Los Angeles Film Festival

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The Los Angeles Film Festival is an event held annually in June (lasting for 10 days) in Westwood Village, Los Angeles, California.

It showcases North American independent, feature, documentary and short films, as well as music videos.

Contents

[edit] Event features

With an attendance of more than 80,000 people[citation needed], it screens more than 100 feature films. The event also includes world premieres, panels and seminars, outdoor screenings, and a Family Day.[citation needed]

The Festival features programs including the exclusive Filmmaker Retreat - hosted by the Festival's annual Guest Director - and the Spirit of Independence Award ceremony and gala.

In addition to feature films, it also screens short films created by high school students and has a special section devoted to music videos.

Films submitted to the Festival are reviewed by Film Independent's programming department, which evaluates each film, looking for the best in new American and international cinema.

[edit] Awards presented

Awards are given out in the following categories at the conclusion of the Festival:

  • Target Filmmaker Award for Best Narrative Feature (award carries an unrestricted cash prize of $50,000)
  • Target Filmmaker Award for Best Documentary Feature (award carries an unrestricted cash prize of $50,000)
  • Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature
  • Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature
  • Audience Award for Best International Feature
  • Outstanding Performance in the Narrative Competition
  • Best Narrative Short Film
  • Best Documentary Short Film
  • Best Animated/Experimental Short Film
  • Audience Award for Best Short Film.

[edit] History

The Los Angeles Film Festival was begun in 1971 by Gary Essert, as the Los Angeles International Film Exposition (Filmex). Essert remained the festival's director until 1983.[1]

In 1995, it became the 5-day Los Angeles International Film Festival [LAIFF], which ran annually at the Directors Guild of America Building in Hollywood, California until 2001, when it was absorbed by Film Independent (formerly IFP/Los Angeles).[citation needed]

At its height the LAIFF attracted 19,000 attendees. Today the Los Angeles Film Festival attracts over 80,000 visitors.[citation needed]

[edit] Importance

The Los Angeles Film Festival is a qualifying festival in all categories for Film Independent's Spirit Awards.[citation needed] The Festival is also a qualifying festival for the short films categories of the Academy Awards.[2]

It has received grants from the Academy since 2005.[3]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Harmetz, Aljean (10 February 1985). "Permanent Cultural Center for Films In The Plans" (in English). Ocala Star-Banner. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uBgVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NwYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7181,5521121&dq=los-angeles-international-film-festival. Retrieved 2009-08-12. 
  2. ^ "Short Films Awards Festivals List" (in English). The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/rules/shortsfestivals.html. Retrieved 2009-08-12. 
  3. ^ "Film Festival Grant Recipients" (in English). Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. http://www.oscars.org/education-outreach/grants/filmfestival/recipients.html. Retrieved 2009-08-12. 

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles_Film_Festival"
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