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The 21st Los Angeles Film Festival is now accepting submissions, announced Festival Director Stephanie Allain. The Festival will take place June 10 – June 18, 2015 in downtown Los Angeles at L.A. LIVE. The early deadline for submissions is December 2, 2014, the official deadline is January 6, 2015 and the late deadline is January 30, 2015. Please visit www.lafilmfest.com for submission guidelines and forms.

Also announced, Funny Or Die will return for a second year partnering with the Festival on Make ’em LAFF, a talent contest to identify and promote underrepresented comedic voices. Additionally, the Festival will add a new section in partnership with BET EXPERIENCE to showcase work by filmmakers of color. Selection for the LA Film Fest qualifies feature-length films for a Spirit Awards nomination and short-films for an Academy Award nomination.

The 2015 LA Film Fest poster art has been created by the acclaimed Los Angeles-based artist Noah Davis. “Noah captures the glamour of L.A. at night and the endless promise of Hollywood dreams,” said Stephanie Allain, Festival Director.

“The late, great New Yorker critic Pauline Kael once wrote about the moment in movie theaters when the lights go down and all our hopes are concentrated on the screen. That anticipation, that exhilaration, that hunger to dream – it’s what movies capture, no matter the venue or device, or how ubiquitous they are. And those are the feelings I want the LA Film Fest to remind audiences of – they're the reason we seek out film," said Film Independent Curator Elvis Mitchell.

Under Mitchell, the Festival has added new members to the programming team:  Roya Rastegar has joined as Associate Director of Programming and Curated Content and Jennifer Cochis has joined as Senior Programmer. 

Rastegar is an acclaimed writer and filmmaker with a wealth of curatorial experience in both film and art, having previously worked at the Sundance Film Festival and Tribeca Film Festival. She has a background in finance and holds a PhD in the History of Consciousness. Cochis, formerly of Sundance, is an award-winning producer of fiction and documentary feature films, including Smashed (2012) and Los Wild Ones (2013). She is also a writer and director.

About THE LOS ANGELES FILM FESTIVAL
Now in its 21st year, the Los Angeles Film Festival, produced by Film Independent, offers unparalleled access to creative voices through film programming, master classes, live performances and conversations with the most compelling artists working today. The Festival is a chance to discover new voices, experience buzzed about films, as well as to explore TV, web series and alternative media. Be the first to catch the summer’s blockbusters and rekindle the excitement and glamour of storytelling at the LA Film Fest – only in LA.

The Festival’s signature programs include the Filmmaker Retreat, Music in Film at The GRAMMY Museum®, Celebrating Women Filmmakers, Coffee Talks, Master Classes, Spirit of Independence Award, LA Muse and more. The Festival premieres nearly 200 features, including short films created by high school students. The Festival hosts a number of juried cash awards, as well as audience awards.

The Los Angeles Film Festival’s Official Host Venue is Regal Cinemas L.A. LIVE Stadium 14. Jaeger-LeCoultre is a Platinum Sponsor. The University Sponsor is Loyola Marymount University’s School of Film and Television. WireImage is the Official Photography Agency of Film Independent. More information can be found at lafilmfest.com.

About FILM INDEPENDENT
Film Independent is a nonprofit arts organization that champions independent film and supports a community of artists who embody diversity, innovation and uniqueness of vision. Film Independent helps filmmakers make their movies, builds an audience for their projects, and works to diversify the film industry. Film Independent’s Board of Directors, filmmakers, staff and constituents is comprised of an inclusive community of individuals across ability, age, ethnicity, gender, race and sexual orientation. Anyone passionate about film can become a Member, whether you are a filmmaker, industry professional or a film lover.

In addition to producing the Spirit Awards, Film Independent produces the Los Angeles Film Festival and Film Independent at LACMA Film Series, a year-round, weekly program that offers unique cinematic experiences for the Los Angeles creative community and the general public.

With over 250 annual screenings and events, Film Independent provides access to a network of like-minded artists who are driving creativity in the film industry. Film Independent’s Artist Development program offers free Labs for selected writers, directors, producers and documentary filmmakers and presents year- round networking opportunities. Project Involve is Film Independent’s signature program dedicated to fostering the careers of talented filmmakers from communities traditionally underrepresented in the film industry.

For more information or to become a Member, visit filmindependent.org.