Los Angeles CineFest is an international IN-PERSON event (not online).
We accept local, national, and international films and scripts. Film industry specialists watch films and videos, read scripts, and give notes and scores.
Once a year we screen selected work at the live event in Los Angeles.

Categories:
Short Film
Short Documentary
Web Episode
Trailer
Feature Film
Feature Documentary
Animation
Student
Film about Cosmos
Music Video
Experimental
Drone Films
Web/New Media
Screenplay (Short Films)
Screenplay (Feature Films)
Television Script
Film Score
Photography (any topic, photo from the set included)
Poster (any poster, film poster included)

Sundance might be your favorite festival.
But with us you have more chances to be selected.

- - - - - -

Cannes and Venice await!

It would be fantastic if the Venice International Film Festival or Cannes Film Festival selected your work.

Unfortunately, the Cannes Film Festival has an estimated acceptance rate of roughly 1% to 2% for its Official Selection making it one of the most competitive film festivals in the world (according to a Google search).

The Venice International Film Festival selection rate is also highly competitive generally hovering around 10–15% for submitted films.

That’s why there is Venice CineFest and Cannes CineFest, founded by Mark Mos, who founded Los Angeles CineFest 12 years ago.

Cannes CineFest is an online festival (2027 will be in-person) so expensive theater rental is not necessary. That's why the submission fee is much lower.

Venice CineFest is a screenplay competition, and it’s in person in beautiful Venice, Italy. Instead of cinema, we have a beautiful cozy theater, so again we cut expenses, and we can select more work from submitters.

If your family or producer wants to hear that your work was selected in Cannes or Venice, then there you go. For a fraction of the price, you have a better chance to be selected and enjoy the result.

You’re welcome.

Helpful links
https://filmfreeway.com/CannesCineFest
https://filmfreeway.com/LosAngelesCineFest
https://filmfreeway.com/VeniceCineFest

Awards & Prizes

1st Place WINNER will receive a GOLDEN TROPHY.

Other Winners get Beautiful Diplomas with a Golden Seal.

All Officially Selected and Finalist Participants get a double VIP ALL FILMS PASS + Awards Ceremony + Red Carpet good for Networking, all Screenings, all Q&As with directors, producers and other Filmmakers.

Rules & Terms

1. Only work created after 2016 is acceptable.
2. Our judges have an access to all submitted work and they vote without sharing your work publicly (online).
3. No porn films.
4. All entries should be sent via FilmFreeway. Please don't send any downloadable files to us directly, such as high-resolution posters or other digital media.
5. By submitting to the festival you confirm that you own the rights to the work
submitted.
6. If you submit SONG, it should be a song separated from the movie,. The song only. If it's a foreign language, attach a translation
7. No Premiere status is required.
8. If you are selected we'll ask you for a copy of the film and permission to use 30-60 seconds of it for the festival trailer.
9. We DO NOT offer semi-finalists options.
577 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Nathan Spinney

    It was amazing and I enjoyed the experience.

    March 2026
    Helpful
  • Sergio Pazos Conde

    Great feedback and a great festival!

    March 2026
    Helpful
  • Buna Productions

    LA Cinefest is a modest, intimate festival, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in heart and quality. Mark was a pleasure to work with.

    Turnout was small, but the programming was strong and the people who showed up were truly engaged. Sometimes a room of attentive, passionate viewers beats a packed house of distracted ones, and that was very much the case here.
    It's not the splashiest festival on the circuit, but if you're looking for an intimate Los Angeles screening alongside a carefully curated lineup of quality work, LA Cinefest is a solid choice. I'd recommend it to any filmmaker who values thoughtful programming and a personal touch over scale and spectacle.

    March 2026
    Helpful
  • J.A. DellaRipa

    Mark Mos and his team were wonderful! Great communication, networking opportunities, professional MC, and ample time for the Q & A after each Block. I was so thrilled that my short narrative film "Another Saturday" won for Best of the Festival. I also felt that the variety of the selected films to be screened were incredible and would appeal to all different interests. All filmmakers were presented with a thank you gift whether or not a film secured an award. I think that is wonderful ! :) Thank you so much.

    February 2026
    Helpful
  • Matthew Rafferty

    Loved the personal contact before the festival even started.

    February 2026
    Helpful