Los Angeles-centered films including voguing doc “Leave It on the Floor” and “Mamitas,” set in Echo Park, are among selections for the 17th edition of the Los Angeles Film Festival, which is returning to downtown Los Angeles.
“We experienced our most successful year ever when we were downtown last year for the first time, and we can’t wait to return with this diverse, rich and exciting program of film,” said fest director Rebecca Yeldham.
The festival, set for June 16 to June 26, drew 92,000 attendees last year after moving from Westwood. The event, produced by Film Independent, received more than 5,025 submissions from filmmakers compared to over 4,700 last year.
Narrative competition selections are “The Bad Intentions,” “The Dynamiter,” “Familiair Grounds,” “The Fatherless,” “How to Cheat,” “Mamitas,” “An Ordinary Family,” “Please Do Not Disturb,” “Sawdust City” and “You Hurt My Feelings.”
Documentary competition entries are “Cheonggyecheon Medley: Dream of Iron,” “Family Instinct,” “Once I Was a Champion,” “Paraiso For Sale,” “Salaam Dunk,” “Somewhere Between,””Unfinished Spaces,” “Unraveled” and “Wish Me Away.”
The number of films competing in the narrative and documentary competition categories increased from 18 to 19, of which 11 are world premieres and eight are North American or U.S. premieres.
Artistic director David Ansen noted the diversity of the lineup, including foreign actioners such as Brazil’s “Elite Squad 2,” which has been a massive hit in its home country.
“There are delights for every kind of movie lover — an original musical, a 4 1/2 hour epic from a master director, a comedy from Iran, cutting-edge horror films, the best of new Cuban cinema and a wide variety of Spanish-language movies, entries from some great new French Canadian directors, a very strong line-up of gay and lesbian films, and documentaries that will change the way you look at the world,” he said.
The festival hasn’t yet announced the opening and closing night films. The fest’s Summer Spotlight section, featuring films that showed in other fests, will screen pics including “Another Earth,” “The Future,” “Tyrannosaur” and “The Guard.” Last year’s lineup included “The Kids Are All Right” and “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse.”
