Presented by the esteemed Parajanov-Vartanov Institute, DOC LA - Los Angeles Documentary Film Festival - will screen and award outstanding films by students, emerging auteurs, and established masters to give Angelenos an opportunity to see great examples of World and American cinema. DOC LA furthers the mission of the annual Parajanov-Vartanov Institute Awards established in 2010.

While the festival’s focus is documentary cinema, we will program films of any genre (including animation, experimental, and music videos) whenever we discover unique or charming work. We are also enthusiastic about unusual, strange and unclassifiable films since the institute that presents the festival is named after the renowned nonconformists Sergei Parajanov (1924-1990) and Mikhail Vartanov (1937-2009), who overcame censorship, persecution and low budgets, and earned praise for their daring point of view from many of cinema’s greatest luminaries.

The festival’s programmer is their disciple and UCLA alum Martiros Vartanov, who has served as a curator and juror at festivals in Busan and Beverly Hills and worked on the restoration of the The Color of Pomegranates selected for Festival de Cannes. He also presents the institute's and the festival's annual awards whose recipients include Academy Award ® winning director Martin Scorsese, Pulitzer Prize-winning author William Saroyan, French cinema icon Jean Vigo, Oscar ® winning actresses Emma Thompson, Marion Cotillard, Susan Sarandon and Cate Blanchett, as well as Usher, Emilio Rivera, Ice-T, Billy Baldwin, Alfred Molina, Angela Bassett, Mark Ruffalo, and the Grammy-winning rock band System Of A Down.

Awards & Prizes

Best Documentary Award
Best Short Documentary Award
Best Student Documentary Award

DOC LA, at its discretion, may award cash prizes and special awards:

Directing Award
Cinematography Award
Screenwriting Award
Editing Award
Composer Award
Producer Award
Animation Award
Audience Award
Experimental Award

Rules & Terms

NOTIFICATION:

On rolling basis, and appx by 30 September 2021.

SELECTED FILMS:

DOC LA must receive the screening copy of your film within 7 days from notification of acceptance.

GUIDELINES:

Short films: 1-15 min.
Mid length films: 16-39 min.
Features: 40-180 min.
LA area film/makers: any length.

DOC LA accepts online screeners only (Vimeo, FilmFreeway player, etc)..

By submitting to Los Angeles Documentary Film Festival (DOC LA) you understand and agree that:

a). if your film is selected, it cannot be withdrawn for any reason.

b). that you will provide DOC LA with the screening copy of your film (MOV/Quicktime file, or DCP) within 7 days from notification of acceptance. The festival reserves the right to change any dates, deadlines, terms, format, and venues at its sole discretion.

c). that the festival will not be held liable in case your exhibition materials are lost, stolen or damaged, or for any claims arising from improperly secured rights/permissions for your film.

d). that you have all the necessary rights/permissions for your film.
38 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • corrado caretto

    Doc LA is one of the classiest run festivals out there. They're fair and courteous to their film makers and go out of their way to personalize the experience. From proactive outreach to assistance in filling seats and pairing films by theme, they go out of their way to roll out the red carpet and create an unforgettable event for all those involved. It was a night my team and I will never forget!

    December 2020
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  • Anna Prokou

    I was honored to be selected for DOC LA and to receive an award at the festival. Max is a wonderful who believes passionately in all the films they select.

    November 2020
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  • Robert Rippberger

    This is a festival that really cares about its filmmakers. Highly recommend. Max is beyond gracious and it's a vibrant group of talented artists. Thanks for welcoming us into the DOC LA community!

    November 2020
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  • John Caldwell

    DOC LA Los Angeles provides an essential venue in Los Angeles for the full range of documentary forms that artists and activists now make. As a participant, I loved the diversity of perspectives, genres, identities, aesthetics and topics that the programmers carefully selected and featured. In an age of high-concept docs and giant platform producers, DOC LA is the rare exhibition showcase that wears curatorial innovation and risk-taking as its well-earned badge of honor. I attend yearly, and especially love the Q&As, which give indie filmmakers the benefits and insights of LA's critically astute cinema audiences.

    November 2020
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  • James Hergott

    One of the best festivals out there.. Max was great at communicating. Everything he said, he followed through with. A true lover of film and various POV's and respectful of the film maker. We were really happy to have our film "From Fat Lolli to 6 Pack Lolli" as part of the 2020 festival! I would definitely submit to them again..

    November 2020
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