Founded by longtime residents and movie veterans alike, Film Invasion Los Angeles looks to showcase the best undiscovered movies in the heart of Los Angeles.

As an indie festival in Los Angeles, FILA emphasizes the work of filmmakers from diverse backgrounds and communities. It is our philosophy to honor their work as filmmakers and not place these filmmakers in separate categories based on race, sexual orientation, or gender identification. We have been proud to honor films from every community as Official Selections and Prize Winners, honoring their work as filmmakers and not "Black filmmakers" or "LGBTQ filmmakers" or "Women filmmakers." At FILA, all of our filmmakers are filmmakers and we honor them equally.

REGARDING COVID-19
We expect to hold an in-person theatrical festival for FILA 2022. We were able to hold our sister festival (Sherman Oaks Film Festival) at the theater in November 2021 following standard Los Angeles Covid protocols and it was a great success.

TV Series + Podcast Interviews
Filmmakers who receive Grand Jury Prizes, as well as several Official Selections, receive interviews on the "Discover Indie Film" podcast with head programmer Jeff Howard. This allows filmmakers to talk about their work and their history more extensively than a festival Q&A allows. In 2019 the TV series "Discover Indie Film" premiered on Amazon Prime Video. This series is an anthology of short films selected from the filmmakers he has interviewed on the podcast.

FILA is proud to announce the Hollywood professionals who comprise our Board:

Mike Flanagan: Director (Oculus, Hush, Before I Wake, Ouija 2)
Jonathan Stern: Producer (Children's Hospital, Wet Hot American Summer: 10 Years Later)
Michael Lynn : Television Producer (True Hollywood Stories)
Jamie Ball : Television Executive (Disney Channel)
Zac Reeder : Entertainment Executive (Head of Domestic Distribution at Electric Entertainment)
Shannon Makhanian: Casting Director (The Brothers Bloom, Unknown, Mysterious Skin)
Glen Reynolds: Producer/Manager (Conversations with Other Women, Night Train)

Awards & Prizes

SPONSOR PRiZES
Best Visual Effects - sponsored by aescripts + aeplugins (aescripts.com)
Best Science Fiction Film - sponsored by EntertainmentEarth (entertainmenteart.com)
Best Horror Film - sponsored by EntertainmentEarth (entertainmenteart.com)
Best Art Direction - sponsored by Art Dimensions (artdimensionsonline.com)

GRAND JURY AWARDS (chosen by selection jury)
Best Feature Film - Animation
Best Feature Film - Comedy
Best Feature Film - Documentary
Best Feature Film - Drama
Best Feature Film - Experimental/Arthouse
Best Feature Film - Horror
Best Feature Film - Sci-Fi
Best Short Film – Animation
Best Short Film – Comedy
Best Short Film – Documentary
Best Short Film – Experimental/Arthouse
Best Short Film – Drama
Best Short Film – Horror
Best Short Film – SciFi
Best Featurette – Animation
Best Featurette – Comedy
Best Featurette – Documentary
Best Featurette – Experimental/Arthouse
Best Featurette – Drama
Best Featurette – Horror
Best Featurette – SciFi
Best Music Video

Best Director, Feature Film
Best Director, Short Film
Best Actress in a Lead Role
Best Actor in a Lead Role
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Best Performance by a Full Cast
Best Screenplay
Best Cinematography
Best Screenplay (Produced)
Best Screenplay (Unproduced)

AUDIENCE AWARDS (audience selections)
Audience Award, Feature Film
Audience Award, Short Film
Audience Award, Documentary Film

FILMMAKERS AWARDS (Jury of filmmakers from past festivals)
Outstanding Short Films
Outstanding Directors
Outstanding Screenplay
Outstanding Acting, Cast
Outstanding Acting, Individual
Outstanding Cinematography

PROGRAMMER'S PRIZE
(festival programmer's discretion)

Rules & Terms

Categories:

Feature Length films: run time over 60 minutes
Featurette films: run time between 30 and 60 minutes
Short film: run time under 30 minutes

Screenplay (Movie and/or TV): no page minimum or maximum, standard format and standard title page recommended.

Rules:

Film entries must be sent on DVD or via online digital submission of DVD quality or better.

Script entries must be uploaded as PDF or Final Draft files.

The director and/or producer of each project are welcome to be part of a Q&A session immediately following their screening. Cast are also welcome to participate.

Participants agree that their project and material related to their project may be used and/or published in the Film Invasion L.A. program, website and for promotional purposes related to Film Invasion L.A.

Copies of movies, scripts and promotional materials submitted to Film Invasion L.A. are not required to be returned to their owner.

If selected, all commercial/private property including all trademark/copyrighted materials shown or recorded on the project is the responsibility of the filmmaker. Film Invasion L.A. does not take responsibility for any infringement of copywritten materials.

The cost of delivery and pick-up of all materials is the responsibility of the filmmakers.

Rules are subject to change at any time without prior notice.
73 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Phil Cheney

    Great selection of films and Jeff is an awesome guy to talk to about cinema.

    December 2021
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  • Alan Fischer

    It is with great pleasure that I give Film Invasion Los Angeles a five-star review in every aspect. It is one of the best festival experiences we have had so far. Not only for its flawless organization and communication, but also for the high standards its team and board members have in regards to the amazing curation of undiscovered indie films they showcase every year. We are honored that our film The Imaginary State received the Grand Jury Prizes in 2021 for Best Feature Film, Best Cast and Best Cinematography, especially because of the quality and content of the other films that were part of the selection. A big thank you to Jeff Howard and everyone involved. ¡Larga vida a FILA!

    December 2021
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  • Otis Birdy

    I greatly appreciated the investment that the team puts into promoting the films and creators participating in the festival. Interesting Q&A and good email communication. I wish I could have been physically there. But I was able to follow the adventures from Switzerland.

    Congratulations to you all!

    December 2021
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  • Jon Lullo

    Fantastic festival, and Jeff is nothing but helpful and encouraging!

    December 2021
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  • Emilio J. López

    "Film Invasion Los Angeles" is one of the most interesting and professional festivals I know. The programming of films is carefully selected and the staff treats the authors and the works with great respect, is very friendly and they know their job. The parallel activities such as interviews and panels are also a pleasure. I am also very grateful for the "Exceptional Filmaking Programmer's Award" for my film "In A Strange Room". Highly recommended.

    December 2021
    Helpful