"IFS Film Fest is ...True North for any cinephiliac"
- Lana and Lilly Wachowski
(Directors / Writers of "The Matrix" & "V for Vendetta")

IFS / L.A. FILM FEST - LOS ANGELES & HOLLYWOOD, CA
Paul Thomas Anderson's "Phantom Thread" and "Inherent Vice", Greta Gerwig's "Lady Bird", Quentin Tarantino's "The Hateful Eight", Tom Ford's "Nocturnal Animals" (starring Amy Adams & Jake Gyllenhaal), Lars von Trier's "Nymphomaniac", David Cronenberg's "Map To The Stars", Harmony Korine's "Spring Breakers", James Franco's "The Disaster Artist" have all screened as part of the IFS / L.A. Film Festival.

New cinema from John Hillcoat, Craig Gillespie, Scott Cooper, John Lee Hancock, Jim Jarmusch, Patty Jenkins, Werner Herzog, Ann-Margret, Atom Egoyan, Lana and Lilly Wachowski also has premiered at our annual IFS / L.A. Film Festival, alongside the annual slate of over 200+ new films (including more than 40 feature-length films from up-and-coming filmmakers each season), that are annually discovered by the IFS Film Society Membership.

CELEBRITY FESTIVAL GUESTS:
Celebrity Guest attendees of the festival include: Karen Gillan ("Guardians of the Galaxy", "Dr. Who"), Malcolm McDowell ("Clockwork Orange"), Emile Hirsch, ("Into the Wild", "Speed Racer"), Lou Diamond Phillips ("Stand & Deliver", "La Bamba"), Rosanna Arquette ("Pulp Fiction"), Rob Morrow ("Northern Exposure", "Numb3rs"), Mena Suvari ("American Beauty"), Illeana Douglas ("Cape Fear", "Goodfellas"), David Strathairn (Steven Spielberg's "Lincoln"), as well as...

Jackie Cruz ("Orange Is The New Black"), Edie McClurg ("Ferris Bueller's Day Off"), Lance Henriksen ("Aliens", "Terminator", "Gladiator"), Andy Dick ("News Radio"), Blake Clark ("The Waterboy"), Lynn Lowry ("The Crazies", "Shivers"), Kier O'Donell (Clint Eastwood's "American Sniper"), Ethan Embry ("That Thing You Do", "Empire Records"), Lou Ferrigno ("The Hulk", "Pumping Iron"), Jake Busey ("Starship Troopers"), Martin Kove ("Cobra Kai"), and comedian Doug Benson ("Super High Me") - who represent a small sampling of the film celebrities and movie icons that have stopped by our L.A. Film Festival over these last 36 years!

Additionally, the legendary Piper Laurie ("The Hustler", "Carrie"), Clu Gulager ("Once Upon A Time In Hollywood"), Michael Madsen (Quentin Tarantino's "Kill Bill", "Reservoir Dogs"), and Sid Haig ("Spider Baby", "The Devils Rejects" were all honored guests at the IFS / L.A. Film Festival, prior to their passings.

Surprise visitors have included directors Patty Jenkins ("Wonder Woman"), John Hillcoat ("The Road","Triple 9"), and Melanie Mayron, as well as actors including Alan Blumenfeld, Rick Glassman, Priscilla Barnes, Tom Everett Scott, Steven Culp, and Jane Lynch ("Glee") just to name a few!

INDEPEDENT FILMMAKERS SHOWCASE - LOS ANGELES:
The Independent Filmmakers Showcase© of Los Angeles (IFS/L.A.) was created to assist and to discover groundbreaking new cinema; by providing development opportunities for filmmakers through public and private screenings and meet-up events for new and under-appreciated films, and in the support of both film restoration and cinema venue preservation via grassroots fundraising, as well as volunteer membership donation of time and professional services.

The IFS biggest and most prestigious event of each year is the IFS / L.A. FILM FESTIVAL. This festival is held each spring at the world-famous Grove in Los Angeles and the cinema venues of LA LIVE.

The L.A. Film Festival is host to hundreds of film screenings in theaters across Beverly Hills, L.A., and Santa Monica, including two weeks of screenings and events at our legendary Los Angeles "home venues" of L.A. LIVE & The Grove.

ABOUT THE FILM FEST:
Our Los Angeles based Film Fest is a celebration of independent film-making, held in cinemas across Los Angeles (including Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, and Hollywood), and features screenings from both emerging and established filmmakers, with press events, parties, forums, panels, and Hollywood-level film premieres.

Supporting cinema preservation year-round, the IFS membership community of over 140 filmmakers, students, and industry professionals, who are are dedicated to the discovery and promotion of independent cinema, and focused on finding new filmmakers from around the world to premiere at our world famous IFS/L.A. Film Festival.

One of the more unique things about our annual L.A. Film Festival is how our selected films are found and judged for acceptance. With many members of our 150+ Film Society Membership meeting up weekly to watch and review new films, in a crowded cinema setting, at one of our three IFS Screening Rooms (located across Los Angeles).

As a result of that process; all films accepted to our annual film festival have been judged by dozens-upon-dozens of film professionals and cinema fanatics that make up our Film Society Membership who watch and experience each submission in a true cinema venue setting - the way films are meant to be seen.

Accepted film submissions to the IFS / L.A. Film Fest can proudly note that their submission was beloved by a cross-section of Hollywood film fanatics that experienced their screening in a true cinema setting.

DISCOVERIES AND RETROSPECTIVES:
Known globally for uncovering and promoting the most original voices in film making, including Japanese cult legend Nobu Yamaoka. Cinema icons are celebrated with career-spanning events, including past retrospectives for Bill Paxton, Lee Marvin, and Eric Bogosian, and curated events celebrating the cinema of Tom Noonan, Kenneth Anger, and many more.

Kenneth Anger's rare version of "Scorpio Rising", ROAR (starring Melanie Griffith and Tippi Hedren), "The Fourth Dimension" from Jan Kwiecinski, Aleksei Fedorchenko, and Harmony Korine (and starring Val Kilmer) all received special early premieres at IFS Independent Filmmakers Showcase events, that created a buzz for eventual nationwide release.

Recently, the IFS / L.A. Film Festival hosted premiere film screening events for the Kino Lorber Republic Pictures Horror Collection release, and for Grindhouse Releasing's new 4k restoration of the grindhouse classic "Hollywood 90028".

IFS/TV: THE L.A. FILM FEST ONLINE
Unleashed after a decade of planning is our online-only Streaming Film Festival Event: IFS/TV. Held in cooperation with the L.A. Film Festival and taking place after all of the in-person L.A.Film Fest screenings conclude in May-June

This online film fest and streaming event was created to offer filmmakers who may have already held a Los Angeles world premiere screening and now feel a digital event may be more appropriate to help promote their films.

However, note that films submitted into these online festival categories - no matter how well reviewed by the festival judges and programmers - will not be eligible to screen at the L.A. FILM FESTIVAL in-person. To have a project considered for a live screening at the L.A. Film Festival, make sure to submit using any of the other applicable submission categories here on FilmFreeway.

To submit to both the L.A. FILM FESTIVAL and the IFS/TV ONLINE STREAMING FESTIVAL- use the "L.A. FILM FESTIVAL + ONLINE FEST: COMBO PACKAGE" submission category.

HISTORY:
The INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS SHOWCASES of Los Angeles
Founded in 1989, the Independent Filmmakers Showcase was created by film students hosting screenings of obscure films, and evolved into a professional organization hosting the premiere film showcase series events and creation of new cinemas.

IFS Independent Film Fest in Los Angeles supports the creation of new cinemas for independent film screenings, film forums and preservation of classic film venues; fostering a large community of filmmakers, students, and industry professionals dedicated to independent cinema.

Awards & Prizes

The IFS/L.A. Film Festival Award Ceremony takes place each spring in Beverly Hills, next to the Academy for Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences©® building (home of the Oscars©®) with screenings held over ten days at various venues including The Grove, Regal Cinemas at L.A. LIVE, and many more!

Our annual awards honor the best in independent cinema from the past year.

Films are eligible for sponsor-awarded prizes in many genre categories each year.
Best Screenplay First Place is Awarded $3,000.00

All filmmakers receive complimentary passes to the complete film festival, and all award winners are honored publicly at our Award Ceremony Events.

Officially Selected films, including Film Festival Award Winners may not automatically receive cash or prizes. Prizes are determined by gifts donated through friends of the festival each season.

The Los Angeles (L.A.) Independent Filmmakers Showcase and its annual IFS Film Festival is operated without major corporate sponsorship and without any studio or corporate programming oversight, with all events funded through public ticketed attendance, and profits donated to cinema restoration, future film festival screenings, and events.

Rules & Terms

RULES & REGULATIONS
Submitters and/or Participants to any Independent Filmmakers Showcase Film Festival, Award Ceremony, Screenplay Contest, and any other IFS contest or submission events must agree upon entry, submission, or participation to the following terms, rules, and regulations:

To enter into any Independent Filmmakers Showcase event or competition, the minimum age of participants must be18 years of age or older.

The Independent Filmmakers Showcase reserves the right to refuse service to anyone. Entries in our competitions are void where prohibited by law.

Films submitted to the Independent Filmmakers Showcase (IFS) must not have major distribution in the United States of America.

Entry fees must be paid in U.S. dollars, before films will be viewed.

Festival dates are subject to change. All screening times and venues may be subject to delay or change

By submitting to the Independent Filmmakers Showcase, all listed creators authorize the submission. In submitting your work to the Independent Filmmakers Showcase you are admitting that your entry is your original work, and does not infringe on the copyright or other rights of other people.

In the event of multiple authors of an award or prize-winning work, awards and prizes will be divided equally among listed creators.

Any filmmaker or member of a film entourage causing a disruption or acting aggressively, disrespectfully or threateningly to any of the volunteer staff or employees of the festival may have their film pulled from exhibition at any time and without refund.

All judges, readers, and screeners decisions are final.

If sending screener for consideration via online screener: Please use your submission platforms interface (FilmFreeway) and allow screeners to be downloaded and available for playback by judges and programmers for the duration of the festivals submission season.

Independent Filmmakers Showcase is not responsible for shipped films missing or lost in transit. Film Submissions are non-returnable. Please do not send original material. Posters / DVD / Blu Ray / Etc. may not be returned.

DCP / Film Print return pick-up for feature films is the full responsibility of submitter and any coordination must be arranged with IFS prior to festival and in accordance with IFS rules and protocol as defined by Programming Dept.

IFS TERMS OF USE
Failure to comply with Independent Filmmakers Showcase guidelines, rules, regulations, or eligibility may be cause for disqualification and result in having your film pulled from screening or competition.

By entering (submitting to) any Independent Filmmakers competition you are admitting that you have read, understood and agreed to follow our Rules and Regulations for festival submission and to abide by our Terms and Conditions of service.

By entering (submitting to) any Independent Filmmakers competition, entrants release and hold the Independent Filmmakers Showcase, its Board of Directors, Officers, Staff and Volunteers harmless from and against all losses, damages, rights, claims and actions of any kind arising in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from participation with the competition or participation in any competition related activity.

By entering (submitting to) any Independent Filmmakers competition you are granting the Independent Filmmakers Showcase the right to use screen grabs, press materials, and stills from your movie on our advertisements, press materials, festival programs and website for a minimum 15 months preceding and following the festival year you submitted to.

By entering (submitting to) any Independent Filmmakers competition you are admitting that you are 18 years of age or older.

By entering (submitting to) any Independent Filmmakers competition you are granting the right for the Independent Filmmakers Showcase to screen your film publicly one to two times in the next twelve months (depending on the festival entered).

By entering (submitting to) any Independent Filmmakers competition you acknowledge that you are not entitled to any refund or damage claims of any kind if your film is unable to screen due to technical or operational difficulties or if your film needs to be rescheduled or delayed for any reason.

Independent Filmmakers Showcase is not responsible for films that are missing, damaged, unreadable, lost in transit, or stolen. Independent Filmmakers Showcase reserves the right to refuse service to anyone.

Independent Filmmakers Showcase is not responsible for broken or non-functioning films. All federal, state and local laws and regulations apply.
All fees are non-refundable.

Failure to comply with the guidelines, rules, regulations, terms & condition or eligibility may be cause for disqualification and having your film pulled from screening or competition.

By entering this competition, entrants release and hold the Independent Filmmakers Showcase, its Membership, Board of Directors, Officers, Staff and Volunteers harmless from and against all losses, damages, rights, claims and actions of any kind arising in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from participation with the competition or participation in any competition related activity.

By submitting you are granting the IFS the right to use screen grabs, press materials, a 2 minute film trailer and stills from your movie on our advertisements, press materials, festival programs and website for the12 months leading up to the festival year you submitted your film, and for the 48 months following the festival year that you submitted your film.

By submitting you are granting the right for the Independent Filmmakers Showcase to screen your film publicly at least one time in the next twelve months.

By submitting you acknowledge that you are not entitled to any refund or damage claims of any kind if your film is unable to screen due to technical or operational difficulties or if your film needs to be rescheduled or delayed for any reason.

DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES
SUBMITTER ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT YOUR USE OF THE WEBSITES, ATTENDANCE AT INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS SHOWCASE EVENTS, OR ENTERING ANY INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS SHOWCASE EVENT, CONTEST, FILM FESTIVAL OR COMPETITION IS AT SUBMITTER SOLE RISK.

THE INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS SHOWCASE DOES NOT MAKE ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY AS TO THE ACCURACY, CORRECTNESS, COMPLETENESS OR USEFULNESS OF ANY CONTENT APPEARING ON THE WEBSITE AND IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ERRORS OR OMISSIONS IN ANY CONTENT APPEARING ON THE WEBSITE, OR GENERALLY FOR THE ACCURACY, RELIABILITY, OR QUALITY OF ANY CONTENT APPEARING ON THE WEBSITE OR ANY OTHER MATERIALS PUBLISHED, UNPUBLISHED OR DISTRIBUTED BY THE INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS SHOWCASE, OR ITS AFFILIATES. THE INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS SHOWCASE IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY FAILURES, DELAYS OR INTERRUPTIONS OF THE WEBSITE. THE WEBSITE and the EVENT SCREENINGS ARE PROVIDED TO YOU “AS IS” AND THE INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS SHOWCASE MAKES NO REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY OF ANY KIND TO YOU, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. SPECIFICALLY, THE INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS SHOWCASE DISCLAIMS ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF TITLE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, MERCHANTABILITY, AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

YOU ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL THE INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS SHOWCASE BE LIABLE FOR ANY LOSS OR DAMAGE CAUSED BY YOUR RELIANCE ON CONTENT OBTAINED THROUGH THE WEBSITE OR CAUSED BY YOUR CONDUCT. THE INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS SHOWCASE DOES NOT GUARANTEE CONTINUOUS, UNINTERRUPTED OR SECURE ACCESS TO THE WEBSITE, AND THE OPERATION OF THE WEBSITE MAY BE INTERFERED WITH BY NUMEROUS FACTORS OUTSIDE OF OUR CONTROL.

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
IN NO EVENT SHALL THE INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS SHOWCASE BE LIABLE FOR INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH USE OF THE WEBSITE / ATTENDANCE AT ANY IFS EVENT / ENTERING ANY IFS COMPETITION / SUBMITTING ANY WORK FOR IFS REVIEW OR SCREENING, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION FOR LOST PROFITS OR BUSINESS, OR ANTICIPATED LOST PROFITS OR BUSINESS, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS SHOWCASE AND ITS AFFILIATES AGGREGATE LIABILITY TO YOU OR ANY THIRD PARTY IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCE ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THE WEBSITE OR THIS AGREEMENT IS LIMITED TO $300.

INDEMNIFICATION
You agree to indemnify, defend and hold The INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS SHOWCASE and all members, staff, or individuals connected to our Film Festival and its events to be harmless from any claim, expense or demand, including without limitation reasonable attorneys´ fees, made by any third party due to or arising out of your breach of this Agreement, or your violation of any law or the rights of a third party.

GOVERNING LAW
You acknowledge and agree that this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of California, excluding conflict of laws provisions thereof that would indicate the application of the laws of any other jurisdiction and you hereby submit to exclusive jurisdiction in the federal and state courts of California. You agree to receive service of process through certified mail or by other means sanctioned by law, and you expressly waive any claim of improper venue and any claim that such courts are an inconvenient forum.

GENERAL
If any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid or unenforceable, such provision shall be struck and the remaining provisions shall be enforced. You agree that this Agreement may be automatically assigned by The INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS SHOWCASE, in its sole discretion, to a third party. Section headings are for reference purposes only and in no way define, limit, construe or describe the scope or extent of such section. Our failure to act with respect to a breach by you or others does not waive our right to act with respect to subsequent or similar breaches. This Agreement, along with any other terms and conditions regulating use of the Website, sets forth the entire understanding and agreement between us with respect to the subject matter hereof. The provisions of this Agreement and any ancillary terms and conditions will survive termination or expiration to the extent necessary to carry out the intentions of the parties.

TRADEMARKS
Unless otherwise indicated, all names, graphics, designs, logos, page headers, button icons, scripts, commercial markings, trade dress, and service names included in the Website are trademarks of the Independent Filmmakers Showcase and are protected by the trademark laws of the United States and other jurisdictions. You may not use, copy, reproduce, republish, distribute, modify or post any Trademarks in any way, including in advertising or publicity pertaining to or distribution of materials on the Website, without our prior written consent. The Trademarks may not be used in any manner that is likely to cause confusion, or in any manner that disparages or discredits us.

RISK OF LOSS
You acknowledge and agree that your only remedy for failures, delays or interruptions with respect to the ordering of and delivery or use of any passes or tickets ordered by you through any IFS partner website, or any ticketing and/or venue partners: is limited to a refund for such passes, issued at the discretion of the Independent Filmmakers Showcase.
You acknowledge and agree that your only remedy for failures, delays or interruptions with respect to submissions or prints sent for review or public screening at the Independent Filmmakers Showcase, the IFS Film Fest, or any IFS event: is limited only to a refund, issued only at the discretion and judgement of the Independent Filmmakers Showcase.

RIGHT TO ENTER
Entrants warrant that they have the legal right to enter film work to the Independent Filmmakers Showcase. As Director/Producer/Submitter of the Film, entrants have submitted to the IFS, entrants represent and warrant to the IFS that the Film and all parts thereof are original; that the Film does not contravene the rights of any person or entity and that entrants own or control the Film and all parts thereof and have the sole authority to submit the Film to the IFS; the Film entrants submitted to the IFS is not subject to nor threatened by any litigation. Entrants acknowledge that no fiduciary or confidential relationship now exists between the Festival and entrants, and entrants further acknowledge that no such relationship is established by these guidelines, the submission of the Film, or by the IFS acceptance, review or retention of the Film.

IFS / L.A. Film Festival / L.A. Film Fest / IFS Film Society / L.A. Film / IFS / Independent Filmmakers Showcase / IFS/L.A. / L.A. Film Festival / IFS L.A. Screenplay Competition / L.A. Screenplay Competition / IFS Monthly Events / L.A Film Showcases / IFS LA

IFS Film Society membership groups and screening rooms located in Beverly Hills / Santa Monica / Hollywood / Los Angeles L.A.)