LA Under the Stars is an international film festival held in Los Angeles. Listed as one of the TOP 100 BEST-REVIEWED FESTIVALS on FilmFreeway, LAUTS is home to the best up-and-coming talent in Hollywood. Network with the top filmmakers, discuss films/scripts during the Filmmaker Q&A, vote for your favorite film, take pictures on the red carpet, & close the evening with an Award Ceremony.

Held at the historic El Cid Theater on West Sunset Boulevard, LAUTS offers guests the best venue in Los Angeles. El Cid is located in the heart of the Silver Lake neighborhood. Unpretentious and atmospheric, the iconic theater, restaurant, and bar offers guests a new experience while retaining its original passion and soul.

Each year, an international panel of 12 judges selects several films to showcase during the annual event. All selections are showcased on our website, social media, & given coverage during our highlight reel. As an IMDB-accredited festival, we pride ourselves on being competitive while distinctly worth the price of submission. Submit & join us under the stars!

Awards & Prizes

"SUPERSTAR" goes to the best rated film
"WONDER WOMAN" goes to the outstanding female filmmaker
"M. NIGHT SHYAMALAN" goes to the best twist
"AUDIENCE CHOICE" goes to the audience-voted best film of the night

Awards are also presented to:
BEST FEATURE (film & screenplay)
BEST NARRATIVE (film & screenplay)
BEST COMEDY (film & screenplay)
BEST HORROR (film & screenplay)
BEST EXPERIMENTAL
BEST SCI-FI
BEST MUSIC VIDEO
BEST ANIMATION
BEST DOCUMENTARY
BEST SMARTPHONE SHORT
BEST STUDENT SHORT

Rules & Terms

No waivers!
All films must be in English or have English subtitles at the time submitted.
Films must be original works.
By submitting the material, the applicant hereby agrees to indemnify, hold harmless, and defend the festival & its employees from any liability, claims, and damages in connection with the submission and from any fees and expenses, including but not limited to reasonable attorneys' fees, that any of them may incur in connection therewith.

I/We understand that failure to adhere to the competition rules and regulations will result in disqualification and forfeiture of entry fee.

I/We agree to hold the LA Under the Stars harmless from and defend them against all claims, demands, losses, damages, judgments, liabilities, and expenses (including attorney’s fees) arising out of or in connection with any and all claims of third parties, whether or not groundless, based on any film submitted to the Festival.
45 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
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Networking
  • Phyllis Allison

    I had the best experience with LA Under the Stars. Ali provided excellent communication, throughout. Proud to have won Best Horror feature screenplay. Thank you for the opportunity!

    April 2021
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  • Alex Montilla

    Ali and his crew are the best. I look forward to being allowed outside and under stars.

    March 2021
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  • Michael Monteith

    Thank you for selecting my screenplay to be a part of your festival. I thought the entire event, including the feature screenwriters’ Q&A, was outstanding.

    March 2021
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  • Joe Mitchell

    Great festival run by a talented filmmaker.

    March 2021
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  • Dean Harakas

    The screenwriter Q&A was a fantastic opportunity for writers to connect and share. As always, Ali and the team are extremely personable, accessible and professional. Outstanding!

    March 2021
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