The programming for the LA Muse section was also announced today. Passes are now on sale to the general public. The Los Angeles Film Festival runs June 10 through June 18 and the full Festival line up will be announced on May 5.
“Under the leadership of Roya Rastegar and Jennifer Cochis, the programmers have assembled a slate of films that embody Film Independent’s mission of diversity, innovation and uniqueness of vision with a special emphasis on world premieres, first time directors and, of course, films inspired by Los Angeles,” said Elvis Mitchell, Film Independent Curator.
“Zeitgeist is a curated section of bold films that captures a vital picture of independent storytelling today,” said Roya Rastegar, Associate Director of Programming and Curated Content. “As programmers, we see key trends emerge in the thousands of films we watch every year. Stylish and defiant, the films in our inaugural Zeitgeist lineup are structured around a pivotal juncture in the lives of young people, after which there is no going back.”
Zeitgeist (6)
Zeitgeist is a competitive section of six curated films that embody key trends. 2015 captures hard knock, coming of age stories.
- Band of Robbers, dir. Aaron Nee & Adam Nee, USA, World Premiere
- A Girl Like Grace, dir. Ty Hodges, USA, World Premiere
- In the Treetops, dir. Matthew Brown, USA, World Premiere
- Manifest Destiny, dir. Michael Dwyer, Kaitlin McLaughlin, USA, World Premiere
- Stealing Cars, dir. Bradley Kaplan, USA, World Premiere
- What Lola Wants, dir. Rupert Glasson, USA, World Premiere
Jennifer Cochis, Senior Programmer had this to say about the Nightfall section: “We created Nightfall to celebrate films that will make audiences squirm. Ranging from the creepy to the sinister, homages to 80s and 90s era horror, psychodramas and waking nightmares.”
Nightfall (8)
From the bizarre to the horrifying, these are films to watch after dark. Films premiering for the first time in the U.S. are nominated for the Nightfall Award.
- Caught, dir. Maggie Kiley, USA, World Premiere
- The Confines, dir. Eytan Rockaway, USA, World Premiere
- Crumbs, dir. Miguel Llansó, Spain/Ethiopia/Finland, North American Premiere
- Crush the Skull, dir. Viet Nguyen, USA, World Premiere
- Dude Bro Party Massacre III, dir. Tomm Jacobsen, Michael Rousselet, Jon Salmon, USA, World Premiere
- Plan Sexenal, dir. Santiago Cendejas, Mexico, North American Premiere
- Ratter, dir. Branden Kramer, USA, LA Premiere
- Shut In, dir. Adam Schindler, USA, World Premiere
Back for its second year, LA Muse is a competitive section of curated, independent films that are quintessentially Los Angeles. Films that premiered in last year’s LA Muse played to sold out crowds and six titles found distribution after their world premieres at LA Film Fest.
“LA is one of the most creative cities in the world –it’s where stars and rebels are born,” said Rastegar. “From Inglewood to Laurel Canyon, Venice Beach to Little Armenia, the films in the LA Muse section feature the triumphs and tribulations of ballet dancers, Hollywood actresses and improv comedians, alongside long legacies of social justice organizing and community activism. Whether inspired by Chicana lawyers spearheading a reproductive justice movement, or a renegade gardener leading a food revolution in South Central, these films showcase our city’s vibrant communities and its tenacious people.”
The 2015 LA Muse line up consists of three documentaries and seven fiction films; five films are by first time directors. All the films are having their world premiere at the Festival.
LA Muse (10)
The LA Muse section is comprised of films made by talented emerging filmmakers that are set, shot or inspired by Los Angeles.
- Aram, Aram, dir. Christopher Chambers, USA, World Premiere
- A Beautiful Now, dir. Daniela Amavia, USA, World Premiere
- Can You Dig This, dir. Delila Vallot, USA, World Premiere
- Day Out of Days, dir. Zoe R. Cassavetes, USA, World Premiere
- The Drew: No Excuse, Just Produce, dir. Baron Davis, Chad Gordon, USA, World Premiere
- The Escort, dir. Will Slocombe, USA, World Premiere
- Flock of Dudes, dir. Bob Castrone, USA, World Premiere
- French Dirty, dir. Wade Allain-Marcus & Jesse Allain-Marcus, USA, World Premiere
- No Más Bebés, dir. Renee Tajima-Peña, USA, World Premiere
- Weepah Way for Now, dir. Stephen Ringer, USA, World Premiere
View/download 2015 Los Angeles Film Festival Programming Addendum (PDF)
Passes are available to the general public as of today, Tuesday, April 21. The full line-up will be announced on Tuesday, May 5. In addition to access to screenings and events (even after they sell out), Festival passes provide access to a series of networking receptions and entry to the Festival Lounge, where Festival pass holders can 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 14 and to the general public beginning Tuesday, May 19. Contact the Ticket Office for passes, tickets and event information by calling 866.FILM.FEST (866.345.6337) or visit lafilmfest.com.
Now in its 21st year, the Los Angeles Film Festival offers unparalleled access to creative voices through energetic film programming, master classes, live performances and conversations with the most compelling artists working today. The 2015 Los Angeles Film Festival will screen a diverse slate of feature films, shorts, web series and music videos, along with signature programs such as the Filmmaker Retreat, Music in Film at The GRAMMY Museum® and Master Classes.
The Los Angeles Film Festival team is comprised of Festival Director Stephanie Allain, Film Independent Curator Elvis Mitchell, Associate Director of Programming Roya Rastegar, Senior Programmer Jennifer Cochis, Programmers Jenn Wilson and Drea Clark, Head Shorts Programmer Landon Zakheim, Festival Consultant Maggie Mackay, Manager of Industry Relations Mel Jones, Senior Director of Film Education María Raquel Bozzi, Director of Event Production Shawn Davis and Director of Event Operations Ralph Rivera. In addition, the Festival’s Associate Feature Film Programmers include Julie Anderson, Christine Davila, Samuel Douek, Steven Jacobson, Lee Jameson, Mark Maynard, Lucy Mukerjee-Brown, Stephanie Owens, Ray Price and So Yun Um; and Short Film Programmers Ernesto Foronda, Carlos Hatcher, Meghan McWilliams, Atsuko Okatsuka, Paul Sbrizzi, Cedar Sherber and Jacques Thelemaque.