Film Invasion Los Angeles

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 Award Winners, honoring their work as filmmakers and not as "Black filmmakers" or "LGBTQ filmmakers" or "Women filmmakers." At FILA, all of our filmmakers are filmmakers and we honor them equally.

TV Series + Podcast Interviews
Filmmakers who receive Grand Jury Awards, as well as several Official Selections, are invited for 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)
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)

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 Featurette - Animation
Best Featurette - Comedy
Best Featurette - Documentary
Best Featurette - Drama
Best Featurette - Experimental/Arthouse
Best Featurette - Horror
Best Featurette - 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 Web Series

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)

Categories:

Feature Length films: run time over 60 minutes
Featurette films: run time between 20 and 60 minutes
Short film: run time under 20 minutes

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

Rules:

Submissions only accepted online via filmFreeway digital submission.

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.

Overall Rating

Quality

Value

Communication

Hospitality

Networking

Magpie Factory

A festival for real indies that will restore your faith in the community. Jeff and the FILA team are delight to work with, full of humor and real passion for the independent spirit. Unlike a significant amount of LA 'festivals', FILA will not just take the money and run -- attending is worth it to get to know the programmers, because they're good people, and they genuinely care about the movies they select to screen.

June 2023

Helpful
Jameson DeSantis

Film Invasion LA is a terribly great festival! Jeff puts a lot of love into it and it shows, and he is a delight to work with. Absolutely wonderful screening venue, time for the filmmakers to speak, and excellent networking. Loved being part of it.

May 2023

Helpful
Nicholas Kundrat

This was an awesome festival to be a part of and have work showcased next to so many other phenomenal films. I was devastated to not be able to attend the festival in person, however the online viewing platform still allowed me to view all the selected works. I look forward to seeing what comes out of the festival year after year!

May 2023

Helpful
christoph green

I really love this festival. The organizers were really helpful and kind and seem to truly appreciate the films that they feature. Sadly, I tested positive for covid right before the festival but Jeff Howard and the other organizers were awesome about sending pictures and also making the subjects from my film who came to the screening feel very special. FILA is definitely at the top of my festival list.

May 2023

Helpful
Christopher Litten

We had a great time at FILA. Jeff was very involved and communicative, the staff was very courteous, we had a great turn out for the screening too. The theatre was nice and served beer and wine which is just what the doctor ordered.

May 2023

Helpful

Add to List

Dates & Deadlines

July 1, 2022
Opening Date
December 15, 2022
Early Deadline
January 15, 2023
Regular Deadline
February 15, 2023
Late Deadline
March 15, 2023
FilmFreeway Extended Deadline
May 8, 2023
Notification Date
June 21 – 25, 2023
Event Date

Categories & Fees

Feature Film - Animation
Films over 60 minutes are considered Features
- Early Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $28
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $32
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $36
- FilmFreeway Extended Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $40
Feature Film - Comedy
Films over 60 minutes are considered Features
- Early Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $28
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $32
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $36
- FilmFreeway Extended Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $40
Feature Film - Documentary
Films over 60 minutes are considered Features
- Early Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $28
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $32
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $36
- FilmFreeway Extended Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $40
Feature Film - Drama
Films over 60 minutes are considered Features
- Early Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $28
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $32
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $36
- FilmFreeway Extended Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $40
Feature FIlm - Experimental/Arthouse
Films over 60 minutes are considered Features
- Early Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $28
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $32
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $36
- FilmFreeway Extended Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $40
Feature Film - Horror - $500 Prize
Eligible for a $500 Prize. The winner of the Grand Jury Award for Best Horror film (feature, featurette or short) wins a $500 gift card from our sponsor EntertainmentEarth.com, redeemable at their online store. Films over 60 minutes are considered Features
- Early Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $28
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $32
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $36
- FilmFreeway Extended Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $40
Feature Film - SciFi - $500 Prize
Eligible for a $500 Prize. The winner of the Grand Jury Award for Best SciFi film (feature, featurette or short) wins a $500 gift card from our sponsor EntertainmentEarth.com, redeemable at their online store. Films over 60 minutes are considered Features
- Early Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $28
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $32
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $36
- FilmFreeway Extended Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $40
Short Film - Animation
Films under 20 minutes are considered Shorts.
- Early Deadline
- Standard: $25
- Student: $25
- Gold Members: $20
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $30
- Student: $25
- Gold Members: $24
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $28
- FilmFreeway Extended Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $32
Short Film - Comedy
Films under 20 minutes are considered Shorts.
- Early Deadline
- Standard: $25
- Student: $25
- Gold Members: $20
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $30
- Student: $25
- Gold Members: $24
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $28
- FilmFreeway Extended Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $32
Short Film - Documentary
Films under 20 minutes are considered Shorts.
- Early Deadline
- Standard: $25
- Student: $20
- Gold Members: $20
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $30
- Student: $25
- Gold Members: $24
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $28
- FilmFreeway Extended Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $36
Short Film - Drama
Films under 20 minutes are considered Shorts.
- Early Deadline
- Standard: $25
- Student: $25
- Gold Members: $20
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $30
- Student: $25
- Gold Members: $24
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $28
- FilmFreeway Extended Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $32
Short Film - Experimental/Arthouse
Films under 20 minutes are considered Shorts.
- Early Deadline
- Standard: $25
- Student: $25
- Gold Members: $20
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $30
- Student: $25
- Gold Members: $24
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $28
- FilmFreeway Extended Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $32
Short Film - Horror - $500 Prize
Eligible for a $500 Prize. The winner of the Grand Jury Award for Best Horror film (feature, featurette or short) wins a $500 gift card from our sponsor EntertainmentEarth.com, redeemable at their online store. Films under 20 minutes are considered Shorts.
- Early Deadline
- Standard: $25
- Student: $25
- Gold Members: $20
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $30
- Student: $25
- Gold Members: $24
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $28
- FilmFreeway Extended Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $32
Short Film - Sci-Fi - $500 Prize
Eligible for a $500 Prize. The winner of the Grand Jury Award for Best SciFi film (feature, featurette or short) wins a $500 gift card from our sponsor EntertainmentEarth.com, redeemable at their online store. Films under 20 minutes are considered Shorts.
- Early Deadline
- Standard: $25
- Student: $25
- Gold Members: $22
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $30
- Student: $25
- Gold Members: $24
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $28
- FilmFreeway Extended Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $32
Featurette - Animation
Films between 20 and 60 minutes are considered Featurettes.
- Early Deadline
- Standard: $30
- Student: $25
- Gold Members: $27
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $31.50
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $36
- FilmFreeway Extended Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $40.50
Featurette - Comedy
Films between 20 and 60 minutes are considered Featurettes.
- Early Deadline
- Standard: $30
- Student: $25
- Gold Members: $27
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $31.50
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $36
- FilmFreeway Extended Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $40.50
Featurette - Documentary
Films between 20 and 60 minutes are considered Featurettes.
- Early Deadline
- Standard: $30
- Student: $25
- Gold Members: $27
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $31.50
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $36
- FilmFreeway Extended Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $40.50
Featurette - Drama
Films between 20 and 60 minutes are considered Featurettes.
- Early Deadline
- Standard: $30
- Student: $25
- Gold Members: $27
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $31.50
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $36
- FilmFreeway Extended Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $40.50
Featurette - Experimental/Arthouse
Films between 20 and 60 minutes are considered Featurettes.
- Early Deadline
- Standard: $30
- Student: $25
- Gold Members: $27
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $31.50
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $36
- FilmFreeway Extended Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $40.50
Featurette - Horror - $500 prize
Eligible for a $500 Prize. The winner of the Grand Jury Award for Best Horror film (feature, featurette or short) wins a $500 gift card from our sponsor EntertainmentEarth.com, redeemable at their online store. Films between 20 and 60 minutes are considered Featurettes.
- Early Deadline
- Standard: $30
- Student: $25
- Gold Members: $27
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $31.50
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $36
- FilmFreeway Extended Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $40.50
Featurette - Sci-Fi - $500 Prize
Eligible for a $500 Prize. The winner of the Grand Jury Award for Best SciFi film (feature, featurette or short) wins a $500 gift card from our sponsor EntertainmentEarth.com, redeemable at their online store. Films between 20 and 60 minutes are considered Featurettes.
- Early Deadline
- Standard: $30
- Student: $25
- Gold Members: $27
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $31.50
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $36
- FilmFreeway Extended Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $40.50
Web Series
- Early Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $28
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $32
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $36
- FilmFreeway Extended Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $40
Music Video
- Early Deadline
- Standard: $25
- Student: $25
- Gold Members: $20
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $30
- Student: $25
- Gold Members: $24
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $28
- FilmFreeway Extended Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $32
Screenplay - Feature Film
- Early Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $28
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $32
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $36
- FilmFreeway Extended Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $40
Screenplay - Short Film
- Early Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $28
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $32
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $36
- FilmFreeway Extended Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $40
Screenplay - Pilot/Web Series
- Early Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $28
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $32
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $36
- FilmFreeway Extended Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $40

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