Celebrate 26 years of FirstGlance Los Angeles Film Festival!

The 26th Annual Event is coming soon!
Call for Entries NOW Open
Scheduled for Nov 12-15 2026 at the Laemmle NoHo7
Be Seen on the Big Screen!

FirstGlance is an all inclusive, diverse event for first time filmmakers to Professionals from Los Angeles and across the globe! We continually champion amazing storytellers and filmmakers from around the world, on beautiful screens in North Hollywood!

FirstGlance Film Fests: One of the TOP RATED Film Festivals on FilmFreeway

Post when you enter your film so we can share your news with our over 75K Social Media Followers!

ALL Official Selections receive social media marketing unlike any film festival on EARTH and special discounted filmmaker ticket packages!!

Drama, Comedy, Science Fiction, Horror, Fantasy, Action and all genres from filmmakers of all ages, genders, races, color, ethnicity, religions and countries.

Features, Shorts, Documentary, Animated Shorts, Web Series, Music Videos, Trailer, Student Films, International Shorts

The 26th Annual FirstGlance Los Angeles Film Festival screens local, national and international professional, first time, and student filmmakers, celebrating the best in indie film making from around the world and featuring locally produced indie film from Los Angeles and West Coast Filmmakers.

Screenings, Red Carpet, After Parties, Filmmaker Luncheon, and Live Awards Presentation. Nominations in over 25 categories (by the esteemed FirstGlance screening committee and festival director) and Best of Audience awards in each category (voted on by festival attendees), and BEST OF FEST award winners.

FirstGlance Film Festivals are the longest running international bi-coastal indie film festivals in the United States and the WORLD. FirstGlance has theatrically screened over 2800 films to over 325,000 attendees over its 29 year history.

FirstGlance Film Fests have a 98% track record with feature films (Narrative and Documentary) acquiring streaming, AVOD, VOD, theatrical and Cable distribution.

Named 5 times as a Best Film Festival Investment by Moviemaker Magazine
Named by Time Magazine as, "One of the Festivals for the Rest of Us"
Named by USA Today, as one of the, "Best Film Festivals in North America"
And consistently, One of FilmFreeway's Top 100 Film Festivals!

FirstGlance Film Festivals: by indie filmmakers, for indie filmmakers!

Awards & Prizes

The Best of Fest Award Winner prizes furnished by Red Giant, Boris FX, Glidecam, Gorilla Software, Beachtek, ShotListerApp, InkTip and more.

EVERY category that receives 100 entries or more the Audience Choice winner will be awarded a $500 USD CASH PRIZE!

Rules & Terms

Student entries must include copy of current semester bill and copy of student ID which can be uploaded to your FilmFreeway page.

All official selections will be notified of acceptance by E-mail. (Make sure your address is current) Accepted projects cannot be publicly exhibited in the Los Angeles area (within 50 miles) at any time within a (30 day window) 4 weeks prior to 4 weeks after. If this occurs, FirstGlance has the right to refuse exhibition. After acceptance of projects, the entrant is free to publicize his/her work to any and all media she/he deems necessary. Please notify FirstGlance of any publicity you receive. The undersigned entrant shall release, discharge, indemnify and hold harmless FirstGlance Films, and its agents, respective officers, directors, employees, representatives, contractors, venues, partners, sponsors, and volunteers from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, costs and expenses (including, without limitations, attorneys' fees). The undersigned entrant authorizes FirstGlance Film Festival, to promote the entry for any publicity purpose prior to, during, and after the competition. You agree to be bound by these guidelines and the decisions of the judges, which are final and binding in all respects and to waive any right to claim ambiguity in the contest or the rules. The signature of applicant constitutes that the entrants information is true and correct and agrees to all competition rules and guidelines. Disclaimer: If any categories submissions does not receive high enough scores from our screening committee, FirstGlance has the right to discontinue any category for a particular festival.

Filmmaker Requirement: A physical DCP will be required by the venue. All Official Selections agree to deliver a thumb drive or hard drive with a professionally authored DCP or will create one to deliver to FirstGlance for Theatrical screening.
63 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Sophie Aguila

    Our team was honored to have screened at this year's festival! From the historic venue to incredible networking opportunities and more, our film had a wonderful Los Angeles festival premiere at FirstGlance!

    February 2026
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  • Ashley London

    Great festival and great experience!

    December 2025
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  • Duffy King

    Excellent!! This is an example of how a festival should be run!....

    November 2025
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  • Andrew Pritzker

    This is a cool, well run, well curated festival at a state of the art theater with excellent sound. Festivals with strong networking offer a dedicated VIP lounge but that space is rarely available in a multi screen theater. There were however after screening meet-ups in local establishments. First and foremost, FirstGlance LA offered a brilliant, impressive venue to screen your film.

    November 2025
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  • Aaron Goffman

    Thank you Bill and the whole FirstGlance team for inviting Darcine's Day to your L.A. fest. It was a real treat!!

    November 2025
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