So think of these recaps as a nondenominational advent calendar—only instead of soapy drug store chocolate, each cardboard flap is opened to reveal yet another host of statistics charting the accomplishments of our family of creators, which is made possible through the support of (as NPR would say) people like you. Last week, we looked at diversity. But today, our focus shifts to touting the accomplishments of our amazingly talented Film Independent Fellows—the filmmakers and creators who have participated in our Filmmaker Labs, Project Involve, Fast Track, Global Media Makers and other grants and awards programs....

Not to get all Joseph Campbell on you, but in storytelling—including film—a character’s internal journey is often mirrored by a concurrent external journey. Sometimes these journeys are grandly epic, like climbing one of the world’s tallest mountains. Sometimes they’re treacherous, like retracing the steps of a no-infamous human-trafficking route. And sometimes the journey is physically modest (a small step into the light, in front of a camera) yet incalculably brave....

It can be discombobulating to consider that the Holocaust—the greatest human calamity in civilized history—happened so relatively recently. Sure, for those of us in the prime of our adulthood in 2022, the event too often seems like a horrible folk-tale nightmare, something confined to musty archival photos and memoirs, occurring solely within the sanitized pages of New York Times bestsellers, or in the glossy recreations of tasteless Hollywood awards fodder....

Film Independent’s Fiscal Sponsorship program opens the door to nonprofit funding for independent filmmakers and media artists. The projects and makers participating in the program express a uniqueness of vision, celebrate diversity and advance the craft of filmmaking through the creation of these special works. To see the full range of projects that are part of our program, visit our Sponsored Projects page. To learn how Fiscal Sponsorship works, check out the above video or watch our full discussion with Film Independent’s Artist Development team way down at the bottom of this article....

Traditionally, the Forum has taken place over three action-packed days—squeezing an entire industry conference’s worth of keynotes, Q&As, screenings, panels, pitch sessions and networking events into a single long weekend. But now, the Forum exploded into a weeklong virtual event accessible to filmmakers and industry pros all over the world, from Bangladesh to Beirut, Berlin, Boston, Burbank and beyond (even some places not starting with a “B.”) The 2020 Film Independent Forum will run July 31-August 7 as a series of live and pre-recorded webinars and participatory conversations....

Reiss begins his Members workshop at Film Independent by reminding the audience of the oversaturated film market, citing an average of 2,000 years worth of content uploaded to YouTube alone per month. “Your marketing and distribution plan must be an ongoing document,” Reiss says, stating the need to be able to present a cogent marketing strategy as part of your business plan for investors and grant applications. In his book Think Outside the Box Office, Reiss lays out all the components necessary for independent filmmakers to craft a personalized, ongoing marketing plan....

Day Three of the 2017 Film Independent Forum began with a note of gratitude and accomplishment, as moderator and Film Independent Curator Elvis Mitchell asked keynote honoree Jordan Peele what it felt like to be discussing Get Out, his feature directorial debut, in front of so many people. “This is something I’ve been shooting for my whole life, calling myself a director,” said the 38-year-old filmmaker, who prior to Get Out has best been known for his comedy work....

So save the dates June 1-9 and start drafting your out-of-office notifications now. After all, these movies aren’t going to watch themselves, and we can pretty much guarantee that you’ll want to be a part of this year’s Festival. Excited? We hope so. And if by chance you’re already a Film Independent Member, then congratulations! Starting today, you can officially begin purchasing pre-sale passes (and save 10% on a Fast or Film Pass AND get exclusive access to a Member pass)—passes go on sale for the general public starting Tuesday, April 12....

Since Jack Frost won’t be nipping any noses, the best way to tell it’s holiday season in southern California is by the mall Muzak and what we’re pushing to the top of our Netflix queue. Here, we Film Independent film geeks share our fave holiday movie moments—from the twisted to the traditional. “Drunken, suicidal Santa Dan Aykroyd in Trading Places (Christmas scene, not movie, but still). Ending of How The Grinch Stole Christmas!...

But if you didn’t make it to ArcLight Cinemas Culver City (or Hollywood, or Santa Monica, or LACMA or The Theatre at Ace Hotel) this year, never fear. We’ve got you covered in the form of blog recaps of key Festival events and panels. You could also visit and subscribe to our YouTube channel or even just rotate your eyeballs ever so slightly downward. Sound like a plan? Good! Let’s hope in the not-so-way-back machine, get our precipitously short-cycled nostalgia engines firing and take a trip back to the 2017 LA Film Festival:...

Last night, the Film Independent at LACMA series hosted a free Members-only screening of writer-director J.C. Chandor’s A Most Violent Year, which had its world premiere as the opening night film of AFI Fest last month and will hit theaters December 31. Chandor and Oscar Isaac, the film’s star, stuck around after the screening for a Q&A with Film Independent curator Elvis Mitchell, during which they discussed sociopathic businessmen, old-school gangster movies and what makes a year most violent....

Okay, fine. Maybe the hygiene thing wasn’t that hard for you (stop bragging). The point: even filmmakers who are currently shooting their projects or even those who are in post-production are still learning as they go. Which is why we’re thrilled to be supporting eight great new projects and the lucky 13 wonderful filmmakers behind them, as part of the 2019 Film Independent Documentary Lab. “We couldn’t be happier to support these filmmakers in the program and through their careers,” said Film Independent Director of Artist Development, Jennifer Kushner, “each project takes us on a journey in the most innovative way....

By So Yun Um / LA Film Fest Guest Blogger Who are the indie film world’s influencers? Indiewire has created their own industry list hoping to answer just that, highlighting the people who are shaping the indie film world today, and LA Film Fest attendees got a first look. The biggest project the online publisher has taken on, the Indiewire Influencers is an unranked list broken down into five categories: The Brokers, The Curators, The Creators, The Shapeshifters and The Early Adopters....

Now I know what you’re thinking: it seems a little premature to start thinking about Oscar, with literally six months to go before the Dolby Theater grounds crew even starts to think about unearthing that ginormous role of red carpet from its subterranean storage dungeon below Hollywood Boulevard. But you’d be wrong. Right now is the perfect time to start contemplating the chores looming before these 600-odd freshmen Academy members....

Luckily, the Film Independent Forum has always provided a venue for forward-thinking ideas about how the operational side of the visual storytelling sphere can continue to evolve. And this year is no different, despite the venerable industry con’s move to virtual platforms, returning this week: July 31-August 7. With a vast slate of case studies, panels and special events meant to equip filmmakers for sustained career success, this year’s Forum will of course address issues of moviemaking during the age of COVID-19—at every stage of production....

By Pamela Ezell / LA Film Fest Guest Blogger The award-winning filmmaker Nahid Persson Sarvestani brings a dark and difficult chapter of her life to light in her latest film, My Stolen Revolution. In the late ‘70s in Iran, Persson Sarvestani was a Marxist engaged in the struggle against the shah. After the revolution and the rise of Khomeini, she fled Iran, narrowly escaping imprisonment. But she left behind many comrades, including a younger brother, who was executed while keeping her whereabouts secret....

What are you most looking forward to about the ceremony? This is going to sound corny, but I’m most looking forward to meeting the other nominees in my category. As directors we are so focused on our own projects that we rarely get the chance to interact with each other. It’ll be like a giant group therapy session, but with alcohol. I think the last time I sat in a room filled with directors was in film school....

THE NORTHMAN Guest of honor: Robert Eggers (writer/director); moderated by Jacqueline Coley (Awards Editor, Rotten Tomatoes) About: From visionary director Robert Eggers comes The Northman, an action-filled epic that follows a young Viking prince on his quest to avenge his father’s murder. What critics are saying: “What’s perhaps most impressive about The Northman is that it hurtles through 136 minutes of musclebound, shaggy-maned mayhem without a whisper of camp or a wink of irony,” writes A....

But don’t be alarmed! These tents and trailers aren’t part of some nefarious, X-Files-style government conspiracy. No—it’s the 2016 Film Independent Spirit Awards! That’s right, we’re one short day away from the 2016 Spirit Awards, and everyone involved—broadcasters, press, nominees, fans—is buzzing with excitement as the Spirit Awards campus hums along toward show time like a busy beehive. Hosts Kate McKinnon and Kumail Nanjiani kick the show off at 2:00pm PT / 5:00pm ET tomorrow, February 27 on IFC—so don’t panic, there’s still plenty of time to set the DVR just as soon as you get off that damn wheel....

Gift baskets with wine, snacks and Spirit Awards branded beach balls and sunglasses were delivered to guests ahead of the festivities, while premium baskets for Arts Circle Members included a cheese board and bottles of Landmark Wine, Fiji Water and Bulleit Frontier Whiskey. Minus the sultry ocean air of the Santa Monica beach of years past, the 2021 Film Independent Spirit Award festivities kicked off at 6:00pm PT with a virtual pre-show cocktail reception, where attendees were treated to the tunes of DJ Dan Wilcox as they mingled in virtual breakout “suites” with fellow guests and nominees....