It would be impossible to encapsulate the head-spinning achievements of BT in the span of one film festival conversation or in a brief blog. I’ll spare myself the agony of the attempt by taking two shortcuts: 1) a timeline skimming the surface of his path from 3-year-old piano-obsessed prodigy to being the godfather of trance—(bumper stickers with his name on them!)—and the acclaimed film composer he is today. And 2) digressions that represent just a few of the true—and truly inspiring—stories told last night at the LA Film Fest event, BT: Electronica in Film, moderated by BMI VP of Film & TV, Doreen Ringer-Ross....

The multitude of approaches in addressing these issues of inclusion among such overlapping communities was the subject of our October 19 panel The Inclusion Diaspora: Intersectional Stories & Audiences at Film Independent’s The New Wave showcase earlier this year. Watch the full conversation and read up on some of the highlights below. Moderated by Film Independent Artistic Director Jacqueline Lyanga, the panel included journalist Tre’Vell Anderson (Director of Culture and Entertainment, Out magazine), Elsie Choi (Executive Director, Rideback TV Incubator), Susan Lewis (Senior Vice President, Starz), Damien S....

Directed by indie stalwart Gus Van Sant and released in the (both literal and figurative) titanic film year of 1997, Good Will Hunting was one of the shining case studies of the entire Miramax era, elevating stars Damon and Ben Affleck to A-list superstar status and landing the duo an honest-to-God Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. Fast-forward two decades: Affleck is a highly regarded filmmaker and actor with Batman’s cowl in his closet and a Best Picture Oscar for Argo while Damon remains one of the biggest movie stars on the planet, continuing to pump out critical and commercial hits like Bourne and The Martian....

The 2019 Forum takes place April 26-April 28 largely at the new LMU Playa Vista Campus in the heart of Silicon Beach, with screenings Friday and Saturday evenings at the Harmony Gold Theater in Hollywood, And guess what? Registration to attend is open now, so there’s no reason to wait. And today, in addition to having our already-announced panel schedule we have some extremely exciting names and film titles to share as well....

People often say: “film is a visual medium.” But really, what we hear is just as important as what we see. After all, sound is fully one-half of the experience of watching movies. Good sound can convey important plot information and add texture in ways that are often as imperceptible as they are effective. Conversely, a movie with bad sound is infinitely more likely to send audiences scrambling for the exit than one with poor picture quality....

Award-winning filmmaker Mike Ott’s latest feature, Lake Los Angeles, is the final part of his Antelope Valley trilogy, following Littlerock and Pearblossom Hwy. The U.S. premiere of Lake Los Angeles will take place at the Los Angeles Film Festival on Saturday, June 14. In addition to his work as a writer/director/producer, Ott is also a talented graphic designer and creates the distinctive key art for his films. Here he takes us on a tour of the poster designs for each film in the trilogy, explaining his intentions behind each version....

Wednesday night, the newest class of Project Involve kicked off the program with a celebration in downtown LA. Project Involve, which will run through June, is Film Independent’s diversity program, dedicated to supporting filmmakers from communities traditionally underrepresented in the industry. The newest Project Involve Fellows are all at different points with their projects and in their careers, and represent a wide variety of filmmaking disciplines. Fellows meet with accomplished industry mentors, create short films and attend networking events and master classes taught by film professionals....

Andrew Bujalski is a man. And for the record, in case it wasn’t clear, so am I. So it would be presumptuous of me (in that very male way) to proclaim the filmmaker an expert at writing female characters or directing female actors. What can be safely stated, though, is that he’s displayed a keen, compassionate interest in women as people and an awareness that they must navigate through the world in ways different from those to which he (or I) would be accustomed....

What’s the most exciting thing about being nominated for a Film Independent Spirit Award? Getting to sit amongst people I’ve been a fan of for sometime and call them my peers. Have you started sweating an acceptance speech yet? I have not. If it happens, I plan to nervously stammer. What’s your strategy for selecting an outfit for the ceremony? Think about how important it is that I pick it out in advance periodically, only to wait until the day before to panic-purchase something that works okay....

For those of us who have been here for a decade or two, it’s remarkable to consider both how much and how little the city of Los Angeles has changed over the years. There are still plenty of the old landmarks—the Hollywood Sign, Pink’s Hot Dogs, that dude who rollerblades around is white robes and plays guitar on the Venice boardwalk—while other, seemingly indestructible, institutions have tragically bitten the dust (ArcLight, The Cat & Fiddle Pub, Hollywood Park)....

Virtual reality. Augmented reality. Mixed reality. The immersive storytelling landscape has virtually (and virtually) exploded in recent years, opening up a whole new world of opportunity for adventurous, tech-friendly consumers and content creators. For the first time, at the 2018 LA Film Festival we’ll be showcasing the best work that these nascent mediums have to offer with The Portal, presented in partnership with Loyola Marymount University School of Film and Television—our inaugural VR and immersive storytelling showcase....

The 2019 Film Independent Spirit Award nominees were announced this morning at the W Hotel in Hollywood, presented by Gemma Chan (Crazy Rich Asians, Mary Queen of Scots) and Molly Shannon (Other People, Private Life) and featuring yet another diverse group of talented creators with a shared belief in the power and promise of independent storytelling. The 2019 Spirit Awards will be held February 23, 2019 at its usual spot on the beach in Santa Monica and broadcast live on IFC....

The challenge with beginning any new creative work is that, at first, the project is only one person’s vision. True especially for writers, but applicable to anyone with a bee in their bonnet to get something done before the rest of the world catches on that it’s worth doing. But Filmmaking is usually considered a collaborative endeavor—and as a writer and producer, I’ve definitely found this to be true… eventually....

But c’mon, the task at hand isn’t exactly digging ditches or trying to get shoppers to sign some sort of dubious petition outside Whole Foods. Watching movies is supposed to be fun! And you don’t have to be Tom Waits’ grizzled Buster Scruggs prospector, diligently sifting through oceans of dirt in search of gold. Just a glance at this year’s Spirit Award nominees confirms: 2018 was a great year for film....

In the episode (airing this Sunday, April 28) Bell travels to the US/Mexico border in Arizona to speak with border patrol officers, activists, engineers, migrants and members of the indigenous Tohono O’odham tribe about all things wall and border-related. Armed with a quick wit, humor and charm, Bell skillfully carries the conversation of race and division in America forward. “I think the goal [of the show], on a very basic level, is for people to have better dinner party conversations,” Bell joked....

Picture your favorite movie. Chances are that the setting plays a huge part in how you respond to it. Just imagine Clerks without the Quick Stop or Spotlight without the fluorescent-lit corridors of The Boston Globe—after all, you can’t make The Grand Budapest Hotel without the Grant Budapest Hotel, or Room without Room. Indie films of a certain budget level can be in a precarious position when it comes to securing filming locations....

So today we’re honored to announce the nominees for the 2017 Film Independent Spirit Awards, revealed at a press conference this morning at the W Hotel in Hollywood by presenters Edgar Ramirez (Zero Dark Thirty, Joy) and Jenny Slate (Obvious Child, The Secret Life of Pets). This year’s Spirit Award nominees are yet another esteemed group of diverse, outspoken and boundary-pushing performers and filmmakers, representing the very best and most vital independent movies of the past 12 months....

Every September just after Labor Day, a throng of filmmakers and industry professionals head to the Toronto International Film Festival. This year, they’ll be supporting 399 films selected to screen during the 11-day event. Some of them hope to leave with their film solidly in the Oscar conversation, others are just looking for a little positive attention to get above the noise. Nine Film Independent Fellows and 45 Film Independent Members will be among that group when the festival kicks off next Thursday....

Producers: Don Argott and Sheena M. Joyce Budget: $733,000 (including deliverables) Production Company: 9.14 Pictures Financing: Self-financed through Don Argott’s company, 9.14 Pictures Shooting Format: Mini DV 24p – Panasonic DVX 100 Screening Format: Digi Beta (at festivals) – 35mm film for Sundance and theatrical release Box Office: $58,241 (USA) (Per Variety 12 June 2005) World Premiere and Festival Prep After seeing an 18-minute teaser of the unfinished Rock School at the IFP Market in New York, September ’03, Micah Green and Dana O’Keefe of Cinetic Media approached the filmmakers about representing the film....

The live event, part of a four-night run at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, welcomed Ellie Foumbi (Our Father, The Devil), “DANIELS” Kwan and Scheinert (Everything Everywhere All at Once), Sarah Polley (Women Talking) and Halina Reijn (Bodies Bodies Bodies) for a conversation moderated by Film Independent President Josh Welsh. The filmmakers discussed the roots of their projects, how they approached casting their projects, the importance of creating a comfortable environment on set and how their past lives as actors shaped their process....