2018 LA Film Festival Competition Lineup Revealed

LOS ANGELES, July 31, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Today the LA Film Festival, produced by Film Independent, the nonprofit arts organization that also produces the Film Independent Spirit Awards, unveiled the official U.S. Fiction, Documentary, World Fiction, LA Muse and Nightfall sections. The 2018 LA Film Festival will screen a diverse slate of feature films, shorts and episodic series. The LA Film Festival takes place September 20-28, 2018.

"Our mission of finding fresh new voices from different geographical and cultural axes remains true," said LA Film Festival Director Jennifer Cochis. "These storytellers are united by their ability to transport, impact and inspire audiences with the power of their craft."

The 2018 LA Film Festival announces a diverse slate of 40 feature films, 41 short films, and 10 short episodic works representing 26 countries. Across the competition categories 42% of the films are directed by women and 39% are directed by people of color. More special screenings and programs will be announced in the coming weeks in addition to Opening and Closing Nights and Galas.

Passes are on sale now and only Film Independent Members get early access and save up to 25% and gets you in to screenings and conversations (even after they sell out). General admission tickets to individual films go on sale to Film Independent Members beginning Tuesday, August 14 and to the general public beginning Tuesday, August 21. Contact the Festival Box Office for passes, tickets and event information by calling 866.FILM.FEST (866.345.6337) or visit lafilmfestival.com.

Venues for the 2018 Festival include the ArcLight Cinemas in Culver City, Hollywood and Santa Monica, as well as the new LMU Playa Vista Campus (opening this fall), the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts and the Writers Guild Theater.

U.S. Fiction Competition (7)
Original voices with distinct visions from emerging and established American independent filmmakers.

Banana Split, dir. Benjamin Francis Kasulke, USA, World Premiere
In Reality, dir. Ann Lupo, co-dirs. Esteban Pedraza & Aaron Pryka, USA, California Premiere
Olympia, dir. Gregory Dixon, USA, World Premiere
Simple Wedding, dir. Sara Zandieh, USA, World Premiere
Softness of Bodies, dir. Jordan Blady, USA/Germany, World Premiere
This Teacher, dir. Mark Jackson, USA, World Premiere
The Wrong Todd, dir. Rob Schulbaum, USA, World Premiere

Documentary Competition (10) 
Compelling, character-driven non-fiction films from the U.S. and around the world.

Behind the Curve, dir. Daniel J. Clark, USA, US Premiere
Facing the Dragon, dir. Sedika Mojadidi, USA/Afghanistan, World Premiere
False Confessions, dir. Katrine Philp, Denmark, North American Premiere
hillbilly, dirs. Sally Rubin, Ashley York, USA, LA Premiere
Mamacita, dir. José Pablo Estrada Torrescano, Mexico/Germany, US Premiere
Moroni for President, dir. Saila Huusko, Jasper Rischen, USA, LA Premiere
Same God, dir. Linda Midgett, USA, World Premiere
The Silence of Others, dirs. Almudena Carracedo, Robert Bahar, Spain, West Coast Premiere
Stammering Ballad, dir. Nan Zhang, China, North American Premiere
Wrestling Ghosts, dir. Ana Joanes, USA, World Premiere

World Fiction Competition (7)
Unique fiction films from around the world by emerging and established filmmakers, especially curated for LA audiences.

Border, dir. Ali Abbasi, Sweden, California Premiere
The Cotton Wool War, dirs. Cláudio Marques, Marilia Hughes, Brazil, US Premiere
The Day I Lost My Shadow, dir. Soudade Kaadan, France/Lebanon/Qatar/Syrian Arab Republic, US Premiere
Heaven Without People, dir. Lucien Bourjeily, Lebanon, LA Premiere
Microhabitat, dir. Jeon Go-Woon, South Korea, West Coast Premiere
Socrates, dir. Alex Moratto, Brazil, World Premiere
Tower. A Bright Day., dir. Jagoda Szelc, Poland/Czech Republic, LA Premiere

LA Muse (10)
Fiction and documentary films that capture the spirit of Los Angeles.

The Advocates, dir. Rémi Kessler, USA, World Premiere
El Chicano, dir. Ben Hernandez Bray, USA, World Premiere 
Fire on the Hill, dir. Brett Fallentine, USA, World Premiere 
Funke, dir. Gabriel Taraboulsy, USA, World Premiere 
Making Montgomery Clift, dir. Robert A. Clift, Hillary Demmon, USA, World Premiere 
Saint Judy, dir. Sean Hanish, USA, World Premiere 
Solace, dir. Tchaiko Omawale, USA, California Premiere
Staycation, dir. Tanuj Chopra, USA, World Premiere 
Stuntman, dir. Kurt Mattila, USA, World Premiere 
We the Coyotes, dirs. Hanna Ladoul, Marco La Via, USA, North American Premiere

Nightfall (6)
From the bizarre to the horrifying, these are films to watch after dark.

The Dead Center, dir. Billy Senese, USA, World Premiere 
Deep Murder, dir. Nick Corirossi, USA, World Premiere 
Ghost Light, dir. John Stimpson, USA, World Premiere
Head Count, dir. Elizabeth Callahan, USA, World Premiere
Spell, dir. Brendan Walter, USA, World Premiere
Thriller, dir. Dallas Jackson, USA, World Premiere

Short Films (41): From over 3,100 submissions, the short films selected represent 14 countries. Short films are shown before features and as part of six short film programs. Shorts will compete for juried prizes for fiction and documentary shorts, as well as an Audience Award for Best Short Film.

Episodes: Indie Series from the Web (10)
This showcase of independently crafted web series celebrates rising creators whose work and subjects are innovative and unfiltered.

Avant-Guardians, dir. Clarence Williams II, USA
Flatbush Misdemeanors, dirs. Dan Perlman, Kevin Iso, USA
Fresh, dir. Grant Scicluna, Australia
Kiki and Kitty, dir. Catriona Mackenzie, Australia
Otis, dir. Alexander Etseyatse, USA
Petal & Paint, dir. Bradley Smith, USA
Psusy, dirs. Duckworth, Jaya Beach-Robertson, New Zealand
Revenge Tour, dir. Andrew Carter, USA
Robits, dir. Christopher Parks, USA
Tracy Buckles, dir. Robin Nystrom, USA

PLEASE REFERENCE THE ADDENDUM IN THE PRESS RELEASE SECTION OF WWW.FILMINDEPENDENT.ORG FOR ALL FILM TITLES, SYNOPSES, CAST, AND CREDITS.

Press materials can be found at filmindependent.org/press/

Press Credential Applications Now Open: 
filmindependent.org/press

Online & Social Media:
www.lafilmfestival.com Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/LAFilmFestival and Twitter @LAFilmFestival. Official event hashtag: #LAFilmFestival.

ABOUT THE LA FILM FESTIVAL
The LA Film Festival is a key part of the exhibition arm of the nonprofit arts organization Film Independent. Showcasing new American and international cinema that embraces diversity, innovation and unique perspectives, the Festival produces one-of-a-kind events featuring critically acclaimed filmmakers, industry professionals and award-winning talent from Los Angeles and around the world. Presenting Media Sponsor is Los Angeles Times. Official Venue is ArcLight Cinemas. Platinum Sponsors are American Airlines, EFILM | Deluxe and HBO. The University Sponsor is Loyola Marymount University School of Film and Television. Festival Supporters are Directors Guild of America, eTech Rentals, Kona Productions, TREETI and Visit Seattle. Festival Affiliates are 21st Century Fox Global Inclusion, ATK Audiotek, SAGindie and Writers Guild of America, West. Additional support provided by National Endowment for the Arts. IMDbPro is the Official Industry Resource. CITI is the Official Credit Card. Getty Images is the Official Photographer.

For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Albina Oks, Director of Corporate Sponsorship, at [email protected] or 323.556.9352.

Contact: Melanie Bates, Film Independent
Tel: 323.556.9338 or [email protected]

Ryan Collins, Ginsberg/Libby
Tel: 323.645.6800 or [email protected] 

SOURCE Film Independent