Being that Los Angeles is the undisputed Entertainment Capital of the World, it goes without saying that it is also the film festival capital of all things cinematic and celluloid. No cinematic gala is as important or renowned in Los Angeles as the Los Angeles Film Festival, which is officially presented by the Los Angeles Times and is hosted annually in mid June for 10 days.
Humble Beginnings
The Los Angeles Film Festival’s beginnings can be traced back to 1971 when Gary Essert founded the Los Angeles International Film Exposition, known popularly as Filmex. In 1995 it became the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival which ran for five days every year until 2001 when it was acquired by Film Independent. The Los Angeles Times became the festival’s official presenter in 2006 which revolutionized the festival’s importance to both commercial and independent filmmaking. Over the last decade, attendance has grown exponentially from 19,000 to 90,000, with over 100 feature films presented during the festival.
Giving Aspiring Filmmakers Their Due
Being that there are literally thousands of aspiring filmmakers, directors, writers, and producers in Los Angeles, acceptance to the Los Angeles Film Festival is a competitive proposition. Films that are selected for screening must be approved by Film Independent’s programming department which has the unenviable task of having to screen every submitted piece to make sure it is worthy of the festival’s prestige and investment. In 2011, over 4,700 films were submitted for screening. Apart from feature films, the festival also screens many documentaries, shorts, and music videos from all over the world.
Those who are lucky and talented enough to have their films accepted at the festival for screening are given the chance to not only share their work with a huge audience, but to advance the life of the film by striking distribution deals with studios and producers with the power to engender a wide release. A positive reception at the festival has helped launch movies such as “Ponyo”, “Public Enemies”, “Fahrenheit 9/11” and “Little Miss Sunshine”.
Speakers and Panelists
Because the festival hosts tens of thousands of filmmakers and cinephiles from all around the world each year, many influential directors, producers, actors, and writers have participated in the Los Angeles Film Festival’s special panel discussions, retreats, and lectures. The festival’s renowned guest speakers and panelists have included Christopher Nolan, Jodie Foster, Mira Nair, George Lucas, Kathryn Bigelow, and Alfonso Cuaron.
Attending the Los Angeles Film Festival
Getting into the Los Angeles Film Festival for a screening is not especially difficult as most movies included in the festival can be screened for the price of a movie ticket (usually $13.00). But for those that wish to have the full experience of the festival (which includes opening and closing night tickets, invitations to studio parties, and a chance to walk the red carpet), the cost can be as much as $2,500. Other festival passes are available for between $70 and $1,000, each with a different set of access and privileges. It’s not the Oscars or even Cannes, but there’s a reason it’s called show “business”!
Festival Awards
Like all competitive film venues, the Los Angeles Film Festival concludes with an award ceremony that is divided into Filmmaker and Audience awards, a sort of critics vs. popular award type deal where professional filmmakers choose one set of awards and festival attendees can vote on their favorites as well. Filmmaker Awards are given out for Best Narrative and Best Documentary Feature, both of which come with a $15,000 unrestricted cash prize. Audience Awards are given for Best Narrative Feature, Best Documentary, and Best International Feature. If you happen to be in attendance one year, be sure to cast your ballot for your favorite feature. You never know if your vote could be the deciding one in helping make film history.
