Film Invasion Los Angeles

Film Invasion Los Angeles is celebrating its TENTH YEAR! Our festival showcases the best undiscovered films possible in a beautiful, state-of-the-art theater with amazing projection and luxurious leather recliners!

FILA embraces the work of filmmakers from diverse backgrounds and communities. It is our philosophy to honor their work as filmmakers and not place their work 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 without being balkanized as "Black filmmakers" or "LGBTQ filmmakers" or "Women filmmakers." At FILA, all of our filmmakers are filmmakers and we honor them equally.

Podcast + TV Series + Streaming Service
FILA head programmer Jeff Howard established the "Discover Indie Film" podcast in 2017 and has had over 200 filmmakers sit for an in depth interview. In 2019 the TV series "Discover Indie Film" premiered on Amazon Prime Video; DIF TV is an anthology of shorts handpicked from the festival circuit. In 2023, Jeff launched TVHi, a streaming app available on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, iPhone and Android Mobile. Becoming a FILA Official Selection affords you the opportunity to take part in any of these things, but participation is never required.

Our team is passionate about forming a community around the wonderful films and scripts we discover on the festival circuit. We invite our alumni to return as jury members and we hold Monthly Mixers at our festival venue to foster the creative community. In fact we know of several collaborations that began with an introduction at our festivals and mixers!

BEST IN FEST
Best Feature Film (over 60 mins) - $1,000 Prize
Best Featurette (20-60 mins) - $750 Prize
Best Short Film (under 20 mins) - $500 Prize

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 – Dance
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)

Rules:

Technical Requirements:
Video - DCPs are required for all theatrical screenings. FILA has a technical sponsor who assists in this process.
Audio - A volume level of -20 LUFS to -18 LUFS during dialog scenes is highly recommended. Your editor should be able to give you an output in this range before you create your DCP.

Q&A's:
The makers of each project are welcome to be part of a Q&A session immediately following their screening. Key cast and crew are also welcome to participate.

Promotions:
Participants agree that their project and material related to their project may be used and/or published in the program program, website and for promotional purposes related to the festival.

Submission materials:
Film, video and script submissions are only accepted digitally through FilmFreeway. No physical media or scripts will be accepted at the festival's office address.

Trademark:
If selected, all commercial/private property including all trademark/copyrighted materials shown or recorded on the project is the responsibility of the filmmaker. The festival does not take responsibility for any infringement of copywritten materials.

Rules are subject to change at any time without prior notice.

Run Times & Page Limits:

Feature Films: over 60 minutes
Featurettes: between 60 and 20 minutes
Short Films: under 20 minutes
Music Videos: any length
Screenplays: no page minimum or maximum, standard format and standard title page recommended. Movie and Television screenplays are both accepted.

Overall Rating

Quality

Value

Communication

Hospitality

Networking

Leila Garrison

Wonderful festival and great venue. Jeff and the other festival staff really care about independent film, and work hard to make the festival a positive and rewarding experience for the attendees. Easy to network at the networking parties, and between screenings at the cinema's attached bar. Jeff was also a great Q&A moderator, and made sure every filmmaker had enough time to talk about their work.

October 2024

Helpful
Jake Macpherson

This festival cares! Jeff goes out of his way to take care of all the filmmakers he invites. He truly wants to champion independent film and it shows in his honest enthusiasm in everything he does. Him and his team are very involved and communicative with the filmmakers. They throw great parties year round and more than any other festival they put in a lot of effort to keep you feeling like part of their family; which is so important in today's ever-teetering industry. Great screening venues as well! I highly recommend this festival!

October 2024

Helpful
Brennan McGee

Like the other reviews paint, the people behind this festival LOVE film and filmmakers and it shows. Our block was at an unpopular time, so unfortunately attendance was low, but it was made up for by Jeff's genuine interest during the Q&A--I haven't been able to get that deep at any other festival. In short, they care, and it shows.

October 2024

Helpful
Kevin Stevenson

Such a great time, I just wish it was longer. Loved the venue and the networking parties.

September 2024

Helpful
Jerry Brown Jr

I have to say that Jeff and the rest of his team at this festival really love filmmakers and it showed. It was such a joy to talk with people genuinely interested in hearing about my film. Excellent communication and a very kind team. I wish I was able to see multiple days of films but I was already hard at work on my next project! Thank you Film Invasion LA! I'll be back!

August 2024

Helpful

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Dates & Deadlines

July 15, 2024
Opening Date
December 15, 2024
First Deadline
January 15, 2025
Second Deadline
February 15, 2025
Third Deadline
March 15, 2025
Final Deadline
May 1, 2025
Notification Date
June 12 – 15, 2025
Event Date

Categories & Fees

Feature Film - Animation
Films over 60 minutes are considered Features
- First Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $36
- Second Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $40
- Third Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $45
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $55
- Student: $50
- Gold Members: $49.50
Submit Now
Featurette - Animation
Films between 20 and 60 minutes are considered Featurettes.
- First Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $30
- Second Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $35
- Third Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $40
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $45
Submit Now
Short Film - Animation
Films under 20 minutes are considered Shorts.
- First Deadline
- Standard: $30
- Student: $25
- Gold Members: $25
- Second Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $30
- Third Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $35
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $40
Submit Now
Feature Film - Comedy
Films over 60 minutes are considered Features
- First Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $35
- Second Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $40
- Third Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $45
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $55
- Student: $50
- Gold Members: $49.50
Submit Now
Featurette - Comedy
Films between 20 and 60 minutes are considered Featurettes.
- First Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $30
- Second Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $35
- Third Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $40
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $45
Submit Now
Short Film - Comedy
Films under 20 minutes are considered Shorts.
- First Deadline
- Standard: $30
- Student: $25
- Gold Members: $25
- Second Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $30
- Third Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $35
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $40
Submit Now
Feature Film - Drama
Films over 60 minutes are considered Features
- First Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $35
- Second Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $40
- Third Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $45
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $55
- Student: $50
- Gold Members: $49.50
Submit Now
Featurette - Drama
Films between 20 and 60 minutes are considered Featurettes.
- First Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $30
- Second Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $35
- Third Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $40
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $45
Submit Now
Short Film - Drama
Films under 20 minutes are considered Shorts.
- First Deadline
- Standard: $30
- Student: $25
- Gold Members: $25
- Second Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $30
- Third Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $35
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $40
Submit Now
Feature Film - Documentary
Films over 60 minutes are considered Features
- First Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $35
- Second Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $40
- Third Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $45
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $55
- Student: $50
- Gold Members: $49.50
Submit Now
Featurette - Documentary
Films between 20 and 60 minutes are considered Featurettes.
- First Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $30
- Second Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $35
- Third Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $40
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $45
Submit Now
Short Film - Documentary
Films under 20 minutes are considered Shorts.
- First Deadline
- Standard: $30
- Student: $25
- Gold Members: $25
- Second Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $30
- Third Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $35
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $40
Submit Now
Feature FIlm - Experimental/Arthouse
Films over 60 minutes are considered Features
- First Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $35
- Second Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $40
- Third Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $45
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $55
- Student: $50
- Gold Members: $49.50
Submit Now
Featurette - Experimental/Arthouse
Films between 20 and 60 minutes are considered Featurettes.
- First Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $30
- Second Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $35
- Third Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $40
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $45
Submit Now
Short Film - Experimental/Arthouse
Films under 20 minutes are considered Shorts.
- First Deadline
- Standard: $30
- Student: $25
- Gold Members: $25
- Second Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $30
- Third Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $35
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $40
Submit Now
Feature Film - Horror
Films over 60 minutes are considered Features
- First Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $35
- Second Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $40
- Third Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $45
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $55
- Student: $50
- Gold Members: $49.50
Submit Now
Featurette - Horror
Films between 20 and 60 minutes are considered Featurettes.
- First Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $30
- Second Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $35
- Third Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $40
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $45
Submit Now
Short Film - Horror
Films under 20 minutes are considered Shorts.
- First Deadline
- Standard: $30
- Student: $25
- Gold Members: $25
- Second Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $30
- Third Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $35
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $40
Submit Now
Feature Film - SciFi
Films over 60 minutes are considered Features
- First Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $35
- Second Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $40
- Third Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $45
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $55
- Student: $50
- Gold Members: $49.50
Submit Now
Featurette - Sci-Fi
Films between 20 and 60 minutes are considered Featurettes.
- First Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $30
- Second Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $35
- Third Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $40
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $45
Submit Now
Short Film - Sci-Fi
Films under 20 minutes are considered Shorts.
- First Deadline
- Standard: $30
- Student: $25
- Gold Members: $25
- Second Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $30
- Third Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $35
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $40
Submit Now
Dance Film
For Dance we accept any length!
- First Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $30
- Second Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $35
- Third Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $40
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $45
Submit Now
Music Video
- First Deadline
- Standard: $30
- Student: $25
- Gold Members: $25
- Second Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $30
- Third Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $35
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $40
Submit Now
TV/Web/Streaming Series
TV Series, Web Series, Streaming Series... call it what you like. We recommend submitting the pilot episode only.
- First Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $30
- Second Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $35
- Third Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $40
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $45
Submit Now
Immersive Short - AR/VR/MR/360
Cutting edge filmmakers are making cinematic immersive experiences – whether it is 360º/180º video, realtime VR, MR, or AR – FILA is going to have the hardware and space required for these medium-defining narrative experiences to be presented at this year’s festival! We will be turning our theater’s lobby into a full-blown immersive and interactive gallery, with experiences open to all festival attendees.
- First Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $30
- Second Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $35
- Third Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $40
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $45
Submit Now
Screenplay - Feature Film
- First Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $28
- Second Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $32
- Third Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $36
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $40
Submit Now
Screenplay - Short Film
- First Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $28
- Second Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $32
- Third Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $36
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $40
Submit Now
Screenplay - Pilot/Series
We do recommend only submitting the pilot script of an unproduced series.
- First Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $28
- Second Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $32
- Third Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $36
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $40
Submit Now
Screenplay - Feature Film - LGBTQ+ - $100 Prize
FILA was approached by a member of the Writers Guild of America West’s LGBTQ+ Writers Committee about having a special award and/or category for LGBTQ+ screenplays. Although our team has always been against the 'balkanizing' of underrepresented communities, when the lack of screenplay awards for this community was explained to us we were happy to oblige. An anonymous sponsor and ally has donated a $100 cash prize to the winner of the Grand Jury Award in this category!
- First Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $28
- Second Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $32
- Third Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $36
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $40
Submit Now
Screenplay - Short Film - LGBTQ+ - $100 Prize
FILA was approached by a member of the Writers Guild of America West’s LGBTQ+ Writers Committee about having a special award and/or category for LGBTQ+ screenplays. Although our team has always been against the 'balkanizing' of underrepresented communities, when the lack of screenplay awards for this community was explained to us we were happy to oblige. An anonymous sponsor and ally has donated a $100 cash prize to the winner of the Grand Jury Award in this category!
- First Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $28
- Second Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $32
- Third Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $36
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $40
Submit Now
Screenplay - Pilot/Series - LGBTQ+ - $100 Prize
We do recommend only submitting the pilot script of an unproduced series. FILA was approached by a member of the Writers Guild of America West’s LGBTQ+ Writers Committee about having a special award and/or category for LGBTQ+ screenplays. Although our team has always been against the 'balkanizing' of underrepresented communities, when the lack of screenplay awards for this community was explained to us we were happy to oblige. An anonymous sponsor and ally has donated a $100 cash prize to the winner of the Grand Jury Award in this category!
- First Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $28
- Second Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $32
- Third Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $36
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $40
Submit Now

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Leila Garrison

Jake Macpherson

Brennan McGee

Kevin Stevenson

Jerry Brown Jr