The LA Black Film Festival is a bi-annual film festival that celebrates independent Black filmmakers and seeks to elevate Black voices and stories in the film community. We will be accepting submissions from BLACK DIRECTORS, WRITERS, MAJORITY BLACK CREW (at least 50%) and/or BLACK CENTERED STORIES of ANY GENRE.

We are an affiliate festival of the LA FILM FESTIVALS organization that has the dual emphasis of discovering great talent with the purpose of promoting their work to both the LA public and the entertainment industry, as well as showcasing the work of seasoned professionals and well known stars.

LA Film Festivals began with the biannual LA Comedy Festival in 2001, adding the biannual LA Indie Film Fest in 2007. The LA Film Festival family has since expanded to 12 independent film festivals, including LA Horror Film Fest, LA Action Film Fest, LA Sci-Fi Film Fest, LA Animation Film Fest, LA Black Film Fest, LA Asian Film Fest, LA Latinx Film Fest, LA Queer Film Fest, LA Women in Film Fest and LA Student Film Fest.

Over the years, LA Film Festivals have attracted thousands of filmmakers from around the world. Each festival features live screenings in our own Let Live Theater in the heart of Los Angeles. Our 80-seat theater, in the heart of Hollywood, is outfitted with a laser DLP projector and seven JBL speakers throughout the venue, delivering top notch quality in an intimate screening environment. Filmmakers whose work is accepted into our festival will receive free passes to screenings, invitations to networking events and are eligible for awards consideration.

FILM AWARDS:
There are SIX Award Categories for Feature Films:
Best of Fest, Best Foreign Feature, Best Direction, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Ensemble.

There are THIRTEEN Award Categories for all Films under 30 minutes:
Best of Fest, Best of Fest: Short Short, Best Foreign Film, Audience Choice Award, Best Direction, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Ensemble, Best Animated Short, Best Music Video, Best Web Series, Best TV Pilot.

ALL Films are eligible for the Kickass Original Filmmaker Award.

LA FILM FESTIVALS - LOS ANGELES, CA - Submissions Rules

1. All Films must feature work produced by black filmmakers and black driven storytelling. We will be accepting submissions from BLACK DIRECTORS, WRITERS, MAJORITY BLACK CREW (at least 50%) and/or BLACK CENTERED STORIES of ANY GENRE.
2. Film Entrants must submit online screeners through FilmFreeway for consideration.
3. Entry forms and payment will not be processed without accompanying Preview Copies in one of the accepted formats for film applicants.
4. All entries must be in English or - SUBTITLED, DUBBED, unless special arrangements have been made with festival.
5. All films selected for screening at the festival grant LA FILM FESTIVALS the right to use stills and excerpts of up to two minutes for promotional purposes.
6. LA Film Festivals is not responsible for any lost, stolen or damaged entries.
7. Exceptions to the festival regulations must be authorized by one of the Festival Directors.
8. Multiple entries are permissible, but each entry must be accompanied by a separate Entry and fee.
9. Submissions will not be returned.
10. All fees are nonrefundable.
11. Submission to the festival is not a guarantee that your film will be screened.

SHIPPING
The cost of shipping an entry to the festival must be paid by the entrant. Collect or C.O.D. shipment will not be accepted. All international entries must be sent "free domicile" to the LA Film Festivals office with all transportation charges, duties, and taxes prepaid by the shipper. Any brokerage fees charged to LA FILM FESTIVALS and/or LA BLACK FILM FESTIVAL will be billed back to the shipper. Be sure to include all the proper customs documentation required by the shipping company.

Terms and Conditions for FILM SUBMISSIONS

I/We wish to have our film/animation/TV pilot/web series/music video/filmed sketch comedy entry(ies) hereby known as “ENTRY” included in the 10th LA BLACK FILM FESTIVAL 2025 an affiliate festival of the LA FILM FESTIVALS hereby known as “LAFFS”. I/We grant LAFFS, its festival director, Lawrin Goulston Salazar and sponsors the right to show for promotional purposes on television, on the LAFFS website (www.lafilmfestivals.com), on sponsors websites, flyers, posters, press releases, etc. any material including the ENTRY and/or stills submitted by me/us with this application. No more than two minutes or up to the length of the trailer submitted by the filmmakers may be used. I/we understand that no materials included with this application will be returned.

If more than one (1) party signs this agreement as submitter, then reference to “I”, “me”, “my” throughout this agreement shall apply to each party; jointly and separately.

I grant LAFFS, its festival director, Lawrin Goulston Salazar and its sponsors the full and free right and permission to use my ENTRY for broadcast, duplication, and advertising in association with LAFFS, for the purpose of viewing in theaters as part of the festival. A copy of ENTRY may be kept for archival purposes.

I waive any right to inspect or approve the finished videotape, sound track, photograph, advertising copy, audio piece or printed matter that may be used or to the eventual use that it may be applied.

I hereby release, discharge and agree to hold harmless LAFFS, its officers, agencies employees and sponsors, Let Live Theatre and The Other Space Theater, its officers, agencies and employees, from and against any liability as a result of any use, distortion, blurring or alteration that may occur or be introduced in any use or broadcast of the material.

I grant LAFFS permission to give a copy of the ENTRY to industry members if requested. Industry, includes but is not limited to network executives, agents, managers, casting directors, press and others that can aid in securing of future work and/or distribution for my ENTRY.

I waive any and all rights to compensation for any broadcast, duplication, and advertising of any ENTRY presented at the festival. All ownership of all ENTRY remains with the personnel who contributed to the ENTRY. I own all material submitted with application and that will be viewed at LAFFS. I understand that LAFFS, its producers and sponsors are relying on this release and accordingly, I hereby irrevocably waive any and all rights to seek or obtain any injunction or other equitable relief against LAFFS, its officers, agencies, employees and sponsors.

I warrant that the use of the rights granted here and of any material supplied by me/us will not violate the rights of any third party. I agree to defend, indemnify and hold harmless LAFFS, its officers, agencies, employees and sponsors from any claims by third parties alleging that our content or material infringes on any third party’s rights. This Release and Hold Harmless Agreement shall bind my assigns and any representative.

This contract is the entire agreement between the parties hereto, and replaces and supersedes any prior agreement or understanding, verbal or written, with respect to the subject matter hereof. No amendment, addendum, modification or waiver of this contract or any portion hereof shall be valid unless contained in a writing signed by both parties hereto.

In exchange for release, I receive the opportunity to have my ENTRY shown at LAFFS and accept that there is no promise of additional payment, in any form for likeness, image, biography, recording, equipment, or for any other contribution by us on this production.

This contract shall be deemed to be entered into in Los Angeles County, California, and shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of California applicable to agreements entered into and carried out entirely within California. I agree that any and all disputes or controversies arising under this contract or any of its terms shall be resolved under the auspices of the American Arbitration Association, under its Commercial Arbitration Rules, through its Los Angeles, California office; provided, however that I agree that my remedies for any breach of this contract by the Los Angeles Comedy Festival, its officers, agencies, employees and sponsors will be limited to damages to an action at law to recover and in no event will I be entitled to rescind or terminate this agreement or to seek injunctive or any other equitable relief.

I hereby certify that I am over eighteen years of age and competent to contract in my own name. If I am signing on behalf of an organization, I certify that I have authority to do so and that my signature binds the organization and its performers to all elements of this contract.

I have read the foregoing release and authorization and agreement, before submitting my film, and warrant that I fully understand the contents thereof. My submitting my film for consideration is my consent that I agree to all terms and conditions and understand all rules and regulations.

I am authorized to sign and give consent for everyone (including but not limited to performers, writers, directors, technical crew, distributors) who contributed to all ENTRY(IES) and all materials submitted with this application to the 10th LA BLACK FILM FESTIVAL 2025.

All feature length films must be an LA Premiere. We reserve the right to refuse to consider any submission at our discretion.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Definitely made some new friends at this festival. Not gonna lie we kinda got dumped on with rain but it was still enjoyable to meet with great filmmakers and people. I hope to get to see more next year... if it doesn't rain down as hard. Thank for having us in the festival.

    February 2024
  • Thankful to have been a part of the LA Black Film Festival. The hosts were hospitable and the setting of the festival was intimate and memorable.

    February 2024
  • Thanks for including Assaman in your festival! We appreciate you and your work!

    November 2022
  • LyAndre Pierre

    Thank you for selecting our video 'Still Don' for your festival. Such a great opportunity.

    March 2022
  • Thank you for allowing us to be a part of such an amazing event, we are grateful to see how much your viewers enjoyed our project! We hope to do It again one day soon! Best Regards - IFG producers of THE ICE CREAM STOP

    September 2021