A complex event query specification may be constructed that a complex event processing engine uses to analyze an event stream for an occurrence of a complex event. Event data stored in a distributed file system are mapped to respective instances of the complex event processing engine in respective distributed event streams. The distributed event streams are analyzed by the independently executing complex event processing engines in accordance with the complex event query specification. The occurrence of the complex event in any of the distributed event streams is indicated at the output of the complex event processing engines.