The Los Angeles International Film Festival is a film festival for truly independent shorts and features, and is fast to becoming a headline event for micro-budget and no-budget films in North America. LAIFF offers a fantastic opportunity for undiscovered filmmakers to showcase their achievements in the center of the movie making industry.

We’ll screen over 60 features and shorts over 5 days at the Secret Movie Club in downtown LA.

LAIFF leverages the strength of LA’s independent filmmaking community to put on a fantastic festival complete with networking events and educational sessions. It’s an indie film festival by and for indie filmmakers.

Awards & Prizes

Film Awards:
Feature Film (budget under $1m USD)
Micro-budget Feature (budget under $250k USD)
No-Budget Feature (budget under $25k USD)
Documentary Feature
Short Film
Short Documentary
Animated Short
Experimental Short
Horror / Sci-Fi Short
Short Short (under 5 minutes)
Music Video

Screenplay Award categories:
Feature Screenplay
Comedy Screenplay
Sci-Fi / Horror Screenplay

Rules & Terms

All USA or international features and short from any genres, made with independent spirit and low budgets
25 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Michael Klubock

    Loved everything. The Secret Movie Theater was awesome. Thank you for including Kids Ocean Day | A Love Project. Michael Klubock

    November 2024
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  • Paul Hollingsworth

    LAIFF is fantastic! Nice theatre in Santa Monica with big sound and a program of quality and thought-provoking films. The organizer Natasha and her team are awesome. Communication is excellent and I was lucky to attend 3 of the short program blocks. The opening party was a blast and provided a nice chance to network with other excellent filmmakers.

    Thank you for awarding our film, "Weirdos" a stop-motion animated family adventure film about middle school frenemies Monster-hunting in the woods the Audience Choice Award. We are honored to be alongside such brilliant filmmaker peers.

    5 stars.

    November 2023
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  • Lisa Datz

    The Los Angeles International Film Festival was a wonderful and valuable experience from start to finish. Natasha and her team couldn't be lovelier, the quality of films was excellent, and I attended numerous events and screenings over the 4 day event. Thank you for awarding our film, LIFE OF RILEY, with the Jury Prize for Best Short Film. Truly an honor among such excellent company. 5 stars all the way.

    November 2023
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  • Mauricio Ovalle

    This festival was what expected and more. Lovely venue, super organized and what can be better than an opening night to get to know all the other filmmakers. Natasha was not only wonderful but so great when it came to any questions as well as Stephanie . I can’t thank you enough for such wonderful experience and I can’t wait to bring our next project to nexts year’s celebration. A 15 out of 10!

    November 2023
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  • Frederik Wiedmann

    Fantastic Festival! Great exposure to the film;ms and very supportive and professional team handling everything. felt like I was in great hands!

    November 2023
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