The Los Angeles International Film Festival is a film festival for truly independent shorts and features, and is fast to becoming a headline event for micro-budget and no-budget films in North America. LAIFF offers a fantastic opportunity for undiscovered filmmakers to showcase their achievements in the center of the movie making industry.

We’ll screen over 60 features and shorts over 5 days at the Million Dollar Theater in downtown LA.

LAIFF leverages the strength of LA’s independent filmmaking community to put on a fantastic festival complete with networking events and educational sessions. It’s an indie film festival by and for indie filmmakers.

Awards & Prizes

Film Awards:
Feature Film (budget under $1m USD)
Micro-budget Feature (budget under $250k USD)
No-Budget Feature (budget under $25k USD)
Documentary Feature
Short Film
Short Documentary
Animated Short
Experimental Short
Horror / Sci-Fi Short
Short Short (under 5 minutes)
Music Video

Screenplay Award categories:
Feature Screenplay
Comedy Screenplay
Sci-Fi / Horror Screenplay

Rules & Terms

All USA or international features and short from any genres, made with independent spirit and low budgets
32 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Patrick Pizzolorusso

    If you're going to see your project on the big screen, THIS is the screen to see it on. The venue is amazing and the staff behind LAIFF was so kind and welcoming, making all us filmmakers feel valued. The quality of films chosen was really top notch. This was a fantastic festival to be a part of.

    November 2025
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  • Regan Patterson

    The Babe team had a great experience with LAIFF! Great communication, and beautiful venue for the screenings.

    November 2025
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  • Jordan Rockwell

    What a wonderful experience it was seeing our film on the big screen at the Million Dollar Theater in DTLA! Everyone involved was super cool, encouraging and kind, highly recommended! And check out the Secret Movie Club!

    November 2025
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  • Rachel Imbriglio

    What an honor to screen (Nothing) Left Unsaid at the Los Angeles International Film Festival. The festival staff was kind and communicative throughout the entire process. Seeing my film on the big screen at the historic Million Dollar Theater was a real treat. The rain made networking a bit difficult this year, but I'm looking forward to attending (and hopefully screening other projects) in the future!

    November 2025
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  • Alan Giles

    LAIFF is an incredible festival! I was honored to have my film, "The Tallest Man in Los Angeles", screened in the incredible Million Dollar Theater in DTLA with Secret Movie Club. The staff was very friendly, professional, and communicative throughout the process. I highly recommend this festival for filmmakers and film enthusiasts alike!

    November 2025
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