Lumière International Film Festival & Awards, Los Angeles is founded by Kumaar Aadarsh. This festival was formerly known as SFFA (Standalone Film Festival & Awards) is in its 3rd Season. In the 1st season, Founder & Chairman Kumaar Aadarsh brought independent filmmakers together from all across the world. 1st time, in a 7 days festival 143 independent films from all over the world were shown at the iconic TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood from August 06 to 12. On August 12, 2021. In spite of COVID, we facilitated 43 categories of Awards. Being an independent filmmaker Kumaar understands the problems of standalone makers. Producing films and making money from those are different. On August 12, 2021, during the Award show, he promised to assist all filmmakers who participated or who will participate in the future in releasing, exhibiting, and distributing by providing them a separate dashboard for their movie exploitation all over the world. We are working continuously to empower independent filmmakers. We created the marketplace for them to MONETIZE their films. We are now more powerful with the creation of our digital-theatrical marketing tools. Standing alone has limited power but when all standalone unite, they Rise-Together. All filmmakers who would be part of Standalone are able to operate independently of our marketplace software.
Therefore, in 2nd season, LIFFA has a transparent dashboard for each selected film.
We created history. This is a unique kind of film festival for independent filmmakers/content creators where there are no barriers to borders, languages, genres, etc. This festival has an online Award Nomination Festival, live screenings, and the Standalone Award Show.

LIFFA is consolidating filmmakers around the world for a beautiful presentation of cinematography and the unveiling of new talents. A committee comprising members from the film industry preview submitted films and select good works of motion pictures for the Award Nomination Festival.

The selected films participate in The Online Awards nomination Festival which is held between Jan-April. In the 2021 year, due to the pandemic situation, it was between February 1, and March 31, our virtual theatre, available online across the World.

Films screen through this secure server screener where visitors and guests from around the world can witness and vote for the film. On the basis of viewers' choice and votes, films are nominated for 42 categories of Awards that screen live from the last week of May in Hollywood and to honor filmmakers, actors, and technicians at The Standalone Awards Show in Los Angeles on the 7th day of live screenings.

In 2021, The theatre venue was the iconic TCL Chinese Theatre, from 2023 it will be a year-round screening, filmmaking, and writing opportunities to that end we are launching new festivals as part of The Lumière Academy Awards.

LIFFA Submissions are for feature narratives, Short films, Shows, Series, documentaries, animation, and even experimental films and music videos.

Lumière Best Film (Feature Film / Narrative)

Lumière Best Director (Feature Film / Narrative)

Lumière Best writer (Feature Film / Narrative)

Lumière Best Actor - Male (Feature Film / Narrative)

Lumière Best Actor - Female (Feature Film / Narrative)

Lumière Best Cinematographer (Feature Film / Narrative)

Lumière Best Film (Short)

Lumière Best Director (Short)

Lumière Best Actor - Male (Short)

Lumière Best Actor - Female (Short)

Lumière Best Writer (Short)

Lumière Best Cinematographer (Short)

Lumière Best Cinematography IN A MINI FILM

Lumière Best Writer IN A MINI FILM

Lumière Best Director IN A MINI FILM

Lumière Best Actress IN A MINI FILM

Lumière Best Actor IN A MINI FILM

Lumière Best MINI Film

Lumière Best Writer In A HORROR FILM

Lumière Best Actor In A HORROR FILM

Lumière Best Actress In A HORROR FILM

Lumière Best HORROR FILM

Lumière Best Film (Documentary)

Lumière Best Director (Documentary)

Lumière Best Cinematographer (Documentary)

Lumière Best Show (Series)

Lumière Best Director (Series)

Lumière Best Actor - Male (Series)

Lumière Best Actor - Female (Series)

Lumière Best Writer (Series)

Lumière Best Cinematographer (Series)

Lumière Best Film (Student)

Lumière Best Director (Student)

Lumière Best Film (Animation)

Lumière Best Song (Music Video)

TO SUBMIT A FILM, YOU NEED TO:
COMPLY WITH PRESELECTION CONDITIONS & Standalone Stream Digital License Agreement.

LIFFA PRESELECTION CONDITIONS
FEATURE FILM
Films that have been produced not before 2020
The film must be more than 60 minutes long.
Films that have been released or have not been released.
Every film submitted to the LUMIÈRE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL & AWARDS will be screened through a Virtual online secure screener during the Award Nomination festival. Any beneficiary, producer, or authorized representative submitting the feature film commits to honoring this clause.
SHORT FILM
Films that have been produced not before 2019
The film must be less than 60 minutes long.
Films that have been released or have not been released.
Every film submitted to the LUMIÈRE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL & AWARDS will be screened through a Virtual online secure screener during the Award Nomination festival. Any beneficiary, producer, or authorized representative submitting the feature film commits to honoring this clause.
STUDENT FILM
Films that have been directed by a student within his / her school curriculum
The film must be more than 10 minutes long.
Films that have not been presented at major film festivals except festivals of their country of origin.
Every film submitted to the LIFFA will be screened through a Virtual online secure screener during the Award Nomination festival. Any beneficiary, producer, or authorized representative submitting the feature film commits to honoring this clause.
DOCUMENTARY / WEB SHOWS
Documentaries/Shows that have been made not before 2019
The documentary must be of more than 5 minutes long.
The Shows/Series must be of more than 15 minutes per episode.
Documentary or Shows or series that have been released or not been released.
Every film submitted to the LUMIÈRE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL & AWARDS will be screened through an online secure screener STANDALONE SCREEN during the Award Nomination festival. Any beneficiary, producer, or authorized representative submitting the feature film commits to honoring this clause.
MATERIAL
Irrespective of the equipment used for shooting the film, the material of the film should be in the following format:
1. Feature Content (Movies/Series) *
Accepted Media Formats: MPEG 4 / QuickTime (ProRes) with embedded audio in .mp3 or .wav format Video: Resolution 1920×1080 and above (use codec H.264 for .MOV / .MP4)
2. Content Subtitles
Preferred: Media Formats: VTT or.SRT with Timecodes
Also, accept English Subtitles burnt on the video
3. Trailer – Same as feature content
4. Poster Image with Title *
Portrait Image in 1080 x 1920 (width x height) pixels
5. Banner Image *
Landscape image in 1920 x 1080 (width x height) pixels
NOTE: A Dropbox Link will be provided after the submission of the online form. Upload all the materials in the checklist above to the Dropbox link. (Max 50 GB can be uploaded at once.)
SUBTITLING
The Selection Committee will accept films:
Without subtitles, if the original language is English
WITH English subtitles for all other original languages
LANGUAGE
All

IF YOUR FILM IS SELECTED FOR AWARDS Nomination Festival, YOU MUST COMPLY WITH THE FESTIVAL’S RULES AND REGULATIONS

Lumière International Film Festival & Awards
Terms & Conditions:
Read the terms and conditions of the Standalone Stream Digital Agreement for virtual screenings and post-award monetization.
All submissions grant LIFFA, and its sponsors the full and free right and permission to use the film at any stage ( Submission / Selection / Nomination) for broadcast, duplication, and advertising in association with LIFFA, for the purpose of viewing on LUMIÈRE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL & AWARDS, television, in theatres, on the internet, on the LIFFA website, on sponsors’ websites, podcasting and/or for archival purposes and for any other valid, lawful purpose in any and all media now known or hereafter developed or devised, worldwide and in perpetuity. The submitter may opt out from any future use after the Award Show, by providing a thirty-day written notice after the final date of the festival, that the ENTRY may no longer be used. A copy of the ENTRY may still be kept for archival purposes.
This contract shall be deemed to be entered into in Mumbai, India, and shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of India applicable to agreements entered into and carried out entirely within India. The submitter agrees that any and all disputes or controversies arising under this contract or any of its terms shall be resolved under the auspices of the Indian Arbitration Act, under its 1996 Commercial Arbitration Rules; provided, however, that the submitter agrees that his remedies for any breach of this contract by the LIFFA, its officers, agencies, employees, and sponsors will be limited to damages to an action at law to recover and in no event will he/she be entitled to rescind or terminate this agreement or to seek injunctive or any other equitable relief.
The Submitter grants digital and theatrical exhibition rights of the Entry film to LIFFA for the STREAMING on the Standalone Stream or any of their subsidiaries, of the Festivals in theatres across the world. In exchange for release theatres, the submitter accepts that there is no promise of payment, in any form of money or for likeness, image, biography, recording, equipment, or for any other contribution by LIFFA on this submission.
The submitter is authorized to sign and give consent for everyone (including but not limited to performers, writers, directors, technical crew, and distributors) who contributed to all ENTRY(IES) and all materials submitted with this application to the LIFFA.
AWARD SELECTION:
Rules and Regulations
The LIFFA is organized by LUMIÈRE ACADEMY AWARDS
Article 1
The aim of the Festival and Award is to reveal and highlight the importance of the film shown at the LIFFA, whose qualities emphasize the need to encourage the directors or the makers.
Article 2
By feature film for virtual theatrical screening (whatever the format; fiction, documentary, or animation) of 60 minutes or more in length, and not released theatrically. A director who has previously made a student thesis film or a TV film can compete for the "LUMIÈRE ACADEMY AWARDS” with his/her first feature film.
Article 3
The films (as defined in Article 2) which can compete for LIFFA are those shown in the Official Selection (Competition, Out of Competition, Un Certain Regard) or in one of the Parallel Sections, “The Critics’ Week” or “The Directors’ Fortnight”.
Article 4
The winner of the LUMIÈRE ACADEMY Award will be decided by a Jury of 6 members:
– one president
– one director (from the Society of Hollywood Directors)
– one director of photography (from the US Cinematographers),
– one film critic (from the American Film Critics),
– one industry professional or an International film buff,
– one representative of the Cinema and Audiovisual Industries.
No person implicated in any way with any of the films competing for «LUMIÈRE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL & AWARDSIVAL & AWARDS» may be a Jury member.
Article 5
The Jury votes independently and under its own responsibility, without any consent from LIFFA or the other organizers.
Article 6
The Jury can only vote for one winner of each section of the LUMIÈRE ACADEMY AWARDS. The President of the Jury will vote to settle any tie-breaking issues.
Article 8
The producer and director of the winning film, agree to use the logo of LIFFA in all advertising.
Article 9
The Chairman of the LIFFA has the power to settle all cases not covered by the present rules. His decision is final in any dispute that may arise out of these rules and the organization of the LUMIÈRE ACADEMY AWARDS.
Article 10
The rules are printed in English.
Article 11
Participation in the LUMIÈRE ACADEMY AWARDS competition implies full and complete acceptance of all the aforementioned regulations.
Article 12
The Founder Mr. Kumaar Aadarsh a.k.a Adarsh Kumar Patwa who is the Founder - Chairman of the LIFFA (formerly SFFA) is the permanent authority of the festival and cannot be removed in the lifetime of the festival, he reserves all the power to remove or add any submission, officials, or partners.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • My film was selected but I don't know when this festival was held.

    November 2023
  • Thank you for choosing! Good luck to festival!

    August 2023
  • Thank you so much for the attention you have given me and my film!
    This is very valuable in our difficult times.
    Glad to have a new friendship! I hope for further cooperation.

    August 2023