LA Film Festival Unveils 2016 Competition Lineup; 42 World Premieres Chosen Across All Categories

  • Print

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, Nightfall and LA Muse sections.

The 2016 LA Film Festival will screen a diverse slate of feature films, shorts and web series, along with programs such as the Filmmaker Retreat, Coffee Talks and Master Classes. The Festival runs June 1-9, 2016 at the ArcLight Cinemas.

"Our Programming team, led by Roya Rastegar and Jennifer Cochis, killed it," said Festival Director, Stephanie Allain. "The competition lineup of 42 world premieres echoes Film Independent's mission to celebrate diversity and showcases a multitude of innovative, fresh voices. We can't wait to share these films with audiences and industry alike, and, following years which saw films like Meet the Patels, Code Black, Nightingale, The Drew, Out of My Hand and French Dirty acquired out of the Festival, are confident that 2016 will mark our best Festival yet."

"Discovering storytellers is our raison d'être," said Roya Rastegar, Director of Programming. "We invest a great deal to learn about filmmaking communities across the globe. We look for films with conviction in perspective, style and voice."

"Curating films for LA audiences is so special because Angelenos have a uniquely homegrown love of cinema," added Creative Director, Jennifer Cochis. "It's with true film lovers in mind that we program: from political theater to musical theater, we're highlighting storytelling in all its forms."

The 2016 LA Film Festival, which will have its headquarters at the ArcLight Culver City, announces a diverse slate of 56 feature films, 58 short films and 13 short episodic works representing 28 countries. Previously announced, the Opening Night Film is the World Premiere of Ricardo De Montreuil's Lowriders, sponsored by Jaeger-LeCoultre. This year's Guest Director is Ryan Coogler (Fruitvale Station, Creed) and Ava DuVernay (Selma, Middle of Nowhere) and Array Releasing will receive the Spirit of Independence Award. More special screenings and programs will be announced in the coming weeks.

The Festival's five competitions feature 42 World Premieres. Across the five feature competition categories, 43% of the films are directed by women and 38% of the films are directed by people of color.

This year, LA Film Festival Director Stephanie Allain is joined by Creative Director Jennifer Cochis, Director of Programming Roya Rastegar and Managing Director Ralph Rivera. Film Independent Curator Elvis Mitchell continues to oversee signature programs and LACMA events.

Passes are currently on sale to Film Independent Members and the general public. In addition to access to screenings and events (even after they sell out), Festival passes provide access to networking receptions and the Festival Lounge, where pass holders interact with Festival filmmakers and professionals in the film community. General admission tickets to individual films go on sale to Film Independent Members beginning Thursday, May 5 and to the general public beginning Tuesday, May 10. Contact the Ticket Office for passes, tickets and event information by calling 866.FILM.FEST (866.345.6337) or visit lafilmfestival.com.


US Fiction Competition

11:55 – USA (DIRECTORS Ari Issler, Ben Snyder WRITERS Ari Issler, Ben Snyder, Victor Almanzar PRODUCERS Danny Mendoza, Joshua Blum, Gia Walsh, Kara Baker, Matthew Thurm CAST Victor Almanzar, Shirley Rumierk, Elizabeth Rodriguez, David Zayas, Julia Stiles, John Leguizamo) – Upon his return home, a U.S. Marine must face up to the consequences of a shameful tragedy that has defined his past before he runs out of time. World Premiere

72 Hours: A Brooklyn Love Story? – USA (DIRECTOR Raafi Rivero WRITERS Raafi Rivero, Bilal N'Dongo PRODUCERS Vincent Harris, Stephanie Williams CAST Melvin Mogoli, Andrea Rachel Parker, Erinn Westbrook, Bilal N'Dongo, David Shaw, Enrique Miller, Khadim Diop) – A charismatic teen is thrown into a crisis of life and love when he must decide whether to leave his rapidly gentrifying Brooklyn community to pursue a prestigious academic scholarship. World Premiere

Blood Stripe – USA (DIRECTOR Remy Auberjonois WRITERS Kate Nowlin, Remy Auberjonois PRODUCERS Schuyler Weiss, Julie Christeas, Remy Auberjonois, Kate Nowlin CAST Kate Nowlin, Tom Lipinski, Chris Sullivan, Rusty Schwimmer, Rene Auberjonois) – After a third tour of duty in Afghanistan, a Marine sergeant returns home to find herself hemorrhaging anxiety and paranoia from unseen wounds. World Premiere

Chee and T – USA (DIRECTOR Tanuj Chopra WRITERS Tanuj Chopra, Chee Malabar PRODUCER Sohini Sengupta CAST Sunkrish Bala, Dominic Rains, Asif Ali, Noureen DeWulf, Rebecca Hazlewood, Bernard White, Karan Soni, Scott Rogers, Himanshu Suri) – A delirious ride with two hot henchmen, who are tasked with getting their South Asian boss's out-of-control nephew presentable for his engagement party by day's end. World Premiere

Destined – USA (DIRECTOR/WRITER Qasim Basir PRODUCERS Tommy Oliver, Rick Rosenthal, Matt Ratner CAST Cory Hardrict, Jesse Metcalfe, Margot Bingham, Robert Christopher Riley, Jason Dohring, Zulay Henao, Hill Harper, Lala Anthony, Mo McCrae) – A man navigates parallel realities: one as a hardened criminal who has spent years building his drug empire; the other as an ambitious architect who has been working his way up the corporate ladder. World Premiere

Dreamstates – USA/France/Rwanda (DIRECTOR/ WRITER Anisia Uzeyman PRODUCERS Maripol, Dave Guenette, Anisia Uzeyman, Saul Williams, Annie Maurette, Neptune Frost, Mai Lucas CAST Saul Williams, Anisia Uzeyman, Beau Sia, William Nadylam, CX KIDTRONIK, Guillermo Brown, Julien Chirol, Zach Prewitt, Mervin Sealy Sr.) – Created in collaboration with Saul Williams, this non-linear tale is about two wayward souls discovering their love for one another, as reality and fiction blur on a tour across the United States with pivotal figures of the Afro-Punk movement. World Premiere

GREEN / is / GOLD – USA (DIRECTOR/ WRITER Ryon Baxter PRODUCERS Anthony Burns, Ryon Baxter CAST Jimmy Baxter, Ryon Baxter, David Fine, Liz Clare, Shelley Mitchell) – After his father goes to prison, a wayward tween has nowhere to live except with his high school dropout brother, who is building—at all costs—a marijuana business. World Premiere

My First Kiss and the People Involved – USA (DIRECTOR/ WRITER Luigi Campi PRODUCERS Mayuran Tiruchelvam, Andy Nguyen, Ko-Rely Pi CAST India Salvor Menuez, Robert Beitzel, Josh Caras, Liza Thorn, Carmen M. Herlihy) – Sam doesn't speak; she hums with the trees and the cracks in the walls. When her caregiver mysteriously disappears from the group home, Sam steps into the world to find her. World Premiere

Paint it Black – USA (DIRECTOR Amber Tamblyn WRITERS Amber Tamblyn, Ed Dougherty PRODUCERS Wren Arthur, Anne Hubble, Amy Hobby, Amber Tamblyn CAST Janet Mcteer, Alia Shawkat, Alfred Molina, Emily Rios, Rys Wakefield) – Barely able to process the death of her true love, Josie is drawn into a twisted relationship with the deceased's mother as irrational grief explodes in beautiful and terrifying ways. World Premiere

Tracktown – USA (DIRECTORS/ WRITERS Jeremy Teicher, Alexi Pappas PRODUCERS Laura Wagner, Alexi Pappas, Jeremy Teicher, Jay Smith CAST Alexi Pappas, Chase Offerle, Rachel Dratch, Andy Buckley) – A bright, talented and lonely long-distance runner twists her ankle as she prepares for the Olympic Trials and must do something she's never done before: take a day off. World Premiere

The View from Tall – USA (DIRECTORS Erica Weiss, Caitlin Parrish WRITER Caitlin Parrish PRODUCER Amanda Pflieger CAST Amanda Drinkall, Michael Patrick Thornton, Carolyn Braver) – A precocious high school senior finds an unlikely lifeline in her court-mandated therapist after she is ostracized from school after a sexual transgression with her English teacher goes viral. World Premiere

Woven – USA (DIRECTORS Salome Mulugeta, Nagwa Ibrahim WRITERS Salome Mulugeta, Ryan Spahn, Kristin Hanggi PRODUCERS Salome Mulugeta, Nagwa Ibrahim, Ryan Spahn CAST Salome Mulugeta, Ryan O'Nan, Alemtsehay Wodajo, Larisa Polonsky, Ryan Spahn, Vincent Agnello, Mickey Macras, Tibebe Solomon Borga, Mona Ibrahim) – When a mysterious crime takes the life of her only brother, an Ethiopian-American woman searches for the truth behind his death, while struggling to reconcile cultural expectations with her own pursuit of self-identity and love. World Premiere

Documentary Competition

Company Town – USA (DIRECTORS Natalie Kottke, Erica Sardarian PRODUCERS Natalie Kottke, Erica Sardarian, Edgar Sardarian, Adam Paul Smith, David Johnson) – Almost every resident of Crossett, Arkansas, has worked for (or is currently employed by) Georgia-Pacific, a company privately-owned by the Koch brothers. Now, one by one, former employees are getting sick and dying of cancer. World Premiere

Denial – USA (DIRECTOR Derek Hallquist WRITERS Derek Hallquist, Aaron Woolf, Anoosh Tertzakian PRODUCER Aaron Woolf) – Filmmaker Derek Hallquist was in the midst of filming an environmental documentary about his father's innovative quest for alternative energy sources when he uncovered a shocking aspect of his father's life that transformed a global crisis into a personal one. World Premiere

Dr. Feelgood – USA (DIRECTOR Eve Marson WRITERS Eve Marson, Mark Monroe, Sara Goldblatt, David Boodell PRODUCERS Eve Marson, Sara Goldblatt) – An examination of the ethics behind a medical practice of prescribing pain-relieving drugs, featuring Dr. William Hurwitz, who prescribed thousands of opioid prescriptions before being sentenced to 25 years in prison for drug trafficking. World Premiere

Dying Laughing – UK (DIRECTORS/PRODUCERS Lloyd Stanton, Paul Toogood) – Riveting interviews lend insight into the creative craft of comedy and the psychology behind some of the world's greatest stand-ups, including Chris Rock, Kevin Hart, Jerry Seinfeld, Sarah Silverman, Jamie Foxx, Steve Coogan, Billy Connolly and Amy Schumer. World Premiere

The House on Coco Road – Grenada/USA (DIRECTOR/PRODUCER Damani Baker WRITERS Damani Baker, Jon Fine, Eisa Davis, Cameron Russell) – An activist and teacher abandons the racial violence permeating Oakland in the 1960's in pursuit of the utopic possibilities of Grenada's revolution—only to put her family in harm's way during a brutal invasion by the U.S. military. World Premiere

Jackson – USA (DIRECTOR Maisie Crow PRODUCERS Maisie Crow, Jamie Boyle) – A single mother, an abortion clinic director and fervent pro-lifer lay bare their stakes in the fight of one of the last remaining abortion clinics to stay open against the pro-life movement's efforts to make abortions illegal in the Deep South. World Premiere

The Last Gold – USA/Germany (DIRECTOR Brian T. Brown WRITERS Brian T. Brown, Casey Barrett PRODUCERS Chuck Wielgus, Mike Unger, Dan Klein) – One of the strongest U.S. women's swimming teams in history is met at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal by a team from East Germany who got big overnight following the most extensive steroid doping program in sports history. World Premiere

Looking at the Stars – Brazil/Nicaragua/USA (DIRECTOR Alexandre Peralta WRITERS Alexandre Peralta, Melisa Rebelo Kerezi PRODUCERS Alejandro Ernesto Martinez B., Alexandre Peralta, Melisa Rebelo Kerezi, Corina Maritescu, Chao Thao, Thais Peralta) – At the world's only ballet school for the blind, located in São Paulo, Brazil, a prima ballerina and her teen protégé boldly take on the unique challenges of their visual impairments to develop new forms of self-expression through dance. World Premiere

Olympic Pride, American Prejudice – USA (DIRECTOR/ WRITER Deborah Riley Draper, PRODUCERS Deborah Riley Draper, Blair Underwood, Amy Tiemann, Michael A. Draper) – Follow the historic story of 18 African-American athletes who competed in the 1936 Berlin Olympics, undermining the fallacy of Aryan supremacy and exposing the hypocrisy of life under Jim Crow laws in the U.S. World Premiere

Out of Iraq – USA/Canada/Lebanon/Iraq (DIRECTORS Eva Orner, Chris McKim PRODUCERS Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato, Eva Orner, Chris McKim) – Two Iraqi men meet in the middle of war-torn Ramadi in 2004; one is a soldier for the Iraqi Army, the other is a translator for the U.S. military. They fall in love. World Premiere

Political Animals – USA (DIRECTORS Jonah Markowitz, Tracy Wares WRITER Jonah Markowitz PRODUCER Anne Clements) – The first openly gay California State Representatives, Sheila Kuehl, Jackie Goldberg, Christine Kehoe, and Carole Migden, had to utilize cunning, strategy and endurance when authoring and introducing the legislation that fundamentally changed the landscape of LGBT rights. World Premiere

They Call us Monsters – USA (DIRECTOR Ben Lear PRODUCERS Sasha Alpert, Gabriel Cowan) – Behind the walls of The Compound, L.A.'s most violent juvenile offenders await their trials. To their advocates, they're kids. To the system, they're adults. To their victims, they're monsters. Who are they to you? World Premiere


World Fiction Competition

Heis (chronicles) – France (DIRECTOR/WRITER/PRODUCER Anaïs Volpé CAST Akéla Sari, Matthieu Longatte, Anaïs Volpé, Emilia Derou-Bernal, Alexandre Desane) – A millennial artist returns to her mother's home in Paris, only to have her personal ambitions confronted by her family's expectations in this energetic and visually distinct debut film. World Premiere

Like Cotton Twines – USA/Ghana (DIRECTOR/WRITER Leila Djansi PRODUCERS Amanda Marshall, Akofa Djankui, Whitney Valcin, Dave Harper, Leila Djansi CAST Jay Ellis, Ophelia Dzidzornu, Miranda Bailey, Yvonne Okoro, Luckie Lawson, David Dontoh) – An African-American volunteer accepts a teaching job in a remote Ghanaian village and is ensnared in a battle between tradition and freedom when he is compelled to save one of his students from becoming a slave to the gods. World Premiere

London Town – UK (DIRECTOR Derrick Borte WRITER Matthew Brown PRODUCER Sofia Sondervan CAST Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Daniel Huttlestone, Dougray Scott, Natascha McElhone, Tom Hughes) – A 14-year old boy's life changes forever when his estranged mother introduces him to the music of The Clash in 1979 London. World Premiere

Lupe Under the Sun – Mexico/USA (DIRECTOR/WRITER Rodrigo Reyes PRODUCER Su Kim CAST Daniel Muratalla, Ana Muratalla) – After a lifetime working in the California fields, Lupe learns that he is about to die and desperately struggles to return home to his family in Mexico to make amends—before it is too late. World Premiere

A Moving Image – UK (DIRECTOR/WRITER Shola Amoo PRODUCER Rienkje Attoh CAST Tanya Fear, Hussina Raja, Yinka Oyewole, Aki Omoshaybi, Alex Austin, Yrsa Daley Ward) – Reality and fiction merge in this personal reflection on gentrification in Brixton, told from the perspective of a sincere, yet stifled, young artist who struggles with her own complicity as she confronts the changing landscape of her South London neighborhood. World Premiere

Play the Devil – Trinidad, Bahamas, USA (DIRECTOR/WRITER Maria Govan PRODUCER Abigail Hadeed CAST Petrice Jones, Gareth Jenkins, Akil Nicholas, Penelope Spencer) – Set against the backdrop of Trinidad and Tobago's mystical Carnival, a gifted and struggling young man becomes the object of intrigue for an older, well-meaning businessman until their worlds collide. World Premiere

LA Muse

Actors of Sound – USA/Ireland/India/Finland/Germany/Argentina (DIRECTOR/ WRITER Lalo Molina PRODUCERS Lalo Molina, Gustavo Bernla, Zoe Willoughby) – Will Hollywood's low-tech sound artists survive as digital technology consumes modern moviemaking? Foley artists, the unsung heroes of movie sound effects, recreate the sounds—from footsteps to bone crack—at the heart of film magic. World Premiere

Girl Flu. – USA (DIRECTOR/ WRITER Dorie Barton PRODUCER David K. Wilson, Jay Lowi CAST Katee Sackhoff, Jade Pettyjohn, Jeremy Sisto, Heather Matarazzo, Judy Reyes) – Bird, a smart level-headed tween, and her immature stoner mom gracelessly navigate the arrival of Bird's first period, which she gets on the last day of school … in front of the entire class. World Premiere

Manchild: The Schea Cotton Story – USA (DIRECTOR Eric "Ptah" Herbert WRITERS Michael Landers, Eric "Ptah" Herbert PRODUCERS Dr. Howard Mango, Eric "Ptah" Herbert, Oscar "Cali" Quiroz, Mack Tompkins, Jason Hart, Marcus Gradney, Schea Cotton) – One of the biggest mysteries in basketball's history is why Los Angeles legend Schea Cotton, one of the most highly touted high school athletes of a pre-social media era, never made it to the NBA. World Premiere

Namour – USA (DIRECTOR/ WRITER Heidi Saman PRODUCER Matt Keene Smith CAST Karim Saleh, Mona Hala, Waleed Zuaiter, Nicole Haddad) – Set in the City of Angels during the economic recession of the late 2000's, a twenty-something Egyptian-American valet driver must come to grips with his dead-end job, disintegrating family and disappearing relationships in this stylish homage to Los Angeles. World Premiere

No Light and No Land Anywhere – USA (DIRECTOR/ WRITER Amber Sealey PRODUCERS Amber Sealey, Drea Clark, Alysa Nahmias CAST Gemma Brockis, Jennifer LaFleur, Kent Osborne, David Sullivan, Jade Sealey, Deborah Dopp) – Grieving over her mother's death, Lexi abruptly leaves her life and husband in London to come to Los Angeles in pursuit of the father who abandoned her when she was three. World Premiere

Sensitivity Training – USA (DIRECTOR/ WRITER Melissa Finell PRODUCER Megha Kohli, Melissa Finell CAST Anna Lise Phillips, Jill Alexander, Quinn Marcus, Amy Madigan, Charles Haid, Amy Vorpahl, Andy Gala, Michael Laskin, Gregory Itzin, Finnegan Haid, Courtney Fansler, Tessa Goss, Challen Cates) – A grumpy microbiologist is forced into sensitivity training at work and forms an unlikely friendship with her overly vivacious coach. World Premiere

Nightfall

Abattoir – USA (DIRECTOR Darren Lynn Bousman WRITER Christopher Monfette PRODUCERS Jesse Berger, Brent C. Johnson CAST Jesse Lowndes, Joe Anderson, Lin Shaye, Dayton Callie) – A reporter unearths an urban legend about a home being constructed from rooms where horrific tragedies have occurred, giving new life to the term "haunted house." World Premiere

Beyond the Gates – USA (DIRECTOR Jackson Stewart WRITERS Jackson Stewart, Stephen Scarlata PRODUCERS Amanda Mortimer, Barbara Crampton, Ian Keiser, Jon Kondelik, Jackson Stewart, Stephen Scarlata CAST Graham Skipper, Chase Williamson, Brea Grant, Barbara Crampton, Matt Mercer, Justin Welborn, Jesse Merlin, Sara Malakul Lane, Henry LeBlanc) – Two estranged brothers dig through their missing father's video store, discovering a VCR board game that holds a connection to their father's disappearance and deadly consequences for anyone who plays it. World Premiere

Don't Hang Up – UK (DIRECTORS Alexis Wajsbrot, Damien Macé WRITER Joe Johnson PRODUCERS Jason Newmark, Laurie Cook, Romain Philippe, Farah Abushwesha, Alexis Wajsbrot, Damien Macé CAST Gregg Sulkin, Garrett Clayton, Bella Dayne, Sienna Guillory) – An evening of drunken prank calls becomes a nightmare for a pair of teenagers when a mysterious stranger turns their own game against them, with deadly consequences. World Premiere

Mercy – USA (DIRECTOR/WRITER Chris Sparling PRODUCERS Andrew D Corkin, Kyle Franke, Robyn Bennett CAST James Wolk, Caitlin Fitzgerald, Tom Lipinski, Dan Ziskie, Michael Godere, Michael Donovan, Dion Graham, Constance Baron) – Brought together at their childhood home over their dying mother, an estranged family is thrust into a deadly fight for their own survival in a tense home invasion thriller. World Premiere

Officer Downe – USA (DIRECTOR M. Shawn Crahan WRITER Joe Casey PRODUCERS Skip Williamson, Mark Neveldine, Joe Casey CAST Kim Coates, Tyler Ross, Lauren Luna Velez, Meadow Williams) – Based on the cult graphic novel, a rookie is tasked with shadowing Officer Downe, a no-nonsense LAPD cop with regenerative powers, as he wages an ultra-violent war against the nefarious villains of Los Angeles. World Premiere

Villisca – USA (DIRECTOR Tony Valenzuela WRITER Owen Egerton PRODUCER Seth Caplan, Kevin Abrams, Michael Wormser CAST Robert Adamson, Jarrett Sleeper, Alex Frnka, Conchata Ferrell, Jon Gries) – Three ghost-hunting high schoolers visit the Moore House in Villisca, Iowa—the site of one of America's most grisly unsolved mass murders. After their private tour is interrupted, the group sneaks back in at night, unaware of the otherworldly terror that awaits them. World Premiere


Shorts

1985 – USA (DIRECTOR Yen Tan) As a dying man prepares to move in with his estranged mother, he makes an appointment with a beauty consultant to hide his symptoms.

Afuera – USA (DIRECTOR Steven Liang) When an undocumented transgender woman is forced to resort to the sex trade to support herself, her boyfriend gives her an ultimatum with unintended consequences.

And Nothing Happened – USA (DIRECTOR Naima Ramos-Chapman) This combination documentary, personal essay and magical realism format film, captures a young woman's struggle with self, family and love in the aftermath of sexual assault.

Another Kind Of Girl – Syria (DIRECTOR Khaldiya Jibawi) A 17-year-old meditates on how life at the refugee camp has opened up new horizons and given her a sense of courage that she lacked in Syria.

At Least You Are Here – USA (DIRECTOR Kristen Swanbeck) A lonely Ukranian woman living in Brooklyn experiences the war going on in her home country through her computer, then wanders the streets looking for human connection.

The Beast – Croatia, Finland (DIRECTOR Mirta Puhlovski) A complicated relationship between an elderly mother and daughter is forever altered when a bat flies into their lives.

Beneath The Embers – Mexico (DIRECTORS Verónica Jessamyn López Sainz, Andrea Fuentes Charles) A young woman from the Sierra Mountains of Guanajuato has learned that to achieve her dreams she must sacrifice her present.

Bisonhead – USA (DIRECTOR Elizabeth Lo) A family of Ponderai hunters travels to Yellowstone to exercise their treaty rights in this glimpse into the marginalization of both indigenous cultures and wildlife in the American West.

The Black Belt – USA (DIRECTOR Margaret Brown) In 2015 Alabama closed 31 DMVs, which largely impacted the Black Belt, and created a mobile unit that travels across the state to issue ID cards.

The Boardwalk – USA (DIRECTOR Ougie Pak) An eight-year-old Korean-American boy goes on a road trip with his father to Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Chekhov – USA (DIRECTOR Jack Dunphy) A secret recording of the filmmaker's sister reading a love letter from his ex-girlfriend goes from funny to unbearably sad.

Chulyen – France (DIRECTORS Cerise Lopez, Agnes Patron) Chulyen is strong; Chulyen is handsome. Chulyen is weak; Chulyen is ugly. Chulyen is the crow's spirit and three shamans are chasing after him.

Deer Flower – South Korea, USA (DIRECTOR Kangmin Kim) In the summer of 1992, an ill elementary school student goes to a farm in the suburbs with his parents, who believe the expensive and rare specialty from the farm will strengthen his body.

Dirt – USA (DIRECTOR Darius Clark Monroe) Some things must die to live.

Dogwalker – USA (DIRECTOR Kim Sherman) A reclusive woman lives out her worst nightmare: While in her care, a favorite client's beloved pet passes away while the family is on vacation.

Dolfun – USA (DIRECTOR Sebastian Silva) What begins as a love story becomes an existential crisis when filmmaker Sebastian Silva flies to Miami to fulfill his lifelong dream of swimming with dolphins.

Dollhouse – USA (DIRECTOR Teri Timely) This documentary follows an artist who strives for maximum realism in her creation of newborn-baby dolls.

The Emily & Ariel Show – USA (DIRECTORS Emily Hoffman, Ariel Noltimier Strauss) Juxtaposing animated video footage with stop-motion puppetry, a group of friends in their twenties bring you into their lives on an average Friday night.

Filip – Sweden (DIRECTOR Nathalie Alvarez) When seven-year-old Filip witnesses something unexpected, he is forced to confront his feelings of admiration for his older brother.

Flaws – USA (DIRECTOR Josh Shaffner) A hand-drawn, surreal rant about years spent in the service industry as a waiter.

Flower of a Thousand Colors – Belgium/Bolivia (DIRECTOR Karen Vázquez Guadarrama) An intimate look into the life of a loving mother who struggles every day with her rough environment: a Bolivian mining camp.

The Gatekeeper – Japan/Canada (DIRECTOR Yung Chang) A retired police detective patrols Tojinbo Cliffs, a notorious destination for suicides in Japan.

Gloria – Mexico (DIRECTOR Luis Hernández De la Peña) In Mexico City, a public transport bus driver spends his nights in a peculiar nightclub downtown.

Glove – USA (DIRECTORS Alexa Haas, Bernardo Britto) The true story of a glove that has been floating in space since 1965.

Into Darkness – Belgium (DIRECTOR Rachida El Garani) This documentary gives insight into a deeply religious Moroccan family as they struggle with blindness and extreme poverty.

James Turrell: You Who Look – USA (DIRECTOR Jessica Yu) James Turrell, an artist who has been creating art that tests our notions of seeing, takes us on a journey through his immersive works.

Jungle – Ghana/USA (DIRECTOR Asantewaa Prempeh) Two Senegalese immigrants try to make a living selling fake designer purses on the bustling streets of New York City's Chinatown.

Lancaster, CA – USA (DIRECTOR Mike Ott) A portrait of love, lust and heartbreak set in the California desert.

Little Hero – USA (DIRECTORS Marcus A. McDougald, Jennifer Medvin) A six-year-old explains her unique relationship with her twin brother, who was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

The Lingerie Show – USA (DIRECTOR Laura Harrison) A drug addict throws a lingerie show to seduce her boyfriend away from his sugar daddy, which devolves into mayhem.

Like – Bangladesh/USA (DIRECTOR Garrett Bradley) A behind-the-scenes examination of Bangladeshi "click-farms," an industry that grows social media followings for celebrities and brands alike.

Love – Hungary/France (DIRECTOR Reka Bucsi) Affection is described in three different chapters, through an impact on a distant solar system.

Maman(s) – France (DIRECTOR Maïmouna Doucouré) An eight-year-old girl decides to take action when her father returns home to his family from Senegal with a second wife.

My Aleppo – USA (DIRECTOR Melissa Langer) After fleeing the Syrian civil war, a family communicates with the home front via Skype, watching Aleppo disintegrate and their loved ones change.

A Night In Tokoriki – Romania (DIRECTOR Roxana Stroe) The whole village celebrates Geanina's eighteenth birthday in an improvised nightclub, where she receives a most surprising gift—one that nobody will ever forget.

Night Stalker – USA (DIRECTORS Abigail Horton, Ryan Dickie, Mike Anderson) The night stalker gives you a poisoned to-go container of food that turns you to clay and sends you to another dimension!

Noni & Elizabeth – Sweden (DIRECTOR Nanna Blondell) Ten-year-old Noni lives with her mother during the week and her father on weekends. With her step sister during one weekend, Noni sees the world for what it is—upside down.

Omnia – United Arab Emirates (DIRECTOR Amena Al Nowais) Omnia retells a horrifying childhood experience that left her with no sense of what it means to be a female, a girl or loved.

Partners – USA (DIRECTOR Joey Ally) When a slump in Kate and Leigh's sex life forces them to reconsider their work/life relationship, they must confront how intertwined their lives have become.

The Preparation – Georgia (DIRECTOR Giorgi Tsilosani) For death you should prepare; but grandmother refuses to die.

The Procedure – USA (DIRECTOR Calvin Reader) A man is captured and forced to endure a strange experiment.

Red Lake – USA (DIRECTOR Billy Luther) In 2005 the Red Lake Indian Reservation was at the center of national media attention after a devastating mass school shooting. Ten years later, survivors continue to heal long after the national spotlight has faded.

Reluctantly Queer – Ghana/USA (DIRECTOR Akosua Adoma Owusu) A story that both disrobes and questions what it means to be a queer man in this time and space.

Samedi – France (DIRECTOR Hannibal Mahé) After a boy runs away from juvenile detention, nobody pays attention to him.

Semele – Cyprus (DIRECTOR Myrsini Aristidou) Semele will do anything to spend some time with her long-absent father. A school note becomes the excuse she needs to visit him at his workplace, where her presence highlights the fragility of their relationship.

The Send-Off – USA (DIRECTORS Ivete Lucas, Patrick Bresnan) Prom day serves as the backdrop to this immersion into the rural industrial sugar town of Pahokee, Florida.

Speaking Is Difficult – USA (DIRECTOR AJ Schnack) This film always begins in the present day, retracing our memories and retelling a cumulative history that is both unbearable and inevitable.

Thunder Road – USA (DIRECTOR Jim Cummings) Officer Arnaud loved his mom.

Tisure – Venezuela (DIRECTOR Adrian Geyer) Watching from the distance, the camera returns human race to nature. Their lives and deaths like a flowing stream, the time and space become one.

Too Legit – USA (DIRECTOR Frankie Shaw) After becoming pregnant from sexual assault on campus, a young woman goes on a journey to find out if the rape was "legitimate" under Senate Candidate Todd Akin's definition of that term.

TPJ – USA (DIRECTOR Grace Mi) Based on the myth of a doppelgänger as an omen of death, a character experiences mortality salience when he meets his double.

Univitellin – USA (DIRECTOR Terence Nance) A love story about how we are conditioned to live out love stories in ways deriving from folklore.

Use Of Force – USA (DIRECTOR Rita Baghdadi) An examination of the LAPD's efforts to reconcile a series of officer-involved shootings.

Vessels – USA (DIRECTOR Arkasha Stevenson) A young transgender woman considers a dangerous operation that may be her only option for gaining a more feminine body.

Virgin Territory – USA (DIRECTOR Emily Robinson) A sex-positive, queer coming-of-age story about a teenage girl who loses her virginity and begins her journey of sexual exploration.

Visions of an Island – USA (DIRECTOR Sky Hopinka) This glimpse of an island in the center of the Bering Sea is presented by an Unangax elder, a group of Unangam Tunuu language students and a wandering visitor.

Visiting Day – USA (DIRECTOR Jennifer Maytorena Taylor) Three times a month, a young woman and her daughter make a long journey for a family day at a federal prison.

Wellington Jr. – France (DIRECTOR Cecile Paysant) A tentative young hunter sets out into the wilderness under the tutelage of his seasoned father, but the rite of passage leads to increasingly surreal and grisly developments.

Western Women – USA (DIRECTOR Alexander Yan) A young man orders an unusual sex toy.

Woman In Deep – USA (DIRECTOR Janicza Bravo) A woman calls a suicide prevention hotline and is put on hold.


Future Filmmakers Showcase: High School Shorts

A Little Love Goes A Long Clay – USA (DIRECTOR Juliet Buckholdt ) A teen has a bad experience with cyber bullying, inspiring the message that social media should be used to spread love instead of hate.

Astro, Naught – USA (DIRECTORS Katie Speare, Sacha Lin) A woman takes to the skies in her quest for love in this experimental music video.

Bad Coach – USA (DIRECTORS Carrington Bennett, Carson Bennett) Forced to change his coaching techniques, Coach Kevin learns the lesson of a lifetime.

Color Culture – USA (DIRECTOR Dominique Cojuangco) An Asian American actress struggles to form her own identity in the entertainment industry.

Daggers and Dagguerreotypes – USA (DIRECTOR Natalia Ferrara) Two postmortem photographers are dying for a bit more cash.

Epilogue – USA (DIRECTOR Julian Montez) Two adolescents sitting on a park bench come to peace with their lives as the world ends around them.

Girl – USA (DIRECTOR Abbey Sacks) A dance student at Interlochen Arts Academy creates a petition to alter the dress code at her school.

Home – USA (DIRECTOR Brandon Burnett) This exploration of the importance of family is about a woman who grew up in the foster system and was eventually adopted at the age of 32 by a same-sex couple.

In Twenty Years: Central District – USA (DIRECTOR Josh Jaffe) Gentrification in Seattle is explored and dissected through stories of the past, present and future.

Lola & Elaine – USA (DIRECTORS Tia Mayer, Chris Razniak, Thomas Wade, Piper Conley, Jayden Gillespie, Ceren Fitoz) Two friends navigate their upperclassmen years in high school in this slightly unorthodox yet endearing coming-of-age tale.

Lucky Numbers – USA (DIRECTOR Chester Milton) A young man steals a winning lottery ticket and claims $50 million.

Luis.edu – USA (DIRECTOR Soorim Lee) A high school student improves the education system one step at a time.

Memories Upon Memories – USA (DIRECTOR Geoffrey S. Glenn) A man's sense of reality is called into question when he wakes up to find that his wife has disappeared into thin air.

Of Gods and Bells – USA (DIRECTOR Alexia Salingaros) A stunning exploration of the hidden, magical world of classical Indian dance set in a modern and suburban environment.

One Question – USA (DIRECTOR Badger Antoniou) Two queer kids scour the streets of Boston in search of the answer to an unanswerable question.

Pea Soup – USA (DIRECTOR Hope Alexander) Kenzie hasn't been kissed in her entire high school career; she conspires with herself to lock lips with the man of her dreams at a party.

Resonant – USA (DIRECTORS Shantel Winslow, Sanders Evans) A young boy must learn how to cope with his sudden loss of hearing.

Spell – USA (DIRECTOR Isabella Olaguera) The fleeting nature of youth and problems with trying to meet other people's expectations are addressed in this experimental film.

The Day I Created a Hashtag – FRANCE (DIRECTOR Paul Villenave) Follow the director of this whimsical documentary as he takes a foray into the world of social media.

The Fear of Disappearing – USA (DIRECTOR Joshua Seigel) A young man tries to find a way to keep himself from disappearing.

The Good The Bad and The Willy – USA (DIRECTOR Kevin Castro) Willy breaks up with his girlfriend and turns to his boys for support.

The Skin I'm In – USA (DIRECTOR Rajaiah Jones) Three black women discuss their life experiences, insecurities and opinions about what it means to be beautiful.

Tipping Scales: The Story of Lisa Jura – USA (DIRECTORS Justin Binder, Jordan Brown, Ty Goodrich, Ned Jacobs, Ryan Kim, Chloe Kuelbs, Matthew Steiglitz, Caleb Ullendorff, Savannah Weinstock) During the Nazi occupation of Vienna, a young girl's life changed forever when her parents put her on a Kindertransport to England.

True Places Never Are – USA (DIRECTOR Theo Taplitz) A boy trapped in sadness over the death of his grandfather discovers a mysterious hole in one of the books his grandfather left behind.

Ujana – USA (DIRECTORS Kendall Huff, Rachel Simurda) A girl is introduced to a secret organization of teenagers with plans to run away from the laws of their dystopian society, and she must make a life-changing decision: run or stay.

Untitled Documentary Project – USA (DIRECTOR Robert Gordon) A young auteur makes a movie about the dumbest, and hottest, water polo jock at his school.

What Now? (Šta Sad?) –CROATIA (DIRECTORS Marko Bičanić, Karlo Vorih) Two best friends decide to go to a party and their friendship is put to the test when a person from their past shows up.

Whip It – USA (DIRECTOR Ryan Porter) A heart-wrenching exploration of a teenager's struggle with an addiction to whipped cream.

Will I  – USA (DIRECTOR Adrian Cadavid) A young girl with a passion for acting works hard to achieve her goals but encounters hardships on her path to success.

Witness – USA (DIRECTOR Jamon Tolbert) A young boy witnesses a gruesome murder in the woods and desperately tries to find an escape route, with the killer in pursuit.

Wonderful World  – RUSSIA (DIRECTOR David Saveliev) The lone survivor of an apocalypse tries to escape his surroundings while listening to the iconic song "What a Wonderful World."

WorryWart – CANADA (DIRECTOR Liam O'Connor-Savria) This documentary about a traumatic childhood accident is told using bright and colorful puppets.

Wound: A Film Diary – USA (DIRECTOR Lauren Loesberg) A personal film diary that focuses on the filmmaker's stress and anxiety, as well as her sense that she is wound too tightly.

Episodes: Indie Series From The Web

20 Seconds To Live – USA (DIRECTOR Ben Rock) Unforgettable moments; for people who hate happy endings.

Brothers – USA (DIRECTOR Emmett Jack Lundberg) The comedic trials and tribulations of four transgender masculine friends experiencing life and love in Brooklyn.

Caring – USA (DIRECTOR Maggie Kiley) An everyday comedy about attempting to remain centered amid a pile of diapers. Are these children really mine? And what's the point?

Fridays – USA (DIRECTOR Anna Kerrigan) Loving, living and learning as a (deaf) girl in the city.

The Ghost and The Negro – USA (DIRECTOR Sylvester K. Folks) Framed for murder, a bookstore keeper turns to a supernatural entity to clear his name.

Her Story – USA (DIRECTOR Sydney Freeland) Violet and Paige are two transgender women in Los Angeles who have given up on love—until chance encounters give them renewed hope.

Instababy – USA (DIRECTOR Rosie Haber) Gay adoption is illegal in Mississippi, so Toni and Keeta look for a baby on Instagram.

Literally So Busy – USA (DIRECTOR Jerad Sloan) Last night was "pretty fuzzy" for Jen and included eyelash extensions gone awry, possible meth use and so many purchases of online birdfeeders.

Little Things – USA (DIRECTORS Lex Halaby, Mila Shah) Just another day in Los Angeles for two 30-something girls making awkward mountains out of everyday molehills.

Outside Comedy: Beth Stelling – USA (DIRECTOR Thomas R. Wood) Comedienne Beth Stelling opens up about body image and first impressions in barre class.

Quirky Female Protagonist – USA (DIRECTOR Yulin Kuang) Turning the genre of female-centric comedies on its head, the ladies face one drama after another.

Shangri-L.A. – USA (DIRECTOR Drew Rosas) Hipsters search for paradise amidst the urban jungle of Los Angeles, with a special appearance from YouTube star Jessie Kahnweiler.

Time Out With Yes Please! – USA (DIRECTOR Kholi Hicks) Comedic vignettes based off the lives of YouTube content creators Teresa Decher and Jason Nguyen.


Previously Announced

Opening Night

Lowriders – USA (DIRECTOR Ricardo de Montreuil WRITERS Elgin James,

Justin Tipping, Joshua Berne-Golden PRODUCERS Brian Grazer, Jason Blum CAST Eva Longoria, Demián Bichir, Melissa Benoist, Theo Rossi, Tony Revolori and Gabriel Chavarria) – Set within culturally vibrant East LA, a young Chicano muralist struggles to mend the rift between his tradition-loving Mexican father and his ex-con older brother by immersing himself in lowrider car culture. World Premiere

Buzz

Don't Think Twice – USA (DIRECTOR/WRITER Mike Birbiglia PRODUCERS Mike Birbiglia, Ira Glass, Miranda Bailey, Amanda Marshall CAST Gillian Jacobs, Keegan-Michael Key, Mike Birbiglia, Kate Micucci, Chris Gethard, Tami Sagher) – The unbreakable bonds of a struggling improv group are put to the test when they lose their performance space and one of them lands a coveted spot on the holy grail of all comedy shows. LA Premiere

Equity – USA (DIRECTOR/WRITER Meera Menon WRITER Amy Fox PRODUCERS Sarah Megan Thomas, Alysia Reiner CAST Anna Gunn, James Purefoy, Sarah Megan Thomas, Alysia Reiner) – A senior investment banker thrives in the brutality of her high-power, big money world until a controversial IPO threatens the fragile balance of power. LA Premiere

Jean of the Joneses – Canada/USA (DIRECTOR/WRITER Stella Meghie PRODUCERS Amos Adetuyi, Stella Meghie, Floyd Kane CAST Taylour Paige, Sherri Shepherd, Erica Ash, Gloria Reuben, Michelle Hurst, Mamoudou Athie, Francois Arnaud, Anna Hopkins, Demore Barnes) – When the estranged patriarch of the Jones family abruptly drops dead on their doorstep, sharp-witted Jean Jones stirs up familial dysfunctions to distract herself from an unraveling love life and a stalled writing career. LA Premiere

Kicks – USA (DIRECTOR Justin Tipping WRITER Joshua Beirne-Golden PRODUCER David Kaplan CAST Jahking Guillory, Christopher Meyer, CJ Wallace, Kofi Siriboe, Mahershala Ali) – After getting his dream pair of Air Jordans snatched, Brandon and his friends go on a dangerously epic mission through Oakland to get them back in this vibrant coming-of-age story bursting with magical realism. LA Premiere

Life, Animated – USA (DIRECTOR Roger Ross Williams PRODUCERS Roger Ross Williams, Julie Goldman) – Based on Ron Suskind's best-selling book, the emotional story of an autistic boy who is unable to speak for years, but finds a way to communicate to his family by embodying—to precision—his favorite characters in animated Disney movies. LA Premiere

The Music of Strangers – USA (DIRECTOR Morgan Neville PRODUCERS Morgan Neville, Caitrin Rogers) – Members of a collective of global innovative performers, composers and storytelling musicians, brought together by cellist Yo-Yo Ma as the Silk Road Ensemble, discuss their philosophies on music and culture. LA Premiere

Limelight

FREE CeCe! – USA (DIRECTOR Jacqueline Gares WRITERS Laverne Cox, Jacqueline Gares PRODUCER Laverne Cox) – CeCe McDonald survived a brutal attack, only to be incarcerated for defending her life. After an international movement to free her, CeCe emerges as a leader who interrogates the prison industrial complex and inspires women to fight back when attacked. World Premiere

A Hundred Streets – UK (DIRECTOR Jim O'Hanlon WRITER Leon Butler PRODUCERS Pippa Cross, Leon Butler, Idris Elba, Ros Hubbard CAST Idris Elba, Gemma Arterton, Charlie Creed-Miles, Franz Drameh, Kierston Wareing, Tom Cullen, and Ken Stott) – A powerful multi-stranded drama set in one specific area of contemporary London, with a cast of characters who face major choices and change in their separate lives as their paths sometimes cross. World Premiere

Lights Out – USA (DIRECTOR David F. Sandberg WRITERS David F. Sandberg, Eric Heisserer PRODUCERS Lawrence Grey, James Wan CAST Teresa Palmer, Maria Bello) – A woman and her young brother are haunted by a creature with a mysterious attachment to their mother that appears only when the lights go out. World Premiere

Opening Night – Mexico/USA (DIRECTOR Isaac Rentz WRITERS Gerry De Leon, Gregory Lisi PRODUCERS Daniel Posada, Jason Tamasco, Topher Grace, Alex Garcia CAST Topher Grace, Taye Diggs, Anne Heche, Alona Tal, JC Chasez, Rob Riggle, Paul Scheer, Lauren Lapkus, Brian Husky) – A musical comedy centered on a failed Broadway singer turned production manager who must save the show on opening night by wrangling his eccentric cast and crew before they wreak havoc. World Premiere

So B. It – USA (DIRECTOR Stephen Gyllenhaal WRITER Garry Williams PRODUCERS J. Todd Harris, Orien Richman CAST Talitha Bateman, Alfre Woodard, John Heard, Jessica Collins, Jacinda Barrett, Dash Mihok, Cloris Leachman) – Based on The New York Times best-selling young adult novel, a twelve-year-old travels alone across the country to unravel the mysteries of her and her mentally disabled mother's past. World Premiere

The Sweet Life – USA (DIRECTOR Rob Spera WRITER Jared Rappaport PRODUCERS Julie Lynn, Bonnie Curtis CAST Chris Messina, Abigail Spencer) – Two unlucky strangers with nothing left to lose head out on an impulsive road trip to jump off of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. World Premiere