LA Film Festival Unveils 2017 Competition Lineup

LOS ANGELES, May 9, 2017 /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 2017 LA Film Festival will screen a diverse slate of feature films, shorts and episodic series, along with programs such as Coffee Talks and Future Filmmakers Showcase. The LA Film Festival takes place June 14 – June 22, 2017 headquartered at ArcLight Cinemas Culver City, with additional screenings at ArcLight Hollywood, ArcLight Santa Monica and more. Festival passes are on sale now at lafilmfestival.com. 

"Our competitions reflect who Film Independent is as an organization," said LA Film Festival Director Jennifer Cochis. "Within each section you'll find discovery, diversity, and promising talent both in front of and behind the camera."

Programming Director Roya Rastegar added, "The films curated for the 2017 competition reflect the changing political climate's impact on emerging independent filmmakers, who are compelled to tell stories about the power of conviction, collectivity and resilience."

The 2017 LA Film Festival announces a diverse slate of 48 feature films, 51 short films, 15 high school short films and 10 short episodic works representing 32 countries. Previously announced, the Opening Night Film is the World Premiere of Colin Trevorrow's The Book of Henry. More special screenings and programs will be announced in the coming weeks.

The Festival's five competitions feature 37 World Premieres, 2 International Premieres and 9 North American Premieres. Across the competition categories 42% of the films are directed by women and 40% are directed by people of color.

Passes are on sale now and only Film Independent Members get early access and save up to 25%. In addition to access to screenings and events (even after they sell out), Festival passes provide entry to the Festival Lounge, which features a hosted bar for those 21 and older and the opportunity to interact with Festival filmmakers and professionals in the film community. General admission tickets to individual films go on sale to Film Independent Members beginning Tuesday, May 16 and to the general public beginning Tuesday, May 23. Contact the Festival Box Office for passes, tickets and event information by calling 866.FILM.FEST (866.345.6337) or visit tickets.lafilmfestival.com.

U.S. Fiction Competition (10)
Original voices with distinct visions from emerging and established American independent filmmakers.

20 Weeks, dir. Leena Pendharkar, USA, World Premiere
And Then I Go, dir. Vincent Grashaw, USA, World Premiere
Beauty Mark, dir. Harris Doran, USA, World Premiere
Becks, dir. Elizabeth Rohrbaugh, Daniel Powell, USA, World Premiere
Don't Come Back From The Moon, dir. Bruce Thierry Cheung, USA, World Premiere  
Everything Beautiful is Far Away, dir. Andrea Sisson, Pete Ohs, USA, World Premiere
Izzy Gets the Fuck Across Town, dir. Christian Papierniak, USA, World Premiere
Moss, dir. Daniel Peddle, USA, World Premiere
Never Here, dir. Camille Thoman, USA, World Premiere
Village People, dir. Paul Briganti, USA, World Premiere

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

Abu, dir. Arshad Khan, Canada, World Premiere
Dalya's Other Country, dir. Julia Meltzer, USA, World Premiere
Liyana, dir. Aaron Kopp, Amanda Kopp, Swaziland / USA / Qatar, World Premiere
Mankiller, dir. Valerie Red-Horse Mohl, USA, World Premiere
Monkey Business, dir. Ema Ryan Yamazaki, USA, World Premiere
Opuntia, dir. David Fenster, USA / Mexico / Spain, World Premiere
Out of State, dir. Ciara Lacy, USA, World Premiere
Stella Polaris Ulloriarsuaq, dir. Yatri N. Niehaus, Germany / Greenland, World Premiere
Thank You For Coming, dir. Sara Lamm, USA, World Premiere
Two Four Six, dir. Leyla Nedorosleva, Russia / USA / Haiti, World Premiere

World Fiction Competition (8)
Unique fiction films from around the world by emerging and established filmmakers, especially curated for LA audiences.

Butterfly Kisses, dir. Rafael Kapelinski, Great Britain, North American Premiere
Catching Feelings, dir. Kagiso Lediga, South Africa, World Premiere
Dark Blue Girl, dir. Mascha Schilinski, Germany / Greece, International Premiere
In This Corner of the World, dir. Sunao Katabuchi, Japan, North American Premiere
Moko Jumbie, dir. Vashti Anderson, Trinidad and Tobago / USA, World Premiere
The Nightguard, dir. Diego Ros, Mexico, North American Premiere
Nocturne, dir. Luis Ayhllón, Mexico, North American Premiere
On the Beach at Night Alone, dir. Hong Sangsoo, South Korea, North American Premiere

LA Muse (12)
Fiction and documentary films that capture the spirit of Los Angeles.

And Then There Was Eve, dir. Savannah Bloch, USA, World Premiere
Anything, dir. Timothy McNeil, USA, World Premiere
Built to Fail, dir. Bobby Kim, Alexis Spraic, Scott Weintrob, USA, World Premiere
The Classic, dir. Billy McMillin, USA, World Premiere
Fat Camp, dir. Jennifer Arnold, USA, World Premiere
A Midsummer Night's Dream, dir. Casey Wilder Mott, USA, World Premiere
Mighty Ground, dir. Delila Vallot, USA, World Premiere
Roller Dreams, dir. Kate Hickey, USA, International Premiere
Skid Row Marathon, dir. Mark Hayes, USA, World Premiere
What We Started, dir. Bert Marcus, Cyrus Saidi, USA, World Premiere
The Year of Spectacular Men, dir. Lea Thompson, USA, World Premiere
Your Own Road, dir. Brandon Buczek, USA, World Premiere

Nightfall (8)
From the bizarre to the horrifying, these are films to watch after dark.

Desolation, dir. Sam Patton, USA, World Premiere
The Housemaid, dir. Derek Nguyen, Vietnam / USA, North American Premiere
It Stains the Sands Red, dir. Colin Minihan, USA, North American Premiere
Midnighters, dir. Julius Ramsay, USA, World Premiere
The Neighbor, dir. Giancarlo Ruiz, Mexico, World Premiere
Replace, dir. Norbert Keil, Germany / Canada, North American Premiere
Serpent, dir. Amanda Evans, South Africa, World Premiere
Thread, dir. The Boy, Greece, North American Premiere

Short Films (51): From over 2,700 submissions, the short films selected represent 13 countries, 47% are directed by women and 51% are directed by people of color. 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.

Future Filmmakers Showcase: High School Shorts (15):
Made by incredibly accomplished high school filmmakers from across the country and globe, 60% of the short films in this diverse slate are directed by young women and 20% are directed by people of color. Program sponsored by Time Warner Foundation, Lisa Argyros/Argyros Family Foundation and Employees Community Fund of Boeing California.

Episodes: Indie Series from the Web (10)
This showcase of independently crafted web series, 70% of which are directed by people of color and 40% are directed by women, celebrates rising creators whose work and subjects are innovative and unfiltered.

BKPI, dir. Hye Yun Park, USA
Danny the Manny, dir. Mike Roma, USA
High & Mighty, dir. Carlos Lopez Estrada, USA
My America, dir. Anna Jones, Asaad Kelada, USA
People Of..., dir. lamia Alami, SWITZERLAND
The F Word, dir. Nicole Opper, USA
The Show about the Show, dir. Caveh Zahedi, USA
Two Sentence Horror Stories, dir. J.D. Dillard, USA
Very Animated People, dir. Joseph Bennet, USA
Steps, dir. Fernando Sanchez, Pascual Sisto, USA

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

Online & Social Media:
www.lafilmfestival.com | Facebook at facebook.com/LAFilmFestival | Twitter @LAFilmFestival | #LAFilmFestival.

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

The deadline for press to submit applications for credentials is May 16.

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. The Festival's signature programs include the Filmmaker Retreat, Women Who Lead Luncheon, Spirit of Independence Award, Coffee Talks and more. The Festival's Future Filmmakers Showcase supports high school filmmakers with screenings of their work and community based film education opportunities. Presenting Media Sponsor is the Los Angeles Times. Platinum Sponsors are Alfa Romeo, American Airlines, EFILM | Company 3, HBO and Maker's Mark® Bourbon. WireImage is the Official Photography Agency. For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Albina Oks, Director of Corporate Sponsorship, aoks@filmindependent.org or 310.432.1252.

ABOUT FILM INDEPENDENT
Film Independent is a nonprofit arts organization that champions independent visual storytelling and supports a community of artists who embody diversity, innovation and uniqueness of vision. Film Independent helps filmmakers make their movies, builds an audience for their projects, and works to diversify the film industry. Film Independent's Board of Directors, filmmakers, staff and constituents is comprised of an inclusive community of individuals across ability, age, ethnicity, gender, race and sexual orientation. Anyone passionate about film can become a Member, whether you are a filmmaker, industry professional or a film lover.

In addition to producing the Spirit Awards, Film Independent produces the LA Film Festival and Film Independent at LACMA Film Series, a year-round, weekly program that offers unique cinematic experiences for the Los Angeles creative community and the general public.

With over 250 annual screenings and events, Film Independent provides access to a network of like-minded artists who are driving creativity in the film industry. Film Independent's Artist Development program offers free Labs for selected writers, directors, producers and documentary filmmakers and presents year- round networking opportunities. Project Involve is Film Independent's signature program dedicated to fostering the careers of talented filmmakers from communities traditionally underrepresented in the film industry. For more information or to become a Member, visit filmindependent.org.

ABOUT ARCLIGHT CINEMAS
ArcLight Cinemas, created by Pacific Theatres, a privately owned, Los Angeles based company with 60 years of theatrical exhibition history throughout California, Hawaii and Washington is a premiere moviegoing experience with an unparalleled commitment to bringing a variety of rich cinematic content to moviegoers in all markets. ArcLight Cinemas operates seven theaters in California including Hollywood, Pasadena, Sherman Oaks, El Segundo, Santa Monica, Culver City and La Jolla, as well as theaters in Bethesda, MD, Chicago and Glenview, IL, with a new location in Boston for 2019. ArcLight also owns and operates the historic Cinerama Dome and programs the TCL Chinese Theatre and IMAX in Hollywood. Pacific Theatres currently operates theaters in Los Angeles that include The Grove and The Americana at Brand in Glendale, CA. Additional information about ArcLight Cinemas is available at www.arclightcinemas.com.

SOURCE Film Independent