The Los Angeles Festival of Movies is here to Prove the City’s Appetite for Independent Film
Los Angeles boasts the most proficient and affluent audiovisual industry in the country, and arguably the world. Alongside traditional major studios and emerging streaming giants, numerous independent productions flourish outside the realm of Hollywood commercialism. Yet, the city has grappled with sustaining a high-profile film festival in recent years, marked by the closure of the Los Angeles Film Festival in 2018, the downturn of Outfest, and leadership changes at AFI Fest.
The Los Angeles Festival of Movies aims to bridge this gap. The event is co-presented by the world cinema distributor and streamer Mubi and the non-profit Mezzanine, which has been programming in L.A. for over two years, showcasing contemporary indies, avant-garde works, and underseen repertory features. Scheduled to kick off its inaugural four-day edition on April 4, LAFM will present an eclectic and diverse lineup of independent films, documentaries, and artist talks across three theaters on the east side of Los Angeles, a world away from the shadows of studio lots and agencies.
“In many cases, I believe new independent films struggle to find a foothold in L.A.,” remarked Micah Gottlieb, 32, the artistic director of Mezzanine, who co-founded and co-produced the event with Sarah Winshall, 38, in a recent interview with the LA Times. “Having a film festival free from the usual distractions of the commercial film industry was crucial,” added Gottlieb, a Los Angeles native with experience in the independent film industry in New York. “This festival isn’t explicitly driven by the market, though it includes some films without distribution.”
Initially announced solely by Winshall and Gottlieb in February, LAFM garnered additional support over the past six weeks, with several volunteers and advisors joining the team to bring the inaugural edition to fruition. A visit to the official website reveals numerous sold-out screenings across the festival’s 14 selections. The lineup includes West Coast premieres of Sundance, Locarno, and Rotterdam selections, as well as esteemed classics, including restorations of films by Chantal Akerman and sculptor Niki de Saint Phalle.
LAFM will feature one world premiere: its closing night film “Rap World,” starring alternative comedian Conner O’Malley, known for his abrasive and unconventional digital aesthetic cultivated over the past decade on the internet. Co-directed with Danny Scharar, the film, set in 2009 and shot in a parking lot using a period-appropriate camcorder, races through with a runtime just under an hour. Marking yet another abysmal distance from the colossal blockbusters of recent years.
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Los Angeles boasts the most proficient and affluent audiovisual industry in the country, and arguably the world. Alongside traditional major studios and emerging streaming giants, numerous independent productions flourish outside the realm of Hollywood commercialism. Yet, the city has grappled with sustaining a high-profile film festival in recent years, marked by the closure of the Los Angeles Film Festival in 2018, the downturn of Outfest, and leadership changes at AFI Fest.
The Los Angeles Festival of Movies aims to bridge this gap. The event is co-presented by the world cinema distributor and streamer Mubi and the non-profit Mezzanine, which has been programming in L.A. for over two years, showcasing contemporary indies, avant-garde works, and underseen repertory features. Scheduled to kick off its inaugural four-day edition on April 4, LAFM will present an eclectic and diverse lineup of independent films, documentaries, and artist talks across three theaters on the east side of Los Angeles, a world away from the shadows of studio lots and agencies.
“In many cases, I believe new independent films struggle to find a foothold in L.A.,” remarked Micah Gottlieb, 32, the artistic director of Mezzanine, who co-founded and co-produced the event with Sarah Winshall, 38, in a recent interview with the LA Times. “Having a film festival free from the usual distractions of the commercial film industry was crucial,” added Gottlieb, a Los Angeles native with experience in the independent film industry in New York. “This festival isn’t explicitly driven by the market, though it includes some films without distribution.”
Initially announced solely by Winshall and Gottlieb in February, LAFM garnered additional support over the past six weeks, with several volunteers and advisors joining the team to bring the inaugural edition to fruition. A visit to the official website reveals numerous sold-out screenings across the festival’s 14 selections. The lineup includes West Coast premieres of Sundance, Locarno, and Rotterdam selections, as well as esteemed classics, including restorations of films by Chantal Akerman and sculptor Niki de Saint Phalle.
LAFM will feature one world premiere: its closing night film “Rap World,” starring alternative comedian Conner O’Malley, known for his abrasive and unconventional digital aesthetic cultivated over the past decade on the internet. Co-directed with Danny Scharar, the film, set in 2009 and shot in a parking lot using a period-appropriate camcorder, races through with a runtime just under an hour. Marking yet another abysmal distance from the colossal blockbusters of recent years.
Share:
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