Founded by longtime residents and movie veterans alike, Film Invasion Los Angeles looks to showcase the best undiscovered movies in the heart of Los Angeles.
As an indie festival in Los Angeles, FILA emphasizes the work of filmmakers from diverse backgrounds and communities. It is our philosophy to honor their work as filmmakers and not place these filmmakers in separate categories based on race, sexual orientation, or gender identification. We have been proud to honor films from every community as Official Selections and Prize Winners, honoring their work as filmmakers and not "Black filmmakers" or "LGBTQ filmmakers" or "Women filmmakers." At FILA, all of our filmmakers are filmmakers and we honor them equally.
REGARDING COVID-19
We plan to hold FILA 2020 rain or shine. Our theater is quite small, but we will decide exactly what to do based upon what is happening in early-June. We may be able to go about business as usual or we may have to hold screenings, record Q&A's, and present awards with only filmmakers in attendance. Whether our 2020 screenings include the public or not, there will be a FILA 2020 event.
TV Series + Podcast Interviews
Filmmakers who receive Grand Jury Prizes, as well as several Official Selections, receive interviews on the "Discover Indie Film" podcast with head programmer Jeff Howard. This allows filmmakers to talk about their work and their history more extensively than a festival Q&A allows. In 2019 the TV series "Discover Indie Film" premiered on Amazon Prime Video. This series is an anthology of short films selected from the filmmakers he has interviewed on the podcast.
FILAl is proud to announce the Hollywood professionals who comprise our Board:
Mike Flanagan: Director (Oculus, Hush, Before I Wake, Ouija 2)
Jonathan Stern: Producer (Children's Hospital, Wet Hot American Summer: 10 Years Later)
Michael Lynn : Television Producer (True Hollywood Stories)
Jamie Ball : Television Executive (Disney Channel)
Zac Reeder : Entertainment Executive (Head of Domestic Distribution at Electric Entertainment)
Shannon Makhanian: Casting Director (The Brothers Bloom, Unknown, Mysterious Skin)
Dan Mirvish: Producer/Director (co-founder of the Slamdance Film Festival)
Glen Reynolds: Producer/Manager (Conversations with Other Women, Night Train)
GRAND JURY PRIZES (chosen by selection jury)
Best Feature Film - Narrative
Best Feature Film - Documentary
Best Short Film – Drama
Best Short Film – Comedy
Best Short Film – Horror
Best Short Film – Documentary
Best Short Film - Experimental/Arthouse
Best Music Video
Best Director, Feature Film
Best Director, Short Film
Best Actress in a Lead Role
Best Actor in a Lead Role
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Best Performance by a Full Cast
Best Screenplay
Best Cinematography
Best Art Direction
Best Screenplay (Produced)
Best Screenplay (Unproduced)
AUDIENCE AWARDS (audience selections)
Audience Award, Feature Film
Audience Award, Short Film
Audience Award, Documentary Film
FILMMAKERS AWARDS (Jury of filmmakers from past festivals)
Outstanding Short Films
Outstanding Directors
Outstanding Screenplay
Outstanding Acting, Cast
Outstanding Acting, Individual
Outstanding Cinematography
PROGRAMMER'S PRIZE
(festival programmer's discretion)