaborative in the country.

The festival will also provide attendees with an opportunity to directly interact with film professionals through question-and-answer sessions, workshops, a screenwriting contest and the screenwriters conference. Other events include Opening Night Premiere Gala, the Industry Party, the exclusive Actors Ball and Award Ceremony, and a closing night Wrap Party.

Additional celebrity guests at this year's festival include Joan Collins, who will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award; John Walsh, who will be honored with the David Angell Award by ASA; Colin Hanks ("Rx," "Orange County"), Melissa Joan Hart ("Mute," "Drive Me Crazy"), Bryan Greenberg ("Prime," HBO's "Unscripted") and Ben Younger ("Prime," "Boiler Room").

Screenings will take place, for the most part, at Pacific Theaters and Sundance/Cox Theatre 6 in the Gaslamp Quarter. Tickets for individual screenings are $10, but screening passes are available for $60, festival passes are $89 and VIP passes cost $250. For detailed showtimes and more information, visit www.sdff.org.