Film Independent’s LA Film Festival has just announced the official lineup of films in competition for its anticipated 2018 iteration. This year’s fest, running Sept. 20–28 all over Los Angeles, features a heftier slate of programming, including plenty of opportunities for working filmmakers to connect with those in their field.
The official U.S. Fiction, Documentary, World Fiction, LA Muse and Nightfall selections were revealed, offering festival attendees 24 world premieres and a wide array of stories. This year’s U.S. Fiction category, which recognizes efforts from both new and established American filmmakers, features nearly all world premieres: Benjamin Francis Kasulke’s “Banana Split,” Ann Lupo’s “In Reality,” Gregory Dixon’s “Olympia,” Sara Zandieh’s “Simple Wedding,” Jordan Blady’s “Softness of Bodies,” Mark Jackson’s “This Teacher,” and Rob Schulbaum’s “The Wrong Todd.”
“Our mission of finding fresh new voices from different geographical and cultural axes remains true,” said LA Film Festival Director Jennifer Cochis in a statement. “These storytellers are united by their ability to transport, impact and inspire audiences with the power of their craft.”
Of the films in this year’s competition, 42 percent are directed by women and 39 percent by people of color. Overall the fest is presenting 40 features, 41 shorts, and 10 episodic works, hailing from 26 countries around the globe.
Screenings as well as additional programming will be held at venues including the Loyola Marymount Playa Vista campus, the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, the Writers Guild Theater, and various ArcLight Cinemas across L.A. Festival passes are on sale and can be found here. For more information on nonprofit Film Independent and the benefits of becoming a member (including voting in the Film Independent Spirit Awards!) visit www.filmindependent.org.
To see yourself in a festival, check out Backstage’s film audition listings!