Olympia-Scene1

Source: Film Independent

Olympia

Film Independent’s LA Film Festival has unveiled the line-ups for five of its sections, with Gregory Dixon’s Olympia, Alex Moratto’s Socrates and Linda Midgett’s Same God among the world premieres. 

The festival, which runs from September 20 to 28 this year in Los Angeles, announced 40 features, 41 shorts and 10 episodic shorts from a total of 26 countries. 

In competition categories, 42% of the festival titles are directed by women and 39% by people of colour, said Film Independent, the non-profit that also produces the Spirit Awards. 

Scroll down for full line-up 

Jennifer Cochis, director of the festival, commented: “Our mission of finding fresh new voices from different geographical and cultural axes remains true. These storytellers are united by their ability to transport, impact and inspire audiences with the power of their craft.” 

More special screenings and programmes at the festival, as well as the opening and closing night films and gala, will be announced in the coming weeks.

 

US Fiction Competition 

Banana Split, Benjamin Francis Kasulke, US (world premiere)

In Reality, Ann Lupo, Esteban Pedraza, Aaron Pryka, US

Olympia, Gregory Dixon, US (world premiere)

Simple Wedding, Sara Zandieh, US (world premiere)

Softness of Bodies, Jordan Blady, US/Germany (world premiere)

This Teacher, Mark Jackson, US (world premiere)

The Wrong Todd, Rob Schulbaum, US (world premiere)

 

Documentary Competition 

Behind the Curve, Daniel J Clark, US (US premiere)

Facing the Dragon, Sedika Mojadidi, US/Afghanistan

False Confessions, Katrine Philp, Denmark (North American premiere)

Hillbilly, Sally Rubin, Ashley York, US

Mamacita, José Pablo Estrada Torrescano, Mexico/Germany (US premiere)

Moroni for President, Saila Huusko, Jasper Rischen, US

Same God, Linda Midgett, US (world premiere)

The Silence of Others, Almudena Carracedo, Robert Bahar, Spain

Stammering Ballad, Nan Zhang, China (North American premiere)

Wrestling Ghosts, Ana Joanes, US (world premiere)

 

World Fiction Competition 

Border, Ali Abbasi, Sweden

The Cotton Wool War, Cláudio Marques, Marilia Hughes, Brazil (US premiere)

The Day I Lost My Shadow, Soudade Kaadan, France/Lebanon/Qatar/Syrian Arab

Republic (US premiere)

Heaven Without People, Lucien Bourjeily, Lebanon

Microhabitat, Jeon Go-Woon, South Korea

Socrates, Alex Moratto, Brazil (world premiere)

Tower. A Bright Day., Jagoda Szelc, Poland/Czech Republic

 

LA Muse 

The Advocates, Rémi Kessler, US (world premiere)

El Chicano, Ben Hernandez Bray, US (world premiere)

Fire on the Hill, Brett Fallentine, US (world premiere)

Funke, Gabriel Taraboulsy, US (world premiere)

Making Montgomery Clift, Robert A Clift, Hillary Demmon, US (world premiere)

Saint Judy, Sean Hanish, US (world premiere)

Solace, Tchaiko Omawale, US

Staycation, Tanuj Chopra, US (world premiere)

Stuntman, dir. Kurt Mattila, US (world premiere)

We the Coyotes, Hanna Ladoul, Marco La Via, US (North American premiere)

 

Nightfall 

The Dead Center, Billy Senese, US (world premiere)

Deep Murder, Nick Corirossi, US (world premiere)

Ghost Light, John Stimpson, US (world premiere)

Head Count, Elle Callahan, US (world premiere)

Spell, Brendan Walter, US (world premiere)

Thriller, Dallas Jackson, US (world premiere)