LA Film Festival 2018 Winners

By José Alberto Hermosillo

LA Film Festival announced the winners

The U.S. Fiction Award 

 This Teacher
 Dir. Mark Jackson, World Premiere

U.S. Fiction Special Mention

In Reality
Dir. Ann Lupo, California Premiere

World Fiction Award

Border
Dir. Ali Abbasi, California Premiere

Sweden

World Fiction Special Jury Prize, Directing

The Day I Lost My Shadow  

Dir. Soudade Kaadan, US Premiere

France/Lebanon/Qatar/Syrian Arab Republic

Hillbilly directors Sally Rubin & Ashley York
Photo, Jose Hermosillo
Copyright ©2018, Festival in LA

Documentary Award

Hillbilly 
Dir. Sally Rubin & Ashley York, LA Premiere

USA

   Documentary Special Jury Award for

Excellence in Social Justice Storytelling

False Confessions 
Dir. Katrine Philp, North American Premiere

Denmark

LA Muse Award

Staycation 
Dir. Tanuj Chopra, World Premiere

USA

Fire on the Hill. Festival in LA ©2018

LA Muse Documentary Award

 Fire on the Hill  
Dir. Brett Fallentine, World Premiere

 USA

LA Muse Special Mention, Best Ensemble Cast

Solace 
Dir. Tchaiko Omawale, World Premiere

USA

Nightfall Award

The Dead Center  
Dir. Billy Senese, World Premiere
USA

Nightfall Special Jury Prize, Lead Actor

Actor: Ashleigh Morghan

Head Count  
Dir. Elle Callahan, World Premiere
USA

Nightfall Special Jury Prize, Ensemble Cast

Cast: Barak Hardley, Jackie Tohn, Magn's Jonsson, Birna Ron Eiriksdottir, Tom Wright, Stacey Moseley, Michael Nanfria, Michole Briana White, Brynd's Haraldsdttir

Spell 
Dir. Brendan Walter, World Premiere

Award for Short Fiction

The Passage 
Dir. Kitao Sakurai

USA

Award for Documentary Short

One Leg In, One Leg Out, dir. Lisa Rideout

Canada

Web Episodes Jury Award

Psusy, dir. Anna Duckworth

New Zealand

LA Film Festival 2018 Posters  Photo, Jose Hermosillo 
Copyright ©2018, Festival in LA

Audience Award for Fiction Feature Film

Brian Banks 
Dir. Tom Shadyac, World Premiere

USA

Audience Award for Documentary Feature Film

Stuntman 
Dir. Kurt Mattila, World Premiere

USA

Producers: Steven Golebiowski, Kurt Mattila, Eddie Braun

Featuring: Eddie Braun, Gary Davis, Conrad E. Palmisano, Buddy Joe Hooker, Scott Truax, Meg Braun

Audience Award for Music Video

Clutch 
Dir. Christopher Ripley

USA

Audience Award for Short Film

Weekends
Dir. Trevor Jimenez

USA

Audience Award for Episodic Story

Revenge Tour, dir. Andrew Carter

USA

Audience Award for Episodic Pilot

40 & Single 
Dir. Leila Djansi, World Premiere

Ghana

Seattle Story Award

 I’m Sorry Happy Birthday
Dir. Claire Buss, World Premiere

TikTok Real Short Award

Dir. Ann Lupo

TikTok gave Festival filmmakers the chance to win a $10,000 unrestricted cash grant. Ann’s video addressed the "Why I'm a Filmmaker" prompt with exceptional storytelling through the lens of TikTok, utilizing creator tools to enhance the narrative.

World Fiction Award - Border - Sweden - Trailer

Related Articles: 
“Roma” is Mexico's Official Entry to the 91st Academy Awards®

“Never Look Away” is Germany's Entry for the 91st Academy Awards®

“I Am Not a Witch” is the United Kingdom Selection for the 91st Academy Awards® 

“A Fantastic Woman” Love, Grief, and Compassion in Santiago

“Endless Poetry” The Atypical Universe of Alejandro Jodorowsky

“Elle” The New “Basic Instinct” with a “French Twist”

“Neruda” Runaway Poet 

“Ixcanul” Pursuits Guatemala’s First Oscar® Nomination

The World's Best Female Lead Singer Movies

The Best Latina-Theme Movies in America

Latinas Tackle the "Latinx Issue" in Hollywood

Follow us on Twitter Like us on Facebook  
Festival in LA ©2018

LA FILM FESTIVAL 2018 ANNOUNCES ITS LINEUP

By José Alberto Hermosillo

Los Angeles Film Festival, produced by Film Independent has announced its lineup of films, documentaries, shorts, and Indi Series from the Web. 

LAFF is the same non-profit organization who produces the Independent Spirit Awards. 

To create an impact during the award season, LAFF has moved from the summer to the fall, September 20th to 28th, 2018.

The Venues for the 2018 Festival include the ArcLight Cinemas in Culver City, Hollywood, and Santa Monica, as well as the new LMU Playa Vista Campus (opening this fall), the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts and the Writers Guild Theater.

LA Film Festival. Festival in LA © 2018

PROGRAM: 

U.S. Fiction Competition

Banana Split, dir. Benjamin Francis Kasulke, USA, World Premiere

In Reality, dir. Ann Lupo, co-dirs. Esteban Pedraza & Aaron Pryka, USA, California Premiere

Olympia, dir. Gregory Dixon, USA, World Premiere

Simple Wedding, dir. Sara Zandieh, USA, World Premiere

Softness of Bodies, dir. Jordan Blady, USA/Germany, World Premiere

This Teacher, dir. Mark Jackson, USA, World Premiere

The Wrong Todd, dir. Rob Schulbaum, USA, World Premiere

Documentary Competition

Behind the Curve, dir. Daniel J. Clark, USA, US Premiere

Facing the Dragon, dir. Sedika Mojadidi, USA/Afghanistan, World Premiere

False Confessions, dir. Katrine Philp, Denmark, North American Premiere

hillbilly, dirs. Sally Rubin, Ashley York, USA, LA Premiere

Mamacita, dir. José Pablo Estrada Torrescano, Mexico/Germany, US Premiere

Moroni for President, dir. Saila Huusko, Jasper Rischen, USA, LA Premiere

Same God, dir. Linda Midgett, USA, World Premiere

The Silence of Others, dirs. Almudena Carracedo, Robert Bahar, Spain, West Coast Premiere

Stammering Ballad, dir. Nan Zhang, China, North American Premiere

Wrestling Ghosts, dir. Ana Joanes, USA, World Premiere

World Fiction Competition

Border, dir. Ali Abbasi, Sweden, California Premiere

The Cotton Wool War, dirs. Cláudio Marques, Marilia Hughes, Brazil, US Premiere

The Day I Lost My Shadow, dir. Soudade Kaadan, France/Lebanon/Qatar/Syrian Arab Republic, US Premiere

Heaven Without People, dir. Lucien Bourjeily, Lebanon, LA Premiere

Microhabitat, dir. Jeon Go-Woon, South Korea, West Coast Premiere

Socrates, dir. Alex Moratto, Brazil, World Premiere

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

LA Muse

The Advocates, dir. Rémi Kessler, USA, World Premiere

El Chicano, dir. Ben Hernandez Bray, USA, World Premiere

Fire on the Hill, dir. Brett Fallentine, USA, World Premiere

Funke, dir. Gabriel Taraboulsy, USA, World Premiere

Making Montgomery Clift, dir. Robert A. Clift, Hillary Demmon, USA, World Premiere

Saint Judy, dir. Sean Hanish, USA, World Premiere

Solace, dir. Tchaiko Omawale, USA, California Premiere

Staycation, dir. Tanuj Chopra, USA, World Premiere

Stuntman, dir. Kurt Mattila, USA, World Premiere

We the Coyotes, dirs. Hanna Ladoul, Marco La Via, USA, North American Premiere

Nightfall

The Dead Center, dir. Billy Senese, USA, World Premiere

Deep Murder, dir. Nick Corirossi, USA, World Premiere

Ghost Light, dir. John Stimpson, USA, World Premiere

Head Count, dir. Elizabeth Callahan, USA, World Premiere

Spell, dir. Brendan Walter, USA, World Premiere

Thriller, dir. Dallas Jackson, USA, World Premiere

Episodes: Indie Series from the Web

Avant-Guardians, dir. Clarence Williams II, USA

Flatbush Misdemeanors, dirs. Dan Perlman, Kevin Iso, USA

Fresh, dir. Grant Scicluna, Australia

Kiki and Kitty, dir. Catriona Mackenzie, Australia

Otis, dir. Alexander Etseyatse, USA

Petal & Paint, dir. Bradley Smith, USA

Psusy, dirs. Duckworth, Jaya Beach-Robertson, New Zealand

Revenge Tour, dir. Andrew Carter, USA

Robits, dir. Christopher Parks, USA

Tracy Buckles, dir. Robin Nystrom, USA

LA Film Festival, 2017. Festival in LA © 2018

Box Office, passes, tickets, and information 866.FILM.FEST (866.345.6337) 

or visit lafilmfestival.com.

The Best Latina-Theme Movies in America

TO ACCESS OUR INTERACTIVE FILM FESTIVAL CALENDAR FROM YOUR MOBILE
CLICK AT THE END: View web version.

Related Articles:

Roma and Ten New Mexican Trailers

MEXICO'S "THE NIGHT GUARD" WINS LA FILM FESTIVAL

The World's Best Female Lead Singer Movies

SEVEN GREAT FOREIGN FILMS SHOWCASED AT AFI FEST 2017

The Best Film Festival Posters of 2017

“Endless Poetry” The Atypical Universe of Alejandro Jodorowsky

“A Fantastic Woman” Love, Grief, and Compassion in Santiago

Festival in LA ©2018

KICKS: KIDS OF COLOR ROAMING IN SUBURBIA

By José Alberto Hermosillo,  

“Kicks” is one of the best and freshest independent films of the year, yet ingenious and original.   

This new coming-of-age story builds tension in eighty minutes of wondering characters surviving in the slums of America.  

 

Courtesy of Focus Features

The first fifteen minutes of the film seem to be the most extended Nike Air Jordan’s commercial ever. This story is not about an ordinary tennis shoe, it is about "THE JORDANS." 

Once the main character starts looking for what is worth in life, is when the action takes off.

Courtesy of Focus Features

In the suburbs of Oakland, California, we meet Brandon (Jahking Guillory), an introvert teenager who likes to hang out with his older buddies, Rico (Christopher Meyer) and Albert (CJ Wallance). They love to smoke, drink and rap.

Brandon, after being beaten up in a very humiliating incident - he and his friends set off on a quest to recuperate his biggest treasure, his stolen tennis shoes.

 

A confrontation like that happens all the time anywhere, it is real - people can get killed over a backpack.

Courtesy of Focus Features

In “Kicks,” the city plays one of the main characters. 

The teen-drama moves from a small, impoverished ghetto to a more significant and more dangerous part of the town, where the big boys play with huge cars, easy girls, loaded guns and plenty of drugs. 

 

Courtesy of Focus Features

While the meanest guy in the “barrio,” Flaco (Kofi Siriboe), physically abuses Brandon (14), his five-year-old also is also getting abused.  

 

Flaco is played by Kofi Siriboe Courtesy of Focus Features

 

Flaco tries to teach a lesson to his son, but he has no moral authority over him - this is a fundamental element woven through the plots and subplots of the movie.

 

“Kicks” underlines a cycle of abuse. The irony comes when someone preaches respect, while he is no respecting those who are vulnerable. 

 

Courtesy of Focus Features

The young actors of "Kicks" are terrific. They had fun working with director Justin Tipping.

  

Justin said: “I was terrified the first day of shooting! It was like a weird experience and at the same time, it was incredible to work with all of those talented kids.”

 

 

Director, co-writer Justin Tipping, Photo by Jose A  Hermosillo, Copyright Festival in LA, 2016 

 

“Kicks” is a remarkable film debut for the director Justin Tipping.

The musical evolution of the film unfolds the drama.
The director, cleverly, incorporated hip-hop in the beginning to foreshadowing the rap that plays later, showing the transformation of a fragile teenager molding into a robust young adult.

Jahking Guillory as Brandon, Photo by Jose A Hermosillo Copyright Festival in LA 2016

In other parts of the world, some movies about troubled kids have been made in a similar tone. For example, the award winner Mexican production “Güeros,” last year’s independent sensation “Dope,” the Oscar winner “Tsotsi” from South Africa, "My Brother the Devil" from the U.K., and the iconic “Boys n the Hood” by John Singleton.

A ray of hope can be seen in the desolated universe of “Kicks” where friendship remains unbroken.

The film is slightly predictable but satisfies the audience who cheers for the main character, the vulnerable teen who wants to take justice into his own hands. If he succeeds or not, this is worth trying. 

"Kicks" official trailer

Related Articles: 

“GOAT” WHITE BOYS DO CRY

“Barry” And “The Wonder Years” Of Barack Obama

“HANDS OF STONE” A LATINO HERO HAS RISEN

“Desde Allá” Confronts the Macho Stereotypes

‘Violette’ When Women Dare to Write

“Amy” The Brief Existence of A Shining Star

“Güeros” A Lyrical Love Letter to Mexico City

The World's Best Female Lead Singer Movies

SEVEN GREAT FOREIGN FILMS SHOWCASED AT AFI FEST 2017

20 BEST GAEL GARCIA BERNAL MOVIES EVERY CINEPHILE SHOULD KNOW

Copyright © Festival in LA, 2016

LA FILM FESTIVAL 2016 DEALS WITH THE DIVERSITY DECK (AWARDS)

By Jose Alberto Hermosillo,

“Opening Night” premiere, Photo by Jose A Hermosillo, Copyrights, 2016

2016 will be considered the “Year of the Diversity” in the LA Film Festival, regardless of the considerable reduction of foreign films selected.

“Dreamstates” Photo by Jose A Hermosillo, Copyrights, 2016

All the different communities were well represented: the Afro-American, Indian-American, Mexican-American, Asian-American, Middle Eastern, Latinos, Jewish, people with disabilities, the millenniums, the immigrants, and the LGBT community too.

Women Filmmakers. Photo by Jose A Hermosillo, Copyrights, 2016

This year, 40 percent of the films selected by the LA Film Festival were directed by women.

“Lights Out” premiere, Photo by Jose A Hermosillo, Copyrights, 2016

LA Film Festival took good care of its filmmakers, sponsors, their programmers, and the members of Film Independent. The prestigious festival still needs to work on its relationship with the press in order to make more noise, reviews, and exposure of the films and the filmmakers, simply to tell the world that something is happening in LA.

“Girl Flu” cast, Photo by Jose A Hermosillo, Copyrights, 2016

All the films were well-deserved award winners, and those films still need to hit the movie theaters and digital distribution as soon as possible. They are very important and need to reach a wider audience.

“London Town” Photo by Jose A Hermosillo, Copyrights, 2016

AND THE WINNERS ARE:

“Heis (chronicles)” Photo by Jose A Hermosillo, Copyrights, 2016

The World Fiction Award went to Anaïs Volpé for HEIS (cronicles), France.

“Lupe Under the Sun” cast, Photo by Jose A Hermosillo, Copyrights, 2016

Special Mention: Lupe Under the Sun, directed by Rodrigo Reyes, Mexico-US.

The U.S. Fiction Award went to Remy Auberjonois for Blood Stripe.

The Documentary Award went to Jonah Markowitz and Tracy Wares for Political Animals.

The LA Muse Award was given to Heidi Saman for Namour.

The Nightfall Award went to Jackson Stewart for Beyond The Gates.

AUDIENCE AWARDS: 

The Audience Award for Fiction Feature Film went to GREEN / is / GOLD, directed by Ryon Baxter.

Political Animals, directed by Jonah Markowitz and Tracy Wares, won the Audience Award for Documentary Feature Film.

The Award for Short Fiction went to The Beast (Zvjerka), directed by Daina Oniunas Pusic.

The Award for Short Documentary went to The Gatekeeper, directed by Yung Chang.

The Audience Award for Short Film went to Into Darkness, directed by Rachida El Garani.

The Audience Award for Web Series went to Instababy, directed by Rosie Haber.

Related Articles:   

“KICKS” A BUNCH OF KIDS OF COLOR ROAMING IN SUBURBIA

15 Must-See French Films at COLCOA 2016

LA FILM FESTIVAL 2016 DEALS WITH THE DIVERSITY DECK (AWARDS) 

25 Great Foreign Films that Did Not Get Distribution in US Theaters

The World’s Best Female Lead Singer Movies

Ixcanul Pursuits Guatemala’s First Oscar® Nomination

10 The Best Latino Performances of 2016 And Their Absence From The Nominations

  Copyright © Festival in LA, 2016