Welcome to the annual and IMDb qualifying competition of LA Independent Women Film Awards!

Our festival is devoted to female voices and female talents in media, and we focus on international and U.S. projects of all genres directed and produced by women in film and media. We screen films directed and produced by women through our annual Women's Lens Screening at the iconic Fine Arts Theatre in Beverly Hills and various art centers and online platforms in LA.

The festival has successfully screened and promoted hundreds of projects throughout the past years in various cinemas of LA and digitally through LA Independent Women every season. The committee offers promotion and screening to projects with a female producer, director, lead actress, writer, cinematographer, editor and composer. Screening is not mandatory for the seasonal competition and projects may compete without online screening in our IMDb qualifying festival. Screening is only mandatory for the finalists of the annual program at the Fine Arts theater.

All topics related to women's thoughts, women's fate, life conditions, women's views and so on are welcome to participate. All the winners will be promoted through our platform, social media and various magazines in California. All the winners may request to receive certificates, laurels and further online screening and promotion through LA Independent Women.

The mission of the festival is designed to help create a platform for talented female artists to be recognized for their projects and more importantly, get them the industry exposure to help sustain their craft for many years to come.

LA Independent Women Film Awards is an outstanding popular event which has devoted itself to the language of cinema and featuring female artists working in media from all over the world.

Best Narrative Feature
Best Documentary Feature
Best Narrative Short
Best Documentary Short
Best Short Director
Best Feature Director
Best Female Director
Best Produced Script
Best Unproduced Script
Best Animation
Best Horror
Best Experimental
Best Student Film
Best Producer
Best Cinematographer
Best Editor
Best L.A. Filmmaker
Best International Filmmaker
Best Science Fiction
Best Music Video
Best Series-Web-Pilot

All non-English speaking films must be presented in their original version with English subtitles.
Short Film Entries should not exceed 50 minutes.
Feature films are considered over 50 minutes.
Films must have been completed in the past 36 months.
Films selected for annual women's lens screening at the Fine Arts theatre for our annual festival cannot be withdrawn.
Seasonal competition is preliminary to our annual festival.
Digital marketing and screening are available to all seasonal nominees.
Entry fees are not refundable.
A minimum of California premiere is preferred for our annual screening at the Fine Arts Theatre in January, but no premiere is required for seasonal festival and online screenings.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Mel Day

    Thanks for nominating my experimental short, Painting Cathedral Rock as part of the LA Independent Women Film Awards! Delighted to join the great community here celebrating women in film!

    April 2026
  • Karla Bogaart

    Thank you LA Independent Women Film Awards for nominating Misconception. Celebrating women in film - keep up the good work!

    April 2026
  • Moira Simpson

    We're tremendously pleased our film, The Lady Architect, has been nominated for the seasonal competition by the LA Independent Women Film Awards. Your festival inspires us. Thank you.

    April 2026
  • I was honored to be selected in their season awards and win the Best Series Web-Pilot award. Timely and clear communications

    February 2026
  • Honored for my short film "The Stranger" directed by Rachel Taggart to be selected! Looking forward to the screening!

    December 2025