NewFilmmakers LA

We are excited to announce that NFMLA will mark our first year attending and being an official partner of the 2026 Festival de Cannes in France! ☀️ We'll be a part of California Day with The American Pavilion, @FilmCalifornia , and @IndieWire! A HUGE thank you for this opportunity for us to build bridges and connections in the international filmmaking community. We look forward to joining partners such as the @MarinaDelRey_CA, @FilmSantaMonica, Chula Vista Entertainment Company, and @FLICSCA. We'll be in France from May 12 to 19, 2026. If you would like to join us during Cannes or wish to share information about your objectives at the festival, please fill out our form here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAI… We hope to see you at Cannes!😉A special thank you to IndieWire and Christian Zilko for the coverage! 🔗 Read more at: indiewire.com/news/events/am…

🛒 Some everyday moments hold the biggest meaning. Little Fin is part of the lineup for NFMLA’s May Monthly Film Festival, featured in the MiFilm x NFMLA | Seen in Full: Disabilities in Focus program. 🎬✨ Gentle, observant, and full of heart, the film captures the beauty found in ordinary experiences and the quiet strength within them. ✨ Sometimes the smallest moments say the most. Synopsis: A young girl with a disability goes grocery shopping with her mom. Little Fin ✍️🎥 Writer, Director, & Producer: Chrissy Marshall 🎟️ Learn more: newfilmmakersla.com/events/

🏛️ Some perspectives can’t be ignored. Forced Perspective screens at NFMLA’s May Festival (Seen in Full: Disabilities in Focus). 🎬✨ A senator’s life is shaken by strange events after she ignores disability community concerns. ✍️🎥 Writer, Director, & Editor: Becca Schall 🎥 Producer: Katie Scarlett 🎭 Starring: Katie Scarlett, Emily Ash, Brian Anderson, Larry Freeman 🎟️ Learn more: newfilmmakersla.com/events/

The entire team at @NFMLA is immensely grateful to @CountyofLA Supervisor @kathrynbarger and her outstanding 5th District team, including Monica Banken and Diana Oganesyan. We also commend LA County Supervisor @LindseyPHorvath for her ongoing support and for being represented by 3rd District Arts and Community Services Deputy Rachel Fox during the 2nd CA Indie Film Task Force meeting organized by NFMLA. This important gathering took place in the 3rd District at the iconic Sunset Gower Studios, thanks to one of our longest-standing supporters, @HudsonPPI / @SunsetStudiosLA. 🎬 Our request to the Supervisors was straightforward: allow us to assist film and TV professionals by supporting the County in fundraising efforts to establish a sustainable film fund. This fund would provide modest financial incentives, in the form of production grants, for low-budget feature film productions in the LA area. We asked that the Supervisors introduce a new motion that reassigns directives from a motion previously introduced by the @LACountyBOS in July 2025. 📝 Co-authored by Barger and Horvath, the 2025 motion directed @EconOppLA (DEO) to consult with the Center for Strategic Partnerships and Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture (LACAC) to explore potential funding partners for launching a recommended public-private Evergreen Fund of $80-100 million, focusing on new technology start-ups in the film and television sector. We believe this fund should instead be established as a trust to provide annual feature film production grants. If our Supervisors agree, we are prepared to rally the community to support these efforts! Without filmmakers, who will utilize these technologies? How can those companies succeed without subscription revenue and purchases from content creators? Our friends in the @sfgov / @Film_SF City and County of San Francisco have a local incentive, and it is time for @Los_AngelesCA to step up for an industry that has boosted our region for more than a century. 🚀 We would also like to acknowledge LA County leaders who joined us and tirelessly support our creative sectors, including Gary Smith and Nick Perloff-Giles at DEO, which houses the LA County Film Office, and Kristin Sakoda at LACAC. Both have been long-time partners and allies of NFMLA. Additionally, the City of Los Angeles @MayorOfLA was represented by Amy Goldberg and Daniel Halden (Dan also serves as the COO of the @HollywoodArea) , who work alongside Steve Kang, @LACity's Chief Film Liaison and President of the @LACityDPW. Finally, a heartfelt thank you to our filmmakers, industry partners, staff, and board members for sharing your voices. It was incredibly impactful for our elected officials to understand the challenges each of you face and to hear your thoughts on what can be done to drive real change. You know who you are! 🙌 🎞️

📽️ Want to take an inside look at the industry playbook? 📽️ 📍 NFMLA Virtual Workshop | Run a Winning Campaign: Crowdfunding for Filmmakers with Bri Castellini Thursday, May 14th, 2026 at 7 PM PT Join us for a workshop with filmmaker and indie film educator Bri Castellini on demystifying the crowdfunding process. From designing your campaign and busting common misconceptions, to building a team and creating an outreach plan that actually works. This session has you covered. 🎟️ For tickets and more info, visit newfilmmakersla.com/events/ #Film #Entertainment #FilmIndustry #FilmCrowdfunding #VirtualEvent #NewFilmmakersLA #NFMLA

🌺 Some identities wait to be rediscovered. American Born, Confused and Half-Desi (Indian) is part of the lineup for NFMLA’s May Monthly Film Festival, featured in the MiFilm x NFMLA | Seen in Full: Disabilities in Focus program. 🎬✨ Synopsis: Claire Gill, a biracial (Caucasian and Indian) teen, has no understanding of her Indian heritage until Anu Patel, who moves straight from India befriends her. Against her father’s wishes, Claire seeks to understand her Indian roots. American-Born, Confused and Half-Desi (Indian) 🎥 Director: Ronak Shah ✍️ Writer: Jane Miller 🎥 Producers: Ronak Shah and Usha Mehta 🎬 Crew: Hair and Makeup: Moona Jin 🎭 Starring: Mia Pellegrino Parsvi Shah Misha Pharaone 🎟️ Learn more: newfilmmakersla.com/events/

🤟 Some silences speak louder than words. Eremos Trilogy is part of the lineup for NFMLA’s May Monthly Film Festival, featured in the InFocus: Disabilities program. 🎬✨ Synopsis: Eremos Trilogy is the first -ever Deaf short film anthology, and entirely self-funded. Eremos derived from the Greek word for “solitude” is the central theme that connects all three films. The trilogy follows three different deaf protagonists as they navigate various forms of isolation in modern society. Each story explores challenges unique to the deaf community, blending gritty, thought -provoking narratives with a touch of dark humour. Eremos Trilogy ✍️🎥 Writer & Director: Sam Arnold 🎥 Producers: Sam Arnold and Samuel Ash 🎟️ Learn more: newfilmmakersla.com/events/

🌧️ Some storms make you face what you’ve been avoiding. Leo Lets It Rain screens at NFMLA’s May Monthly Film Festival (InFocus: Disabilities). 🎬✨ Synopsis: On his way to win back his ex, Leo, a trans man with undiagnosed ADHD, gets caught in a storm that triggers a panic attack and forces him to confront his patterns. He realizes he’s been relying on her instead of fixing himself. ✍️🎥 Writer & Director: Jasmin Prophete 🎥 Producers: Tiana Cantu, Roya Alidjani, Marie Alyse Rodriguez 🎭 Starring: Logan Rozos, Mia Rae Roberts, Essence Blake 🎟️ Learn more: newfilmmakersla.com/events/

🎤 Some voices take courage to be heard. Voice Box is part of the lineup for NFMLA’s May Monthly Film Festival, featured in the MiFilm x NFMLA | Seen in Full: Disabilities in Focus program. 🎬✨ Synopsis: David, a vocally impaired man who is in a wheelchair, must face his fears and use his voice for the first time to express his feelings to Rachel - or lose the girl of his dreams. Voice Box 🎥 Directors: Nader Bahu and Alberto Triana ✍️ Writer: Nader Bahu 🎥 Producers: Nader Bahu, Melissa Del Rosario, Alberto Triana 🎟️ Learn more: newfilmmakersla.com/events/

📽️Want to take an inside look at the industry playbook?📽️ NFMLA Virtual Conversation | PR at Scale: Inside the Studio Playbook with Katie Kornfield Join us for a conversation with the founder of Katie Kornfield Communications and producer and moderator for film and television FYC campaigns as she takes us behind the scenes of how public relations works at the studio level. Her work spans corporate, entertainment, and nonprofit PR with credits including the celebrated documentary, Chadwick Boseman: Portrait of an Artist. This is for filmmakers who want a better understanding Whether you’re working with a fraction of the budget or just starting to think about your film’s public presence, there’s a lot to learn from how the biggest releases get their moment. 🎟️ For tickets and more info, visit newfilmmakersla.com/events/ #FilmPR #FilmMarketing #FilmmakingTips #FilmIndustry #IndieFilm #NFMLA

🗣️ Some conversations aren’t just heard… they’re felt. Talk is part of the lineup for NFMLA’s May Monthly Film Festival, featured in the InFocus: Disabilities program. 🎬✨ Synopsis: Deaf homeowner Kevin and repairman Doug clash over who's to blame for a broken air conditioner, with tensions boiling over when money enters the conversation. Acting as the middleman, the translator struggles to stay professional-- until Doug's offhand remark pushes her to stop playing nice. TALK ✍️🎥 Writer, Director, & Producer: Jessica Perlman @Perlzzy 🎬Crew: Jacob Schlotthauer Katrina Brianne Todd Carroll Will Perls Wendy Wang Jessica Perlman 🎟️ Learn more: newfilmmakersla.com/events/

👁️ What happens when the way you experience the world begins to change? The Art of Perception is part of the lineup for NFMLA’s May Monthly Film Festival, featured in the InFocus: Disabilities program. 🎬✨ Synopsis: "The Art of Perception" explores the transcendent nature of art through the unique perspectives of three individuals who have lost a primary sense. Painter Therese Verner, diagnosed with progressive blindness, composer Jacob Boland, living with near-total sensorineural hearing loss, and celebrity chef Jackson Kalb, who lost his sense of taste after COVID-19, each confront the collapse of a sense that once defined their art. The film reveals how sight, sound, and flavor can be rebuilt from memory, vibration, texture, and imagination. The three artists explore how our differences and challenges can ignite the greatest versions of ourselves, and art as an act that transcends any single sense. The Art of Perception ✍️🎥 Writer, Director, & Producer: Adam Goldstick 🎟️ Learn more: newfilmmakersla.com/events/

🎬 Stories that challenge perspectives—and redefine what’s possible. Join us May 16th for NFMLA’s Monthly Film Festival spotlighting disability stories & talent on and off screen. ✨ Featuring: Program #1 – MiFilm x NFMLA | Seen in Full: Disabilities in Focus 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM – Pre-Reception 3:00 PM – 4:45 PM – Program 4:45 PM – 5:00 PM – Audience Q&A Program #2 – InFocus: Disability 5:00 PM – 5:30 PM – Pre-Reception 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM – Program 7:00 PM – 7:15 PM – Audience Q&A Program #3 – May Shorts 7:15 PM – 7:45 PM – Pre-Reception 7:45 PM – 9:45 PM – Program 9:45 PM – 10:00 PM – Audience Q&A 📍 South Park Center, DTLA 🕒 2:30PM–10PM PDT 🎟️ Learn more: newfilmmakersla.com

#CommunityShoutout 🫂 NFMLA Community, we're thrilled to announce that we're a Community Partner for the 2026 LA Asian Pacific Film Festival, presented our friends Visual Communications! Catch two amazing blocks of shorts on May 1st and May 3rd. Find more details below: 🎥 On May 1st at the DGA Theater, attend Armed With a Camera Vol. 2026, a showcase of the next generation of Asian American and Pacific Islander artists, centering fellowship, creative exchange, and meaningful connections that strengthen and uplift our communities. On May 3rd at AMC in Monterey Park, experience the From Visions to Reel: Catch Your Breath film slate, featuring seven short films, as they ask: "What can kind of swimmer are you?" 🔗 Get tickets NOW at festival.vcmedia.org/2026/

Our friends at the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (@IFFLA) are back for their 24th year from April 23 - April 26, 2026, at Landmark Sunset Hollywood. This year, IFFLA is showcasing an exciting lineup of 26 films from all over South Asia and its diasporas. In addition, IFFLA’s Industry Days is back for its third year, featuring two full days of panels, a pitch competition and a masterclass. NFMLA is proud to be a partner and invites you to use the code IP-TIX20 to receive 20% off all individual screenings, except opening and closing nights. Additionally, use the NFMLA discount code IP-PASS10 to receive 10% off all passes. Get your tickets and passes now! We also invite you to join NFMLA as we support IFFLA Shorts Program 3! Shorts Program 3 showcases films highlighting the trials of the underdog finding their way in a complicated world. A sacrificial lamb gone humorously awry. A boy seeking freedom through his unique voice. A trio of women journeying through a difficult landscape. Check out this moving range of films, and leave the theater a whole new person. Get tickets here. For more information on the entire Festival line-up, visit the IFFLA website: indianfilmfestival.org/festival-guide…

Looking to take the next step with your film? 🎬 We’re excited to share this FREE Insider Session from Sundance Collab and @sundanceorg, all about applying to the Sundance Feature Film Development Track. Join us for an informational session with Feature Film Program Deputy Director Ilyse McKimmie and 2018 Sundance Institute Lab alumna Beth de Araújo (Soft & Quiet, Josephine) as they break down what makes an application stand out, when to apply, and how to navigate the process. ✨ A great opportunity to gain insight directly from Sundance Institute advisors 📅 April 21 ⏰ 10–11 AM PT 💻 Online via Sundance Collab 🔗 Register: sndnc.org/40z79w7 #SundanceCollab #SundanceInstitute #NFMLA #Filmmakers #IndieFilm

🌍 Stories that cross borders. Lives that carry meaning. Join us tomorrow, April 11, 2026, at the South Park Center in DTLA for NFMLA’s Monthly Film Festival InFocus: Immigration. 🎬✨ This powerful program brings together films that explore the realities of living between cultures—the resilience of immigrant communities, the ache of distance from loved ones, and the strength it takes to navigate identity, survival, and belonging. Featuring: • God Also Likes Donuts • On the Tip of the Tongue • Sihyeon’s Summer Day • We Are Kings • Made in America • When Were We Human • Stay/Go • Ballad of an Immigrant with Memory ✨ Stories that remind us where we come from—and why it matters. 🎟️ Learn more + join us: newfilmmakersla.com/events/event/a…

🌏 Stories that connect across cultures—and stay with you. Join us tomorrow, April 11, 2026, at the South Park Center in DTLA for NFMLA’s Monthly Film Festival InFocus: Asian Cinema. 🎬✨ This dynamic program highlights visionary work from Asian and Asian-American filmmakers, bringing together stories that explore identity, family, belonging, and the preservation of culture. From heartfelt to unexpected, each film offers a unique and deeply personal perspective. Featuring: • We’re Okay • Hail, A Taxi Home • Billo Rani • He • Check Please • Hafu • Harij Weds Sajili • Min • Patakha ✨ Stories that reflect, challenge, and connect us all. 🎟️ Learn more + join us: newfilmmakersla.com/events/event/a…

🌺 Stories that resonate. Voices that matter. Join us tomorrow, April 11, 2026, 2:30pm PT at the South Park Center in DTLA for NFMLA's Monthly Film Festival InFocus: Southeast Asian Cinema. Presented in partnership with CAPE ✨🎬, one of the longest-running champions of Asian and Pacific Islander representation in Hollywood. This powerful program spotlights bold, culture-driven storytelling from Southeast Asian filmmakers. These films explore identity, heritage, and community with authenticity and heart. Featuring: • Someone Special • Ran Som • 714 • Long’s Long Lost & Mini Mart • Taga • Daly City 🎟️ Learn more + join us: newfilmmakersla.com/events/event/a…

🎒 Some battles are fought for more than what’s lost. Patakha joins the lineup for the NFMLA April Monthly Film Festival | InFocus: Puglia, Asian Cinema & Immigration, spotlighting powerful, cross-cultural storytelling from emerging voices. 🎬✨ Synopsis: Radha, an 11-year-old girl in rural India, begins her first day of work at a firecracker factory. In this unfamiliar setting, she loses her beloved school bag-something she would fight for with all her might. The film follows her journey to retrieve the backpack, a symbol of more than just a bag: it represents her future and the education that has been taken away from her. Patakha 🏠 Sometimes belonging means telling a different story. 🎥Director: Rohit Relan ✍️Writer: Umut Ipek 🎥 Producers: Tiffany Wu 🎟️ Learn more: newfilmmakersla.com/events/