The Los Angeles Film Review Independent Film Awards were conceived in response to the growing field of independently produced films that continue to impress with their creativity and ingenuity. LAFR wants to recognize that emerging talent.
There are 12 “best of” awards that are eligible for a full review, plus individual honors for best director, best writing and best cinematography. LAFR further recognizes excellence in filmmaking with gold, silver and bronze awards.
The “best of” categories eligible for review are:
Best Animation
Best Comedy
Best Dance Film
Best Documentary
Best Drama
Best Experimental / New Media
Best Feature Film (any category)
Best Foreign Film
Best Horror
Best Science Fiction
Best Short Film (any category)
Best Suspense
There are no screenings, so your premiere status is preserved. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to view your work and we applaud your effort! It's no small thing to finish a film.
Please note, the Los Angeles Film Review reserves the right to limit the awards granted at its sole discretion.
The LAFR goal is simple: To honor the spirit, creativity, ingenuity and drive that true independent film producers are showing the world over.
Making a film with a multi-million dollar budget is incredibly difficult to do well. But, nowadays some very unique and talented filmmakers are making amazing films with less money than most people spend on a used car.
Festival programmers say all the time that they “don’t have enough slots for all the great films they receive.” Well, LAFR is trying to change that!
- LAFR honors 12 filmmaking categories with a “Best Of” Award.
- All “Best Of” category films receive a dedicated page on the site, with links to the production website.
- All “Best Of” category films also receive a full review.*
- Plus, there are individual achievement awards for best directing, best writing and best cinematography.
- LAFR further recognizes excellence in filmmaking with gold, silver and bronze awards.
- All winning films, including gold, silver and bronze award winners, receive a Los Angeles Film Review wreath and a mention on the site.
- Films are not screened publicly, preserving your film’s premiere status for inclusion in festivals that have a premiere requirement.
LAFR wants to honor truly independent filmmakers and the films they make. We also want to be the first to congratulate you if you’ve completed a film and to let you know that we would be honored to review it.
Not all films will qualify.
*Full editorial review does not include gold, silver, or bronze award winners, nor the winners of individual awards for best directing, writing, or cinematography.