While the likes of Cannes, TIFF, and Venice continue to play catch up in the conversation of inclusivity, Film Independent’s annual LA Film Festival continues to press the issue. With this year’s slate including 40 feature films, 41 short films, and 10 short episodic works, 26 different countries are represented across several categories of competition. In addition, 42% of the features are directed by women and 39% are directed by people of color.
“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.”
While special screenings and programs have yet to be announced (but will be in the coming weeks), the most notable inclusion to this year’s crop is critically-acclaimed film “Border” (“Grans”) from director Ali Abbasi. Earlier this year, “Border” (World Fiction Competition) captured Cannes’ Prize of Un Certain Regard. The competition, as a whole, features an intriguing collection of directorial debuts and world premieres that will most certainly garner interest.
READ MORE: ‘Border’: Trolls Get Their Due In Strange, But Touching Danish Drama [Cannes Review]
This year’s LA Film Festival will run from September 20 to 28.
US FICTION COMPETITION
Banana Split — Benjamin Francis Kasulke, USA — World Premiere
In Reality — Ann Lupo, co-directors Esteban Pedraza & Aaron Pryka, USA — California Premiere
Olympia — Gregory Dixon, USA — World Premiere
Simple Wedding — Sara Zandieh, USA — World Premiere
Softness of Bodies — Jordan Blady, USA/Germany — World Premiere
This Teacher — Mark Jackson, USA — World Premiere
The Wrong Todd — Rob Schulbaum, USA — World Premiere
DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION
Behind the Curve — Daniel J. Clark, USA — US Premiere
Facing the Dragon — Sedika Mojadidi, USA/Afghanistan — World Premiere
False Confessions — Katrine Philp, Denmark — North American Premiere
hillbilly — Sally Rubin, Ashley York, USA — LA Premiere
Mamacita — José Pablo Estrada Torrescano, Mexico/Germany — US Premiere
Moroni for President — Saila Huusko, Jasper Rischen, USA — LA Premiere
Same God — Linda Midgett, USA — World Premiere
The Silence of Others — Almudena Carracedo, Robert Bahar, Spain — West Coast Premiere
Stammering Ballad — Nan Zhang, China — North American Premiere
Wrestling Ghosts — Ana Joanes, USA — World Premiere
WORLD FICTION COMPETITION
Border — Ali Abbasi, Sweden — California Premiere
The Cotton Wool War — Cláudio Marques, Marilia Hughes, Brazil — US Premiere
The Day I Lost My Shadow — Soudade Kaadan, France/Lebanon/Qatar/Syrian Arab Republic — US Premiere
Heaven Without People — Lucien Bourjeily, Lebanon — LA Premiere
Microhabitat — Jeon Go-Woon, South Korea — West Coast Premiere
Socrates — Alex Moratto, Brazil — World Premiere
Tower. A Bright Day. — Jagoda Szelc, Poland/Czech Republic — LA Premiere
LA MUSE
The Advocates — Rémi Kessler, USA — World Premiere
El Chicano — Ben Hernandez Bray, USA — World Premiere
Fire on the Hill — Brett Fallentine, USA — World Premiere
Funke — Gabriel Taraboulsy, USA — World Premiere
Making Montgomery Clift — Robert A. Clift, Hillary Demmon, USA — World Premiere
Saint Judy — Sean Hanish, USA — World Premiere
Solace — Tchaiko Omawale, USA — California Premiere
Staycation — Tanuj Chopra, USA — World Premiere
Stuntman — Kurt Mattila, USA — World Premiere
We the Coyotes — Hanna Ladoul, Marco La Via, USA — North American Premiere
NIGHTFALL
The Dead Center — Billy Senese, USA — World Premiere
Deep Murder — Nick Corirossi, USA — World Premiere
Ghost Light — John Stimpson, USA — World Premiere
Head Count — Elizabeth Callahan, USA — World Premiere
Spell — Brendan Walter, USA — World Premiere
Thriller — Dallas Jackson, USA — World Premiere
SHORT FILMS
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
Avant-Guardians — Clarence Williams II, USA
Flatbush Misdemeanors — Dan Perlman, Kevin Iso, USA
Fresh — Grant Scicluna, Australia
Kiki and Kitty — Catriona Mackenzie, Australia
Otis — Alexander Etseyatse, USA
Petal & Paint — Bradley Smith, USA
Psusy — Duckworth, Jaya Beach-Robertson, New Zealand
Revenge Tour — Andrew Carter, USA
Robits — Christopher Parks, USA
Tracy Buckles — Robin Nystrom, USA