On October 20, New Filmmakers LA produced its second annual short film competition celebrating Los Angeles’ cultural diversity. On Location: The Los Angeles Video Project played at the downtown AT&T Center to a packed house.
The films screened at the event answered the question: “What is your L.A.?” The program gave filmmakers a chance to use the medium of film to present positive perspectives on the city to a world audience. Many film directors featured iconic L.A. places in their films, emphasizing that L.A. is leading tourist destination. Some noteworthy locations seen on the New Filmmakers’ screen were the Griffith Observatory, the Capital Records Building, Los Angeles International Airport, 4th Street Bridge, LA River, and Olvera Street.
New Filmmakers LA, the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board and LA Weekly sponsored this year’s installment. Community partners included FilmL.A., Inc., Revelry Event Designers, Sunset Gower and Sunset Bronson Studios, Equilibrium Entertainment, Los Angeles Film School and others. Attendees represented industry movers like Steven J. Wolfe, who produced the comedic-drama, 500 Days of Summer. Los Angeles City Councilmembers Paul Krekorian, Jan Perry and Tom LaBonge were also in attendance and delivered inspiring speeches.
The events included a pre-show reception, with photo opportunities, meet and greets with the filmmakers, and a chance to network. The opening reception was followed by the film screenings, presentation of awards and a Hollywood-style after-party. The finalist whose short best promoted Los Angeles was awarded a production prize package valued at $25,000 from Equilibrium Entertainment, and $1,000 in cash. Each finalist received also one complimentary film permit from FilmL.A., Inc., to encourage local independent production.
“What I appreciate most about the On Location program is the way it leverages Los Angeles’ creative strengths,” said Philip Sokoloski, FilmL.A.’s VP of Integrated Communications. “We’re participants in On Location because we want filmmakers to know that their contributions to this region matter, not only economically but culturally as well.”
For more information about On Location program, please visit New Filmmakers LA on the web.