NewFilmmakers Los Angeles (NFMLA) presents the NFMLA Monthly Film Festival, a uniquely intimate opportunity that provides a filmmaker focused festival approach by an intently devoted team. The model, a monthly festival with a very small number of official selections per month, generally fewer than 20, provides filmmakers with maximum attention and commitment from the Festival audience, participants and staff. This format allows NFMLA to serve a similar number of filmmakers as most annual Festivals (average of 220 per year), while being able to dedicate its efforts to a core group every month throughout the year.

Each NFMLA Monthly Film Festival provides its official selection of filmmakers meetings with professionals, press interviews with publications such as MovieMaker Magazine, industry panels, screenings, audience Q&A sessions, networking receptions and qualification for the Best of NFMLA Awards.

The Festival boasts over 120,000 indie film supporters in the LA area and regularly has executives and creatives participate from Sony Pictures Entertainment, Amazon Studios, Netflix, Warner Bros., United Talent Agency, NBCUniversal, HBO, NEON, Endeavor, STARZ, Bad Robot, Creative Artists Agency, Management 360, AMC Studios, MGM, FilmNation, Lionsgate, Magnolia Pictures, Paramount, Circle of Confusion, MACRO, Skydance and Blumhouse among an abundance of other agencies, management companies, production houses, distributors, studios, streamers and more.

Submissions are open year-round and NFMLA highly encourages filmmakers to submit their newest work as early as possible to maximize their project’s consideration window. NFMLA screens short and feature films (narrative, documentary, experimental and animation), as well as music videos and new media projects by content creators of all backgrounds throughout the year as part of our eclectic ongoing selection, in addition to our InFocus programming, which places a special emphasis on diversity, inclusion and regional representation with its spotlighted group of filmmakers each month.

Diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility and belonging within NFMLA’s programming is incredibly important, and all filmmakers are welcome and encouraged to submit their work for consideration in all upcoming NFMLA Festivals, regardless of the InFocus programming calendar. By submitting to NFMLA, you are entering consideration for all future months. However, if you are aiming to be considered for a specific InFocus Festival program, we do suggest submitting at least 4 months in advance of the program.

NFMLA is seeking submissions from filmmakers who are eager to gain access to industry professionals, audiences and resources. Our programming includes Festivals at the South Park Center in Downtown Los Angeles and select Festivals presented in partnership with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

NFMLA is a not-for-profit organization that champions emerging filmmakers from around the world and has screened over 4,500 films from 92+ countries. In an effort to showcase, support, educate and build relationships for next-gen filmmakers, NFMLA has rapidly expanded beyond the NFMLA Monthly Film Festival to host an array of workshops, panels, competitions and networking programs. NFMLA offers an unforgettable festival experience that helps kick start the careers of new storytellers.

NewFilmmakers Los Angeles selections are in competition for NewFilmmakers Los Angeles’ annual Best of NFMLA Awards, which take place each spring and award films played the preceding calendar year across multiple categories. All projects selected as part of the festival are in consideration for the Best of NFMLA Awards.

In addition, NFMLA awards cash grants through various NFMLA programs and initiatives such as NewNarratives, the Anthony Rhulen Film Fund and more. In 2023 NFMLA awarded over $115,000 in cash grants and prizes.

*****IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT SELECTION AND NOTIFICATION:
NewFilmmakers Los Angeles screens monthly year round. FESTIVAL DATES, NOTIFICATION DATES and DEADLINES displayed on this FilmFreeway listing are for expiration of this listing and ARE NOT our screening dates.

Runtime Policy:
Shorts must be under 40 minutes total runtime. Features must be 41 minutes minimum with a 180 minute maximum total runtime.

Completion Date Requirement:
We can only accept films that have completed post production within a maximum of 12 months from the date of their submission to the festival.
NewFilmmakers Los Angeles selects and screens completed work only - we do not consider scripts or works in progress.

Premiere Status Policy:
Premiere status is NOT required, however, films with an LA premiere status are preferred.

Distribution Policy:
As is the industry standard among many festivals, in all instances except Music Videos and ‘New Media’ programs, we generally do not screen films that have theatrical distribution nor films that have been posted online without password protection, or are available for streaming on a VOD platform (with the exception of SVOD for short films). However, we reserve the right to make exceptions to this rule on a case by case basis.

Notification Policy:
NFMLA sends decline notifications on a rolling basis, and will contact you directly by phone if your film is shortlisted to go into the next round of consideration. A phone call is just a next step in the shortlisting process and does not mean your film has been accepted. Films have only been accepted once they have been sent an Official Acceptance Notice.

Review times will vary, but please feel free to check in with us six months after your film has been submitted for an update on the status. In order to receive a reply, please submit all Submission Status Requests through the Submission Status Request Form here to receive an update within 10 business days: https://forms.gle/wetKV6DAivTi6EzW7

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Sope Aluko

    If you’re looking for a film festival that not only highlights your efforts as an emerging Filmmaker, but also supports your filmmaking career by providing you access to key industry execs who are all vested in educating, inspiring and rooting for your success, then NFMLA is for you! I can’t say enough about how professional, compassionate and enthusiastic the entire team at NFMLA are. They truly care both individually and collectively. What a fulfilling experience! I’m so glad to be a part of the “NFMLA family” and look forward to submitting my next project to this illustrious film festival! I’m also grateful for all the lovely connections I made with my fellow filmmakers! Major thumbs up from me!

    February 2024
  • Kameishia Wooten

    New Filmmakers Los Angeles stands out as one of the best festivals I've had the privilege of participating in. It's incredibly filmmaker-friendly. The industry meetings are an absolute gem, offering invaluable opportunities for networking and learning. The caliber of filmmakers in attendance is consistently top-notch. I highly recommend it to all filmmakers who are seeking more industry exposure and access to entertainment industry professionals.

    February 2024
  • Gurjeet Bassi

    NFMLA was one of the best experiences I had with my last short film. The team was very communicative and helpful right from the beginning. Leading up to the festival they offered several incredible workshops with leading industry professionals (people who actually work in really reputable positions in the industry, other festivals claim this and it usually isn't the case.) The workshops were really insightful and the professionals were very forthright with information to help us with our future projects. The festival itself was really fun and offered some good opportunities to network with other filmmakers and others working in the industry. I would highly recommend this festival!!

    February 2024
  • No Vows No Cows

    NewFilmmakers LA has been by far one of the best experiences that I've had as an emerging filmmaker. Their level of true support for filmmakers through networking, press exposure, etc. really shows how they walk the walk. I feel incredibly lucky to have premiered our narrative short with NFLA and especially to have meet the incredibly kind and generous team there.

    March 2024
  • Nicolas Polixene

    NFMLA was just as good a festival this time as the first time around, they are so professional and thorough! They organize the MovieMaker Stage 5 interview, which is such a treat and made us filmmakers, feel so good about our work! They provide discounts for hotels around Hollywood, and the industry sessions they have all week long preceding the screenings are awesome. A full festival providing so much, we recommend it a hundred times!

    March 2024