We are the West Coast’s premier festival dedicated to showcasing fresh and innovative filmmaking, screening everything from festival favorites like Damsel (starring Robert Pattinson and Mia Wasikowska), to world premieres like Netflix favorite Abducted in Plain Sight.
We are committed to discovering and supporting emerging filmmakers. There’s a reason MovieMaker magazine has named Mammoth Lakes Film Festival as one of the “Top 50 Film Festival’s Worth Your Entry Fee” for the last five years in a row: We put our filmmakers first!
In 2020, during the pandemic, we held our festival virtually but were still able to draw top-level press to the festival in order to get exposure for our filmmakers. Attending press and industry professionals included Variety, The Wrap, Indiewire, MovieMaker Magazine and more.
Due to the pandemic, our 7th annual Mammoth Lakes Film Festival, which usually takes place over the five days leading up to Memorial Day weekend, will be moved to September 22-26. We will do our best to hold it as a live, in-person event.
MLFF captures the imagination of audiences and contributes to the vitality of film culture by providing emerging filmmakers with an opportunity to show their latest work in a vibrant and nurturing atmosphere. Visitors are drawn to the area to experience exciting new films by both new and established independent artists, and for the opportunity to mingle with them at fun and friendly daily events. The festival is also a forum for filmmakers to have their work seen by industry professionals who have the potential to provide mentorship and propel their careers.
We are committed to promoting film as an art form by focusing on personal, innovative, imaginative films by writers and directors with a unique style and point of view. We present these films in the beautiful natural setting of Mammoth Lakes—a perfect backdrop for an independent film festival and a premier tourist destination in its own right. Because we are a destination resort, just a 4 to 5-hour drive or a quick flight from Los Angeles, we have strong allies within the entertainment industry. Our jury members are acclaimed artists and professionals from the world of independent film. We give out multiple awards in the categories of Narrative Features, Documentary Features, and Short Films. In 2020, during the pandemic, we held our festival virtually and still awarded cash and prizes valued at more than $40,000.00. We provide travel stipends, housing, and festival passes for our filmmakers. Our juries have included Andrew Lazar (Producer of AMERICAN SNIPER), Allison Amon (Producer of THE QUEEN OF VERSAILLES), Rachel Winter (Academy Award winning producer of DALLAS BUYERS CLUB), and John Fiedler (Producer of SERIAL MOM and PECKER). 2019 sponsors included Panavision, Light Iron, VER, Blue Moon, among many others.
The Mammoth Lakes Film Festival is a DBA and a 501(c)3.
MAMMOTH LAKES FILM FESTIVAL SCREENPLAY COMPETITION
The Mammoth Lakes Film Festival Screenplay Competition is dedicated to discovering and supporting emerging, innovative screenwriters. We welcome screenplays in every genre, on any topic, from anywhere in the world. We are looking for stories from writers that have a unique voice and a specific point of view. Every submission will receive 3-5 lines of feedback. You can request detailed feedback of 4-5 pages of feedback for an additional fee. MLFF will present the Grand Prize for the best screenplay at the 2021 Mammoth Lakes Film Festival, Sept 26th, 2021.
We look forward to reading your work!
The top 10 screenplays will be offered passes, housing and travel stipends to attend the festival and network with attending press, industry, distributors and filmmakers.
Cash prizes from $500.00 to $1,000.00 will be awarded. We will also provide travel stipends, housing, and festival passes for our filmmakers and the top 10 screenplays. We award camera packages and more to our winners. Over $40,000.00 in cash and prizes were awarded in 2020.
Awards & Prizes for the Screenplay Competition
The Grand Prize winner will receive $1,000 in cash and an opportunity to pitch their screenplay to Ari Costa SVP of Production at AGBO Films.