Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA)

ABOUT The Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) brings to Los Angeles audiences the most innovative independent films coming out of India and the Indian diaspora, in a vibrant program comprising features and shorts, including narrative, documentary and animated works. In addition to film screenings, the festival offers stimulating discussions between filmmakers and audiences, as well as panel conversations and industry sessions. The five-day event also hosts original special programs, such as retrospectives, spotlights and masterclasses, and lively networking and social events, all aimed at fostering a greater appreciation of Indian cinema and culture and promoting the diverse perspectives of the Indian and larger South Asian diaspora. Marking its 20th anniversary, IFFLA 2022 will take place from April 28 to May 1. Contingent on the pandemic situation and local Los Angeles County laws at the time, IFFLA 2022 is expected to take place in-person as a physical event, returning to the state-of-the-art Regal L.A. Live Theaters in Downtown Los Angeles. IFFLA was founded in 2002 as a non-profit organization with the aim to offer the Los Angeles community a unique opportunity to learn about India’s multifaceted culture and long history of filmmaking. Since then, IFFLA has grown into the premiere US venue for discovering the best of Indian cinema, as well as a vital hub which fosters an important dialogue among the most original independent storytellers from India and its diaspora, the greater South Asian diasporic community and the international film industry at large. ONE-ON-ONE INDUSTRY PROGRAM All selected filmmakers are invited to participate in the festival’s One-on-One event, a pioneering industry program that connects emerging storytellers to industry professionals from major and independent production and distribution companies. Through a series of one-on-one 15-minute meetings, the program offers a new generation of talented filmmakers a unique opportunity to get guidance about their careers, as well as lay the foundation for possible future collaborations. CATEGORIES FEATURES Eligible in this category are narrative, documentary and animated films with a running time of 40 minutes or more, from India or by filmmakers of Indian descent worldwide, irrespective of theme, as well as films by international filmmakers with a prevalent Indian focus. Films with key creatives of Indian descent (director, writer, producer, or lead cast) are also eligible. Projects may have distribution. However, films must have retained their LA premiere status until the completion of the festival, meaning they should not have had a public screening in Los Angeles prior to May 1, 2022, including theatrical exhibition (festival or otherwise), television broadcast, or streaming on any locally accessible online platform, including but not limited to Netflix, Amazon, YouTube, etc. Refer to main festival rules for additional general submission requirements. SHORTS Eligible in this category are narrative, documentary or animated films with a running time less than 40 minutes, from India or by filmmakers of Indian descent worldwide, irrespective of theme, as well as films by international filmmakers with a prevalent Indian focus. Films with key creatives of Indian descent (director, writer, producer, or lead cast) are also eligible. Projects may have distribution. A Los Angeles premiere status is strongly preferred but is not required for this category. Refer to main festival rules for additional general submission requirements. SPECIAL PROGRAM: SPOTLIGHT ON SOUTH ASIA This new category highlights some of the most exciting new films coming out of the greater South Asian subcontinent and its diasporas. Selection in this program is by invitation only.